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Shoulder impingement
Check if you have shoulder impingement

Shoulder impingement can start suddenly or come on gradually.

The main symptoms are:

  • pain at the top and the outside of your shoulder – the pain may be worse at night while you're sleeping
  • shoulder pain that's worse when you lift your arm, especially when you lift it above your head
  • weakness in your arm

There are other possible causes of shoulder pain that have similar symptoms.

How to help shoulder impingement yourself

If you have shoulder impingement, there are some things you can do to help ease the symptoms.

Do

  • follow any exercises from your GP or physiotherapist as early as you can

  • hold an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel on your shoulder for up to 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day

  • take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen or use ibuprofen gel

Don't

  • do not carry on with activities that caused your shoulder pain or involve repeatedly lifting your arm above your head (such as swimming or playing tennis)

  • do not stop moving your shoulder completely – this can stop it getting better

See a GP if:

  • you have shoulder pain that does not go away after a few weeks
  • shoulder pain is stopping you from doing your usual activities

A physiotherapist can also diagnose shoulder impingement.

Treatment for shoulder impingement

A GP can prescribe a stronger painkiller for shoulder impingement if you need it.

A physiotherapist can also help with shoulder impingement. They can suggest exercises to help your range of movement and reduce pain.

Some people with shoulder impingement may be offered:

  • steroid injections, which may relieve pain if rest and exercises do not help on their own
  • surgery to widen the space around the tendon to prevent it rubbing on the tissue or bone

Find out more about physiotherapy

Last Reviewed
12 May 2026
NHS websiteNHS website

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Established in 1983, Blackwells Chemist has been around for 43 years in the current hands of Piyush Amin, providing excellence care and personal professional advice. Over time, we have secured our reputation to thousands of patients as "their long term family pharmacist" due to our specialist advice, care and attention served and tailored to each and every patient and their needs.

As well as the standard pharmacy prescription services and healthcare retail products, we also offer a wide range of healthcare services including antigen and antibody testing, a travel and vaccination clinic, a seasonal flu & covid jab service, blood pressure monitoring, addiction clinics, health screening services, Pharmacy First and a range of over 12,000 product lines stocked in store.

We serve all of Beckenham, Bromley, Park Langley, Penge, Crystal Palace, West Wickham, Shirley, Eden Park, Elmers End, Shortlands and further afield. 

Ask your local GP about our sterling reputation, for both excellence in care as well as stocked products.
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Premises GPhC No:1032588
Superintendent Pharmacist: Piyush Amin (GPhC No. 2028679)
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