Call 911 or go to an emergency room now if:
- You have sudden pressure or crushing pain in your shoulder, especially if it runs from your chest to your left jaw, arm or neck, or comes with shortness of breath, dizziness or sweating. MedlinePlus notes that sudden left shoulder pain can be a sign of a heart attack [1].
- You have just had a severe injury and the shoulder is very painful, swollen, bruised or bleeding [1].
- You may have hurt your ribs and have shortness of breath or chest pain that is getting worse, pain in your tummy or shoulder, or you are coughing up blood [2]. The NHS lists a rib injury caused by a serious accident, such as a car accident, as a reason to call emergency services [2].
Don't drive yourself. A chiropractic office is not an emergency room.
Why the shoulder gets hurt in a crash
- The seat belt. The shoulder strap holds you in place by loading one shoulder and the collarbone.
- Bracing. Hands locked on the wheel send the force of the stop up through the arms into the shoulders.
- Side impacts. The door or window can strike the arm and shoulder directly.
- The neck. Irritated joints or nerves in the neck can cause pain that is felt in the shoulder, which is why the two are examined together. See whiplash treatment.
Common shoulder problems after a crash
- Muscle strain in the shoulder and upper back. If the pain is lower down, see lower back pain after a car accident.
- Irritation or a tear of the rotator cuff tendons.
- A sprain of the joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade (the AC joint).
- Pain referred from the neck.
- Bruising from the seat belt across the shoulder and chest.
Symptoms to write down
- Pain when lifting your arm overhead or reaching behind you.
- Weakness, clicking or catching.
- Pain at night, especially lying on that side.
- Pain that starts in the neck and runs into the shoulder.
- Numbness or tingling down the arm.
Write down each symptom and the day it started. The Crash Kit has a symptom log you keep yourself. Side impacts often hurt the ribs as well: see rib pain after a car accident.
What a first exam checks for shoulder pain after a car accident
Your doctor takes a history of the crash and your symptoms: where you were sitting, which shoulder the belt crossed, whether you braced on the wheel, and when each symptom started. Then the shoulder and the neck are examined together:
- how the two shoulders look and compare, including bruising along the belt line
- where it is tender: the collarbone, the AC joint, the front and back of the shoulder
- range of motion, measured in degrees, with the arm moved by you and by the examiner
- strength and orthopedic tests of the rotator cuff and the AC joint
- a neck exam, because pain from the neck can be felt in the shoulder
- a neurological screen of the arm: strength, reflexes and sensation
If the exam points to a tear or another injury that needs imaging or another doctor's opinion, you are referred. Findings are written down and dated from the first visit. Get examined as soon as you can. An early, dated exam starts your record from the beginning.
Who examines your shoulder
Dr. Irina Velichko, DC, focuses on extremity injuries: the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle and foot. She sees patients in English and Russian. Dr. Ben Glass, DC, sees patients in English and Spanish. Either doctor examines the neck and shoulder together.
Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted. The clinic does not bill health insurance or workers' comp. We check your policy before your first visit, and what you owe is confirmed in writing before your first visit.
Sources
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), "Shoulder pain" (reviewed September 2, 2025). Read October 6, 2026.
- NHS, "Broken or bruised ribs" (last reviewed January 10, 2024). Read October 6, 2026.
Common questions
Why does my shoulder hurt when it was my neck that snapped?
Pain from irritated joints or nerves in the neck is often felt in the shoulder. That is why the neck and shoulder are examined together.
Why did the shoulder pain start days after the crash?
Adrenaline can mask pain at the scene, and stiffness and soreness can show up in the hours or days after a crash. Write down when it started.
Will I need an MRI?
Not always. The exam decides. If it points to a tear or another injury that needs imaging, you are referred for it.
How long will my shoulder take to feel better?
It differs for every person and every crash, so we do not publish timelines. Your plan is set after the exam and measured at each re-evaluation.