Brief Answer:
Seeing the local doctor is probably the best first step

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome at "Ask a Doctor" service,

Generally shoulder pain waking up the patient at night is due to rotator cuff problems or bursitis on the shoulder (they are both quite related to one another). These are very common especially if you have done repetitive movements above the level of the head like cleaning shelves or reaching out to get things on high shelves, etc (due to friction of the muscles and tendons with the bones in the shoulder area).

They are not dangerous but might cause a lot of discomfort. You may choose to see your orthopedic doctor, depends how the medical system works in your area but in my opinion it might be easier and more feasible to see your local doctor which will examine you and might treat you himself or refer you to a physiotherapist or an orthopedic doctor depends which he thinks would be of greater help in your case.
Sometimes a local injection with a steroid and lignocaine can be used (the doctor will decide if this is going to be needed or not in your case) and might bring great improvement and many times the local doctor might administer it himself or might refer you to the orthopedic doctor to have it done.

To conclude:
- very likely the pain you have is due to a very common condition of the shoulder and seeing the local doctor might be the best first step
- you might benefit from physiotherapy so the doctor might refer you there
- sometimes a local injection might be needed and in this case your local doctor or the orthopedic doctor might be able to administer it
- if you have numbness or weakness of the arm, hand or fingers very likely the doctor might refer you to a neurologist, so it is best to see your local doctor first to better know which would be the best plan in your case.

I hope this answers to your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Kind regards,

Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician

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