Shoulder osteoarthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis is wear of the shoulder joint cartilage, causing pain and stiffness that get worse with use. Read more about shoulder osteoarthritis →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the orthopaedics wait, updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
orthopaedics waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | Bath and North East Somerset | 12 weeks |
| Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Liverpool | 13 weeks |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | Nuneaton and Bedworth | 13 weeks |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | Warwick | 14 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 15 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 15 weeks |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Camden | 16 weeks |
| Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Wigan | 16 weeks |
About shoulder osteoarthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis is wear of the smooth cartilage that lines the shoulder joint, so the bones no longer glide as easily. It causes a deep, aching pain in the shoulder, stiffness, and sometimes a grating or clicking feeling, and it can make reaching up or behind you harder. It is less common than arthritis of the hip or knee, and it tends to come on gradually with age or after an old injury to the shoulder.
How it is treated
Shoulder osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but the symptoms can usually be eased. Most people start with painkillers, staying gently active, and a structured exercise plan with a physiotherapist to keep the shoulder moving and strong. A steroid injection into the joint can settle a painful spell. When pain is severe and other treatments no longer help, an operation to replace the worn joint surfaces with artificial ones (a shoulder replacement) may be offered.
After treatment
Many people manage shoulder osteoarthritis for a long time with exercises, painkillers and the occasional injection, keeping the shoulder as mobile as possible. If a shoulder replacement is done, it is followed by a period of physiotherapy to rebuild movement and strength, and it can take several months to feel the full benefit. Pacing activities and keeping up the exercises help protect the joint. Go back to your GP if the pain or stiffness gets significantly worse.
Sources: NHS: Osteoarthritis. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.