What causes left shoulder pain, and when is it an emergency?
Left shoulder pain may come from tendons, muscles, the joint or neck, and can sometimes be referred from the heart or another organ. Location alone does not identify the cause. Pain with chest pressure, sweating, breathlessness or sudden nausea needs emergency help.
Details
Do not wait for a clinic appointment if heart symptoms are suspected
New exertional pain or associated systemic symptoms deserves urgent assessment. Call emergency services for possible heart-attack symptoms and do not drive yourself. Chest pain is not always severe or obvious.
When might the cause be local?
Pain linked to a specific movement or injury may suggest a shoulder problem, but does not independently exclude other causes. Examination of movement, strength and sensation guides physiotherapy or further tests.
Other important warning signs
Deformity after a fall, inability to move the arm or persistent numbness needs prompt assessment, as does severe pain with redness and fever. Avoid heavy lifting or trying to reduce an apparently dislocated joint yourself.
Related reading: Does left arm pain always mean a heart attack?.