The shoulder can also become injured if there is a swelling of the bursa sacs or swelling of the tendons around the shoulder. Bone spurs and torn cartilage are also causes of shoulder pain in many cases. The rotator cuff is a big cause of pain in the shoulder as well. Lastly, the shoulder can become injured if it remains unused for too long – this is known as “frozen shoulder.” Shoulder Pain Symptoms. Shoulder injuries will usually cause one or more of the following physical symptoms to occur: Muscles in the neck may begin to tense up and become less pliable. Neck movement may be limited. Pain may occur in the back, in the neck or in the chest if the rotator cuff is injured. In some cases, the arms may not be able to life beyond a certain height. Shooting pains down the arm may occur when there is an injury in the shoulder. Shoulder Pain Complications. If left untreated, shoulder pain can spread to other tendons and joints that are connected. Because the shoulders provide balance for the upper body, they body can begin to weight itself down on the injured side. This can cause the other side of the body to compensate, causing more injuries from the pressure.