Shoulder Pain When Lifting Your Arm? Here’s What It Really Means

Shoulder Pain When Lifting Your Arm? Here’s What It Really Means

Why Lifting Your Arm Hurts

If reaching overhead, getting dressed, or lifting groceries triggers sharp or aching shoulder pain, you’re not alone.
This type of pain is extremely common for adults over 50 and it usually means something inside the joint is irritated or inflamed.

When the shoulder isn’t gliding smoothly, everyday motions become painful.

What Causes Shoulder Pain When Raising Your Arm?

1. Rotator Cuff Irritation

Inflamed or irritated tendons make overhead motion painful, especially between 60–120 degrees.

2. Shoulder Arthritis

Worn cartilage causes grinding, stiffness, and pain with lifting or rotation.

3. Impingement Syndrome

Tight tissues or bone spurs pinch the rotator cuff when the arm rises.

4. Bursitis

An inflamed bursa sac becomes painful during overhead movement.

5. Weakness in the Shoulder Muscles

Weak stabilizers force other structures to overwork and become irritated.

6. Previous Injuries

Old tears or strains flare up with repetitive use.

Why It Often Gets Worse Over Time

Most people compensate with awkward motions, leading to:

  • more inflammation
  • reduced mobility
  • worsening weakness
  • pain at night
  • difficulty reaching behind the back

Early care makes recovery faster, ignoring it slows healing.

Why Pain Pills and Rest Aren’t Enough

Medication only numbs the symptoms.
Rest alone often leads to more stiffness.
Cortisone may help briefly, but repeated shots can weaken tissue.

To fix shoulder pain, you need to reduce inflammation and improve joint mechanics, not just mask pain.

How Buffalo Arthritis & Joint Pain Center Helps Shoulder Pain Naturally

Our non-surgical treatments help:

  • calm inflammation
  • restore smooth shoulder movement
  • improve blood flow for healing
  • reduce pressure on the rotator cuff
  • improve mobility and overhead comfort

Most patients see noticeable improvements within a few sessions.

Home Tips to Help Reduce Shoulder Pain

🏋️ Warm up gently before use
🧊 Use ice for 10–15 minutes after activity
🧘 Stretch chest and upper-back muscles
🤸 Avoid heavy or repetitive overhead work
🚶 Stay active — don’t completely rest the shoulder
💧 Stay hydrated to support tissue health

Small, consistent habits reduce flare-ups.

You Don’t Have to Live With Shoulder Pain

If raising your arm has become painful, stiff, or frustrating, you don’t have to push through it.
A non-surgical approach can help restore mobility and reduce pain.

👉 Schedule your consultation today:
www.painreliefbajc.com

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About Buffalo Arthritis & Joint Pain Center

Buffalo Arthritis & Joint Pain Center is home to our exclusive "Life Without Joint Pain" program where we use minimally invasive and non operative procedures designed to help the body repair damaged tissue while quickly reducing pain and inflammation.

We proudly serve patients from Western New York, Rochester, Canada and across the United States.  

We believe everyone deserves to live a pain-free life.

Contact:  716-272-0805

If you're living with chronic joint, muscle, or nerve pain, don't lose hope. There are often ways to find relief.  You deserve to live a pain-free life and with the right combination of treatment and self-care, you can get there!

What People Are Saying About Our Exclusive "Life Without Joint Pain" Relief Program

"I've been suffering from chronic joint pain for years and have tried everything from prescription pain medication to physical therapy and chiropractic.   But it wasn't until I started my "Life Without Joint Pain Program"l that I finally found relief.  It has made a huge difference in my pain levels and my overall quality of life." - Sarah

"After being in pain for over 17 years, I was skeptical about trying another thing to try and relieve my chronic muscle and nerve pain, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It's been a game changer for me – the relief I feel after a treatment is incredible. I highly recommend giving it a try!" - Jake

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