What are the symptoms of shoulder arthritis?

The most common symptom of arthritis of the shoulder is pain, which is aggravated by movement and progressively gets worse over time. Most patients complain of a deep ache in the joint. The pain may be affected by the weather. Pain is often felt at night even when not moving the shoulder and may affect your sleep.

Limited movement is the other most common symptom. Initially, patients often have difficulty with overhead activities, like hanging washing on the line or reaching a high shelf. Activities such as combing your hair or getting dressed become progressively more difficult. You may hear a grinding or clicking sound (crepitus) as you move your shoulder.