Shoulder Pain

The following are conditions that may cause shoulder pain. Click on the disorders that were suggested by the Decision Guide or any others that interest you.

ankylosing spondylitis - a form of arthritis with prominent back pain; it's also a type of spondyloarthropathy

arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease - a form of arthritis that may accompany Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; it's also a type of spondyloarthropathy

bursitis - inflammation of the bursa (or sac) surrounding the shoulder joint

fibromyalgia - a cause of diffuse pain

fracture - a broken bone

gout - a form of arthritis caused by uric acid crystals

joint infection, including Lyme disease

osteoarthritis - a form of wear and tear, or degenerative, joint disease

polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) - a form of arthritis affecting older persons, perhaps related to rheumatoid arthritis

pseudogout - a form of arthritis caused by calcium crystals

psoriatic arthritis - a form of arthritis associated with psoriasis, and also a type of spondyloarthropathy

Reiter's Syndrome - a form of arthritis that may follow urinary, genital or bowel infection, and a member of the spondyloarthropathy family

rheumatoid arthritis - a cause of arthritis affecting multiple joints

rotator cuff disease - a common form of tendon disease in the shoulder

Spondyloarthropathy - see above links for ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, and Reiter's syndrome

sprain - an injury that stretches or tears ligaments

strain - an injury that stretches or tears muscle fibers

tendonitis - tendon inflammation

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