Shoulder pain when raising the arm can be caused by several conditions. The most common include:

• Rotator cuff disease: inflammation or injury of the rotator cuff muscles and tendons can cause tendinitis, bursitis, or impingement, leading to pain when lifting the arm. Tears in the rotator cuff tendons can also cause weakness and pain.

• Shoulder bursitis: inflammation of the bursa sac that cushions the rotator cuff can cause swelling and pain, especially on movement.

• Shoulder impingement: narrowing of the space between the shoulder blade and rotator cuff tendons creates pinching pain, especially when raising the arm above the head.

• Frozen shoulder: thickening and tightening of shoulder capsule tissues can restrict movement and cause pain even with small arm movements.

• Rotator cuff tears: partial or complete tendon tears cause pain, weakness, and difficulty with arm movements.

• Osteoarthritis: joint cartilage loss causes deep pain in the shoulder, which can worsen with lifting.

• Other causes include nerve injuries, fractures, dislocations, and tendonitis from repetitive use.

To manage the pain, avoid actions that worsen it, use ice, take anti- inflammatories (with a meal), and do gentle range-of-motion exercises. If pain persists beyond a few weeks or is severe, seeing a doctor is recommended for diagnosis and tailored treatment, which may include physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or surgery in some cases.

If you have pain especially when raising your arm, it could likely be related to one of these conditions, with rotator cuff problems and impingement being among the most common causes.