Shoulder Immobility: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Why can't I move my right shoulder?

Inability to move your right shoulder, or significant restriction in its range of motion, is a clear indicator of an underlying issue, ranging from acute injury to chronic degenerative conditions or even neurological impairment. Understanding the complex anatomy of the shoulder joint is key to identifying the potential causes of such immobility.

Understanding Shoulder Anatomy and Function

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, a ball-and-socket articulation formed by the humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone). Its remarkable range of motion is facilitated by a complex interplay of bones, ligaments, tendons (especially the rotator cuff muscles), and a joint capsule. This intricate design, while allowing for vast movement, also makes it susceptible to injury and various conditions that can restrict its function.

Common Causes of Restricted Shoulder Movement

When your right shoulder refuses to move, it's a symptom that demands attention. The causes can be broadly categorized:

• Acute Injuries: These are sudden events often resulting from trauma.

  • Rotator Cuff Tear: The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that stabilize the shoulder and allow for rotation and lifting. A tear can severely impair movement, particularly overhead or lifting actions.
  • Shoulder Dislocation: Occurs when the head of the humerus is forced out of its socket. This is extremely painful and results in immediate, severe loss of movement and often a visible deformity.
  • Fracture: A break in any of the bones forming the shoulder joint (humerus, clavicle, or scapula) can lead to significant pain and inability to move.
  • Sprain/Strain: Overstretching or tearing of ligaments (sprain) or muscles/tendons (strain) around the shoulder. While less severe than a dislocation or fracture, they can still cause significant pain and restricted movement.

• Chronic Conditions: These develop over time, often due to overuse, degeneration, or inflammatory processes.

  • Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder): A condition where the shoulder joint capsule thickens and tightens, severely restricting movement. It typically progresses through painful, stiff, and thawing stages, often without a clear cause but sometimes following an injury or surgery.
  • Osteoarthritis: Degeneration of the cartilage in the shoulder joint, leading to bone-on-bone friction, pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
  • Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa, small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles around the shoulder joint. This causes pain and limits movement, especially with overhead activities.
  • Tendinitis: Inflammation or irritation of a tendon, most commonly the rotator cuff tendons or the biceps tendon. This causes pain with movement and can lead to stiffness.
  • Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: Occurs when the rotator cuff tendons or bursa are compressed between the humerus and the acromion (part of the shoulder blade) during arm elevation, leading to pain and limited motion.

• Neurological Issues: Problems with nerves supplying the shoulder and arm can impair muscle function.

  • Nerve Impingement/Radiculopathy: A pinched nerve, often in the cervical spine (neck), can cause pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling that radiates into the shoulder and arm, leading to perceived or actual inability to move.
  • Brachial Plexus Injury: Damage to the network of nerves that transmits signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries can range from mild stretching to complete tearing, resulting in significant weakness or paralysis.
  • Stroke: Can cause hemiplegia (paralysis) or hemiparesis (weakness) on one side of the body, including the shoulder and arm, affecting movement control.

• Referred Pain: Pain originating from another area of the body can be felt in the shoulder.

  • Neck Problems: Conditions like cervical disc herniation or spinal stenosis can cause pain and muscle guarding that mimics shoulder issues, restricting movement.
  • Cardiac Issues: In rare cases, a heart attack can present with pain radiating to the left shoulder and arm, though it can sometimes affect the right side.

Recognizing Associated Symptoms

The inability to move your shoulder is often accompanied by other symptoms that can help a healthcare professional narrow down the cause:

• Pain: Sharp, dull, aching, throbbing, or burning pain.
• Weakness: Difficulty lifting or moving the arm, even without significant pain.
• Stiffness: A feeling of tightness or restricted movement, especially after periods of inactivity.
• Swelling, Bruising, or Deformity: Visible changes around the shoulder joint.
• Clicking, Popping, or Grinding Sensations: Sounds or feelings within the joint during movement.
• Numbness or Tingling: Sensations radiating down the arm or into the hand, indicating potential nerve involvement.
• Fever or Redness: Signs of infection, though less common as a primary cause of immobility.

When to Seek Professional Medical Attention

While some mild strains might improve with rest, inability to move your shoulder warrants prompt medical evaluation, especially if accompanied by:

• Sudden onset of severe pain after an injury or fall.
• Visible deformity of the shoulder.
• Complete inability to move the arm.
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arm or hand.
• Pain radiating down the arm or into the chest.
• Fever, chills, or significant redness around the joint.
• No improvement with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers after a few days.

Diagnostic Approaches

A healthcare professional will typically employ a combination of methods to diagnose the cause of shoulder immobility:

• Physical Examination: Assessment of your range of motion (active and passive), strength, tenderness, and stability of the joint.
• Imaging Tests:
  • X-rays: To visualize bones and detect fractures or arthritis.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Provides detailed images of soft tissues like tendons, ligaments, and the joint capsule, essential for diagnosing rotator cuff tears, bursitis, or frozen shoulder.
  • Ultrasound: Can visualize tendons and muscles in motion, useful for detecting tears or inflammation.
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: Offers detailed cross-sectional images, particularly useful for complex fractures.
• Nerve Studies (EMG/NCS): Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) can assess nerve function and identify nerve compression or damage.

General Management Principles

Treatment will depend entirely on the underlying diagnosis, but common approaches include:

• Rest and Activity Modification: Avoiding activities that exacerbate pain and allowing the tissues to heal.
• Pain Management: Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, or prescription pain relievers.
• Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation: Crucial for restoring range of motion, strength, and function. This includes specific exercises, manual therapy, and modalities like ice/heat.
• Injections: Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and pain in conditions like bursitis, tendinitis, or frozen shoulder.
• Surgery: May be necessary for severe rotator cuff tears, recurrent dislocations, complex fractures, or advanced arthritis.

Prevention and Long-Term Shoulder Health

While not all causes of shoulder immobility are preventable, proactive measures can significantly reduce your risk:

• Proper Warm-up and Cool-down: Prepare muscles for activity and aid recovery.
• Gradual Progression: Increase intensity, duration, or resistance of exercises slowly.
• Balanced Strength and Mobility Training: Focus on strengthening all muscles surrounding the shoulder and maintaining full, pain-free range of motion.
• Ergonomics: Optimize your workspace and daily activities to minimize strain on your shoulders.
• Listen to Your Body: Do not push through pain. Address minor aches and stiffness before they escalate.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing an inability to move your right shoulder, consult with a qualified healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.