Why Does My Shoulder Only Hurt On Some Activities And Not All?

Experiencing shoulder pain can severely limit your daily activities. While it can be aggravating to have to deal with, what is even more aggravating is when the pain only comes from certain movements, and not others. It would stand to reason that having an injury to a major area such as the shoulder would cause pain no matter what you were doing. But this is not always the case.
While this might seem puzzling that only certain movements would generate pain, it is actually a good sign. Being able to pinpoint the locale of the pain based on movement will help your doctor to isolate what could be causing it.
Anatomy Of The Shoulder
The shoulder is a very complex joint with a great deal of responsibility being given to it. With so much mobility available, it has to be work in many different ways that is not required of most other major joints of the body. But having this range of motion also means a much greater possibility of injury.
Since the shoulder is comprised of four major muscles, three major bones, and various ligaments and tendons, there is much more opportunity for things to go wrong, whether it is from age, wear-and-tear, illness or injury. Having such a vast range of possible sources of pain is why some conditions can cause more opportunities for pain than others.
Isolating The Pain
Using a combination of physical examination and questions, a pain specialist can isolate where the pain is originating and exactly how severe the condition is. Given the complexity of the shoulder, it is vital that the diagnosis be precise so that the most effective treatment options can be implemented. The goal is to bring the shoulder back to optimum performance using the simplest approach possible.
While some injuries may be so severe that they require surgery in order to correct, this is not always the case. In fact, most shoulder injuries can be rectified simply by using a thorough and comprehensive program of physical therapy. Although necessary in some cases, surgery should always be considered a last resort option.
Once a pain specialist isolates the source, they can advise you on the best course of action to slowly bring the shoulder back to optimum health. Based on the complexity of the shoulder and the importance that it carries, treatment has to be precise and regimented. As strong as the shoulder appears, it is also delicate in many ways. If you try to rush treatment, you risk re-injuring the area even more.