Avoiding any overarm movements will help prevent any further inflammation (swelling) or damage. If impingement syndrome is only mild then rest, ice and painkillers may be all that's needed. How is it treated? Caring for your shoulder at home You may be referred for a specialist assessment from a shoulder surgeon, which often involves a scan of your shoulder. Your doctor may want to rule out other possible causes of shoulder pain, if the diagnosis isn't clear. This is usually painful in impingement syndrome. You may be asked to raise your arm to the side, with your palm facing away from your body (thumb down). Your doctor should be able to diagnose impingement syndrome by listening to your symptoms and examining your shoulder.
![iced out my arms iced out my arms](https://images.genius.com/00115bbb0111f801a1c411beaaa75e54.900x500x1.jpg)
It can start suddenly after an injury, or (generally from middle age onwards) it can come on gradually without any obvious cause. In impingement syndrome, the tendon becomes trapped in this space and is repeatedly scraped against the shoulder blade, causing pain which tends to be worse when you raise your arm over your head, and at night. This tendon runs through a narrow space between the top of your arm bone and the shoulder blade. It involves the rotator cuff tendon – a tough, rubbery cord that connects your shoulder blade to your arm bone (see diagram, left). Impingement syndrome is pain and often weakness when you raise your arm, caused by a muscle tendon 'catching' in your shoulder.