Differential Diagnosis for Right Shoulder Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Rotator cuff tendinitis: This is the most common cause of shoulder pain, often resulting from overuse or repetitive strain on the rotator cuff muscles and tendons.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder): Characterized by stiffness and limited range of motion in the shoulder joint, often following trauma or inflammation.
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursae, fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints and reduce friction, can cause pain and swelling in the shoulder.
- Shoulder impingement syndrome: Occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles become pinched or compressed, leading to pain and limited mobility.
- Osteoarthritis: Wear and tear on the joint cartilage can cause pain, stiffness, and limited mobility in the shoulder.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed)
- Pulmonary embolism: Referred pain from a pulmonary embolism can manifest as shoulder pain, and is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate attention.
- Myocardial infarction: Similar to pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction can cause referred pain in the shoulder, and is a medical emergency.
- Spinal cord injury or compression: Trauma or compression of the spinal cord can cause radiating pain to the shoulder, and requires prompt evaluation and treatment.
- Rare diagnoses
- Septic arthritis: A bacterial infection of the joint, which can cause severe pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
- Tumor or cyst: Rarely, a tumor or cyst can develop in the shoulder joint or surrounding tissues, causing pain and limited mobility.
- Brachial plexus injury: Trauma to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that control arm and shoulder movement, can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the shoulder and arm.
- Referred pain from abdominal or thoracic pathology: Certain conditions, such as gallbladder disease or pancreatitis, can cause referred pain in the shoulder.