›Orthopedics within 3 to 7 days for dislocation or fracture
›Primary care within 1 to 2 weeks for atraumatic pain
›Physio within 1 to 2 weeks when indicated
›Immediate return if worsening neurovascular symptoms
18Discharge Instructions/di15
Copy discharge instructions
›Shoulder pain discharge guidance
›Most shoulder pain is from muscles, tendons, or joints and improves with time and gentle movement
›Use ice 15 to 20 minutes up to 4 times daily for the first 48 hours if helpful
›Use a sling only for comfort and try gentle shoulder range of motion as tolerated unless told otherwise
›Pain medicines as prescribed
›Avoid heavy lifting and overhead activity until improving
›Follow up with your clinician or physiotherapy within the recommended time window
›Return to the ER now for
›New chest pain
›Trouble breathing
›Fever
›Redness and warmth with rapidly worsening pain
›New numbness or weakness in the arm or hand
›Cold or pale hand
›Severe swelling of the arm
19References/r6
Guidelines and core sources
›Evidence sources for shoulder pain evaluation
›American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons clinical practice guideline on rotator cuff injuries most recent version local protocol dependent
›American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria shoulder pain most recent version
›Infectious Diseases Society of America guidance for septic arthritis and osteomyelitis most recent version local protocol dependent
›American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guideline for chest pain evaluation 2021
›Canadian C-Spine Rule derivation and validation studies
Evidence & Review
Reviewed by SymptomDx Medical Team·Last reviewed
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.