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There's a good chance that the pain in your shoulder will go away with time, particularly if you're younger. But you may get a painful shoulder again.

One study found that:¹

• 50 percent of the people with shoulder pain were fully recovered within 18 months.
• 25 percent of the people had shoulder pain more than once.

Older people may be less likely to recover fully from pain in their shoulder. One study of older people found that most of them still had a painful shoulder three years later.²

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.