Shoulder Pain

Jeju Shoulder Pain · Frozen Shoulder · Rotator Cuff — A Shoulder That Hurts When Lifting the Arm and Aches at Night

Frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tears have similar symptoms but different treatments. Distinguishing them with ultrasound comes first.

What you will find on this page

A shoulder you 'cannot lift' (frozen shoulder) and a shoulder you 'do not lift because it hurts' (rotator cuff) call for different treatment. If the arm does not go up even when someone else lifts it, it points to frozen shoulder; if it goes up when someone else lifts it but hurts when you lift it yourself, it points to the tendon. Night pain that aches and wakes you occurs in both, so an ultrasound check is needed.

At Jeju Team Doctor Orthopedic Clinic, a board-certified physiatrist with extensive ultrasound experience examines the shoulder together with board-certified orthopedic and pain medicine specialists. We check the tendons, calcium deposits, and bursa on the same day and proceed step by step through range-of-motion recovery and strength rehabilitation.

Jeju Shoulder Pain · Frozen Shoulder · Rotator Cuff — illustration of shoulder pain and rotator cuff anatomy

Common Shoulder Cases in Jeju

CASE 01Shoulder pain after reaching up to pick tangerines during the harvestRepeated overhead work causes impingement syndrome, where the rotator cuff tendon is pinched between the shoulder bones, as well as tendon damage. This is especially common during harvest season.
CASE 02A person in their 50s who cannot get dressed or reach into a back pocketFrozen shoulder, in which the joint capsule stiffens, is characterized by reduced movement in all directions. It is more common in people with diabetes or thyroid disease.
CASE 03Pain at the back of the shoulder after a golf swingThe backswing and follow-through put strain on the tendons at the back of the shoulder and the labrum. We assess the swing motion together with shoulder blade movement.
CASE 04A haenyeo (Jeju woman diver) who cannot lift her shoulder after divingPaddling through the water and hauling up the net place a heavy load on the rotator cuff. We check the condition of the tendon by ultrasound and set the stages for returning to work.
CASE 05Sudden shoulder pain so severe the shoulder cannot moveThe acute phase of calcific tendinitis brings extreme pain without any injury. Once the calcium deposit is confirmed by ultrasound, the treatment direction is set quickly.
CASE 06A recreational athlete whose shoulder feels like it will pop out after surfing, badminton, or baseballRepeated overhead throwing and paddling motions lead to labrum and instability problems. We evaluate by athlete standards.

What it can be confused with

The main distinctions are 'which directions are limited' and 'does it go up when someone else lifts it'.

CauseMain featuresHow we check
Frozen shoulderStiff in all directions, does not go up even when someone else lifts it, aches at nightPassive range-of-motion exam, ultrasound to rule out other causes
Rotator cuff tendinitis · tearSharp pain at certain angles, weakness, goes up when someone else lifts itStrength tests for each tendon, ultrasound, MRI if needed
Impingement syndromeCatching at a mid-range angle when raising the armImpingement provocation tests, shoulder blade movement
Calcific tendinitisSudden pain so severe the shoulder cannot move, worse at nightCalcium deposits on ultrasound · X-ray
Labrum · instabilityPain and a feeling of the shoulder popping out when throwing or paddlingInstability tests, MRI
Pain referred from the neckShoulder exam is normal, arm tinglingDistinguished by neck examination

How Jeju Team Doctor Orthopedic Clinic approaches it

With the shoulder, ultrasound can show a great deal on the spot. We do the examination and ultrasound on the same day.

When it started, and with which movementsWe ask whether you wake at night, whether you have had an injury, whether you have a condition such as diabetes, and whether you do work such as harvesting, diving, or golf.
Active vs. passiveWe compare how far you can raise the arm yourself with how far it goes when someone else lifts it, and perform strength tests for each tendon along with impingement and instability tests. We also check the shoulder blade and neck.
Ultrasound on the spotWe check the tendons, calcium deposits, and bursa by ultrasound, and the bones and calcium deposits by X-ray. If the tear size or a labral injury is in question, we recommend an MRI.
Frozen shoulder or tendon?We explain which of the two it is and decide the order: whether to restore movement first or control pain first.
Measured by angleWe record range of motion with a goniometer and progress in the order of pain control → range of motion → strength.

