Pain is the body's way of getting our attention and letting us know something is wrong. Yet some individuals have a tendency to "play through shoulder injuries" and ignore pain, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Pain, weakness, and lack of mobility can become second nature.

This not only can worsen the condition, but can cause additional problems long term. According to the AAOS, those suffering from shoulder pain should ask themselves:

A dislocated shoulder happens when a strong force or extreme shoulder rotation pulls the "ball" of the upper arm bone right out of your socket. If the dislocation is partial, it's called a subluxation. Falling on an outstretched hand, or a blow to the shoulder can cause dislocation.

• Learn more about shoulder dislocation and instability

Call your doctor immediately.

Your rotator cuff may tear when you fall on an outstretched hand or collide with something. Rotator cuff tendinitis and tears are common in overhead sports such as baseball, tennis, volleyball and swimming, and also can occur in weight lifting or football.

• Learn more about torn rotator cuffs

If you have pain and stiffness, call your doctor.

Tendinitis is perhaps the most common shoulder problem. The common names of shoulder tendinitis — pitcher's shoulder, swimmer's shoulder, tennis shoulder — are an indication of the sports involved.

Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon (def.)Tendons Tendons are cord-like structures made of collagen that connect muscles to bones.. When it happens in the shoulder, the rotator cuff (def.)Rotator Cuff The rotator cuff is a muscle tendon unit composed of four muscles that attach the humeral head ("ball" of the upper arm bone) to the scapula (shoulder blade). or the biceps (def.)Biceps The biceps is the large muscle at the front of the inner arm. It allows you to flex the arm. tendon are inflamed, usually as the result of being pinched. This squeezing or pinching of the rotator cuff is called shoulder "impingement."

Your shoulder is at risk in many sports. The most frequent problems are with the [no-glossary]tendons[/no-glossary] (tendinitis), [no-glossary]rotator cuff[/no-glossary] (torn rotator cuff) and the shoulder joint (dislocation).

Your doctor probably will suggest surgery only when your symptoms don't improve with conservative treatment. The majority of shoulder conditions may have treatment options that include pain medications and physical therapy. When surgery is believed to be the best choice, a form of minimally invasive surgery called arthroscopic surgery may be appropriate for you.