I Hurt My Shoulder and Now I Can’t Lift My Arm Normally

Your shoulder may hurt and your arm may feel difficult to lift normally after an injury because pain, weakness, swelling, or damage around the shoulder is making the movement feel restricted.

After hurting your shoulder, you may notice that everyday movements suddenly feel different. Reaching for something overhead, putting on a shirt, washing your hair, or simply lifting your arm away from your body may cause pain or make your arm feel like it does not want to go any farther.

The restriction may be most noticeable when you try to raise your arm through a certain part of the movement. You might get your arm started normally and then feel pain, weakness, catching, or a sharp stop that makes you hesitate, especially if the injured area is still swollen, tender, or unable to move the way it did before.

Your Arm Starts Up Then Feels Stuck

You may be able to begin lifting your arm but reach a point where the movement suddenly becomes painful or difficult.

This can happen when an injured shoulder is irritated enough that raising your arm through a certain range feels like something is pulling, catching, or stopping you. You may find yourself trying to lift the arm more slowly or using your other arm to help because continuing the movement feels too painful or weak.

The Shoulder Feels Weak When You Try Again

You might notice that even after resting, your arm still feels unreliable when you try to lift it again.

The pain may ease while your arm is resting at your side, then return as soon as you reach outward or overhead. After an injury, weakness can make the movement feel awkward or unsteady, causing you to protect the shoulder without even realizing it.

Why Your Shoulder Keeps Limiting Arm Movement

Your shoulder has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and repeated irritation.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your shoulder feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Shoulder Feel Better

Your shoulder starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why can't I lift my arm normally after hurting my shoulder?

Pain, swelling, weakness, or injury to the rotator cuff and other parts of your shoulder can make lifting your arm difficult. The movement may feel restricted because your shoulder is painful or does not have its usual strength.

Should I keep trying to lift my arm if my shoulder hurts?

Do not force your arm through sharp or severe pain. Gentle movement may be more comfortable, but a sudden inability to lift your arm normally after an injury should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

Why does my shoulder hurt more when I lift my arm overhead?

Lifting your arm overhead can bring painful or injured parts of your shoulder into a position that aggravates the injury. You may notice the pain increases as your arm gets higher.

Can a shoulder injury cause weakness without constant pain?

Yes. Your shoulder may feel relatively comfortable at rest but weak or painful when you try to lift, reach, or hold your arm in certain positions.

When should I get my shoulder checked after an injury?

You should seek medical evaluation if you cannot lift your arm, have severe pain, obvious deformity, major swelling, numbness, or symptoms that are persistent or getting worse.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.