Jeju Shoulder Pain · Frozen Shoulder · Rotator Cuff — illustration of rotator cuff tendon damage

How treatment proceeds

Frozen shoulder is treated by 'loosening what has stiffened'; the rotator cuff is treated by 'protecting the tendon while rebuilding strength'.

First, control the inflammationMedication and physical therapy reduce pain so you can move.
Stretch the stiffened joint capsuleFor frozen shoulder, we stretch the capsule step by step with manual therapy and joint exercises, and restore shoulder blade movement.
Build the muscles around the tendonWe strengthen the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles to reduce the load on the tendon, and practice the movements you will return to, such as golf, swimming, or diving.
Shockwave for calcium deposits and chronic tendinitisWe consider extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT).
Injections under ultrasound guidanceIntra-articular injections, bursa injections, prolotherapy, and PRP are performed under ultrasound guidance and are decided after an examination.
When surgery is the right choiceFor large tears or recurrent dislocations, we refer you to a partner hospital, and rehabilitation before and after surgery is done at our clinic.

What to keep in mind while recovering in Jeju

The criterion for returning to activity is 'can you do overhead movements without pain'.

You can raise the arm forward and to the side up to your ear, and reach behind your back
You are not woken by pain at night
The strength to hold the arm out to the side is similar to the other side
Return to harvesting or diving starts with short sessions and low heights, and overhead work is done at the right height using a ladder
Golf and swimming progress from below-the-head movements → overhead movements → full-power swings

These symptoms need prompt evaluation

The shoulder looks different after a fall, or you cannot lift it at all — dislocation, fracture, or acute tear
The shoulder is swollen and extremely painful, with a fever
Arm tingling and weakness change with neck posture — a neck problem
Pain that wakes you every night for weeks, even with rest

The shoulder is a joint where treatment drags on if the cause is misjudged. That is why, on the first day, we show you the tendons and calcium deposits directly on ultrasound and start by confirming together whether it is frozen shoulder or a tendon problem.
— Medical staff, Jeju Team Doctor Orthopedic Clinic

Jeju Shoulder Pain · Frozen Shoulder · Rotator Cuff — shoulder joint examination

Frequently Asked Questions

I heard frozen shoulder gets better if you leave it alone?

It sometimes improves on its own, but that can take more than one to two years, and some range of motion may not come back. The goal of treatment is to shorten that period and recover more range. Results vary from person to person.

I was told my rotator cuff is torn. Do I need surgery?

Many people with partial or small tears regain function without surgery. We decide based on tear size, age, and activity level, and if surgery is the right choice, we refer you to a partner hospital.

What can ultrasound show?

Tendon damage and tears, calcium deposits, bursitis, and the biceps tendon can all be seen the same day. Deeper structures such as the labrum require an MRI.

Do calcium deposits have to be removed?

They are sometimes absorbed on their own, and pain can also be controlled with shockwave therapy or ultrasound-guided procedures. We decide based on the size of the deposit and the level of pain.

It is harvest season. Can I keep working while being treated?

It depends on the condition of the tendon, but many people keep working by adjusting the height and duration of their tasks and using taping. We set the limits after an examination.

Narrowing down the cause shortens treatment.

Treatment of the shoulder is shorter when frozen shoulder, rotator cuff, and calcium deposits are sorted out first. Jeju Team Doctor Orthopedic Clinic tracks range of motion and strength in numbers and sees you through the stages of returning to harvesting, golf, or diving.

If you are in Jeju and your shoulder hurts when you raise your arm or aches and wakes you at night, try having someone else lift your arm and see whether it goes up before you come in. That is where the diagnosis begins.

TEL064-745-5566

RESERVATIONBook on Naver

ADDRESS90 Yeonbuk-ro, Jeju-si, Body Building 2F–3F · Parking Lot 2 (83 Gwawonbuk 4-gil) · Directions

This page is intended to provide general medical information. Individual diagnoses and treatment methods are determined after an examination. Treatment outcomes and recovery times may vary from person to person.