What Causes Soreness and Pain in the Left Shoulder?
Jul 06, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Ge
Introduction
Left shoulder soreness and pain can be summarized as follows:
- Neck and shoulder pain caused by trauma: For example, immediate left shoulder joint pain, swelling, and functional impairment following injury.
- Infectious shoulder joint disorders: Such infections often present with inflammatory signs; pain is pronounced regardless of the direction of shoulder joint movement.
- Pain secondary to other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Left shoulder soreness and pain is relatively complex; we may consider the following five possibilities:
1. Cervical–shoulder pain caused by trauma: Immediate onset of left shoulder joint pain, swelling, and functional impairment may occur following trauma—even fractures may be present. Recurrent left shoulder joint pain may suggest overuse of shoulder muscles, excessive load-bearing, or weather-related factors (e.g., cold, damp conditions).
2. Pain caused by infectious shoulder joint disorders: In addition to common shoulder joint pain, such infections may also present with high fever, chills, and other signs of systemic inflammation. Movement of the affected shoulder joint typically elicits marked pain, regardless of direction.
3. Pain secondary to other systemic diseases: For example, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune disorders. Left shoulder joint pain associated with these conditions is often accompanied by manifestations in other organ systems; patients should consult a rheumatologist or immunologist.
4. Metabolic disorders may also cause left shoulder joint pain—for instance, osteoporotic arthropathy or osteoarthritis secondary to thyroid or parathyroid disease.
5. Patients presenting with left shoulder joint pain must remain highly vigilant for early signs of myocardial infarction or angina pectoris, as referred pain from cardiac ischemia may radiate to the left shoulder. Since left shoulder pain may be the initial symptom, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can occur—potentially compromising timely treatment.
