Expert: Dr. Man Tran, Ph.D., D.C., L.Ac. - 1/19/2009

Question
I have a pain in my deltoid when I move my arm up overhead or to the back of me. The pain location is just below the top of the shoulder and in the middle. If lying down I can't put my right arm above my head without pain. Otherwise I have good mobility.
Please advise?

Answer
Hi Christopher,

No, no...no need to raise your arm to say "HI."  

There could be two things occuring in your shoulder.  It can be your surround muscles which may include the deltoid and/or it could be the joints causing the pain with movements.  There are two joints at the shoulder.  It could be the Glenohumoroid joint which is the big joint attaching your arm to your trunk or the AC joint which is the joint at your collar bone.  

It is difficult for me to tell you which and what is causing the pain without doing an examination to the shoulder itself.  The best I can give you are those structures that could be involved.  I hope that help and I am sorry that I couldn't help further.  My recommendation is to see a chiropractor so an examination can be done to see what the cause is.