Management of Referred Shoulder Pain

Diagnostic Approach

• The American College of Radiology recommends that imaging should target the suspected source, not the shoulder, and radiography of the shoulder is not indicated when clinical examination suggests referred pain 1, 2

Treatment Algorithm

• The American College of Radiology suggests that therapeutic interventions should be directed toward the identified underlying pathology, and standard shoulder treatments will fail because the pathology is not in the shoulder 1, 2