Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Quiz
Questions: 15 · 10 minutes
1. If the shoulder area was cut or scraped during an injury, what does it look like now?
The skin is intact with no wound near the painful area.
There is a shallow scrape or small cut that has stopped bleeding.
There is a deep or gaping wound near the joint, even if bleeding is controlled.
Bone is visible, an object is embedded, or firm pressure has not stopped heavy bleeding.
2. Along with the shoulder discomfort, what changes have you noticed in sensation, strength, speech, or facial movement?
I have not noticed numbness, unusual weakness, speech trouble, or facial changes.
I occasionally get brief tingling that settles after I change position.
I have persistent arm or hand numbness, tingling, or weakness.
I developed sudden one-sided weakness, facial drooping, confusion, or difficulty speaking.
3. When your shoulder hurts, which description best matches any chest or breathing symptoms occurring with it?
I have not noticed chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness, sweating, or faintness with it.
I sometimes feel mildly winded or nauseated, but it is brief and not clearly linked to the shoulder pain.
The pain has occurred with unexplained shortness of breath, sweating, or nausea.
It is occurring with chest pressure, major breathing difficulty, collapse, or near-fainting.
4. Did a sudden pop or tearing sensation occur when the pain started?
There was no sudden pop, tearing sensation, or immediate loss of strength.
I noticed a small pop, but strength and movement remained close to normal.
A distinct pop or tearing feeling was followed by immediate weakness or bruising.
A forceful pop was followed by major deformity or a complete inability to lift the arm.
5. Immediately after a recent shoulder injury, how well could you move the arm?
I could move it through my usual range without new weakness.
I could move it, but soreness made me protect it or move more slowly.
I could not raise it to about waist or chest level because of pain or weakness.
I could not move it at all, or the arm appeared displaced or hung unusually.
6. After reducing movements that aggravate the shoulder, what pattern have you noticed?
The symptoms steadily settle and normal use is becoming easier.
They improve with rest but return after a particular activity.
They have shown little improvement after about a week of modified activity.
They are worsening quickly despite avoiding the activities that trigger them.
7. What effect does the shoulder pain have on your sleep?
It does not wake me or require me to change my usual sleeping position.
I occasionally change position or take longer to settle because of it.
It wakes me repeatedly or regularly prevents me from lying on that side.
It prevents substantial sleep on most nights despite avoiding aggravating positions.
8. Which statement best describes any slipping, shifting, or change in the shoulder's shape?
I have not felt it slip or seen a change in its normal shape.
It clicks or pops during some movements but does not feel as though it leaves position.
It sometimes feels as if it shifts, gives way, or partly slips out and back.
It looks out of place now, or it became visibly deformed after an injury.
9. On a typical day, how does the shoulder affect dressing, washing, work, or household tasks?
I can complete my usual tasks without modifying how I use the arm.
I complete them by moving more carefully, taking breaks, or using the other arm more.
I struggle with tasks such as dressing, washing my hair, reaching shelves, or doing my usual work.
I cannot complete basic self-care or essential daily tasks because of the shoulder problem.
10. How has the shoulder problem changed since it began?
It began recently and is clearly improving day by day.
It has been present for several days and changes little from day to day.
It has lasted more than a week without meaningful improvement.
It has persisted for several weeks and is continuing to worsen.
11. Which pattern best describes fever or signs of illness alongside the shoulder pain?
I have no fever, spreading redness, unusual warmth, or generally ill feeling.
I feel mildly unwell, but I have not measured a fever or noticed redness around the shoulder.
I have a fever or chills together with a hot, red, or noticeably swollen shoulder.
I am severely unwell, confused, difficult to wake, or have rapidly spreading redness with fever.
12. What was happening when this episode of shoulder pain began?
It developed gradually without a specific injury.
It followed an awkward reach, unusual workout, or minor strain without a fall or direct blow.
It began after a fall or direct blow, although I could still use the arm.
It followed a major impact, fall from height, crash, or force that left the shoulder visibly abnormal.
13. When you reach upward, outward, or behind your back, what happens?
My movement is close to its usual range without a meaningful restriction.
Pain appears mainly near the end of the movement, but I can still complete it.
Pain or stiffness stops me well before my usual range in more than one direction.
Movement is becoming progressively more restricted, and I can barely lift or rotate the arm.
14. At its worst, how does the shoulder pain behave when you are resting?
It is mild at rest and settles when I stop the movement that brought it on.
It remains noticeable at rest and sometimes interrupts what I am doing.
It is severe at rest, escalating, or unlike pain I have experienced before.
It is overwhelming and accompanied by faintness, drenching sweat, severe weakness, or collapse.
15. Looking at and feeling the affected arm and hand, which statement fits best?
Their usual color, temperature, and size appear unchanged.
There is mild puffiness that comes and goes without a color or temperature change.
There is persistent swelling or a noticeable color change in the arm or hand.
The arm or hand is suddenly cold, pale or blue, or its circulation seems markedly reduced.