Many people with a sore shoulder find that the pain is worse at night - particularly if they try to lie on that side.
There are several possible causes of soreness around the shoulder. It's important to have a proper diagnosis made by a doctor or a physical therapist. Don't try to do it yourself - even experienced doctors find it almost impossible to do this properly.
Some likely causes include
- bursitis around the shoulder
- tendonitis of the rotator cuff muscle groups
- frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis
- impingement syndrome or the problem that arises after muscle inflammation or chronic bursitis
- arthritis in the shoulder joint
- referred pain from the neck or referred pain from the cervical spine
- referred pain from the abdomen or diaphragm region
One of the problems with trying to make a diagnosis of sore shoulder is that the pattern of pain is often very similar in all these conditions. It can take an experienced eye and a skilled examiner to sort things out properly.
If you develop a sore shoulder then please seek professional help if it goes on for more than a short period of time. Leaving it unresolved might lead to the development of a frozen shoulder - and this can cause pain and stiffness that goes on for many months.