Commonly, they have difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder and limited range of motion. Some people with arthritis notice a grinding feeling when the shoulder is moved. Shoulder arthritis usually gets worse over time, but the rate of this progression varies widely. Shoulder arthritis must be distinguished from rotator cuff disease, frozen shoulder, and neck arthritis, each of which may produce similar symptoms. Rotator cuff tears usually cause pain and weakness, but stiffness is less common.
Frozen shoulder is characterized by shoulder stiffness, but the X-rays are usually normal.
Neck arthritis may cause shoulder pain and weakness that is worse when the head is held in certain positions. While not as common as rotator cuff disease, shoulder arthritis is among the most prevalent causes of shoulder pain and loss of function. Arthritis of the shoulder joint is less common than arthritis of the hip or knee. Individuals with arthritis in one joint are more likely to get it in another joint. A physician diagnoses shoulder arthritis by reviewing the patient's history, performing a thorough physical examination of the joint and taking the proper X-rays.