Are you experiencing arm pain that won’t go away? Whether it’s left arm pain, right arm pain, or discomfort in the upper arm, arm pain can signal anything from a muscle strain to a serious health issue. In women, especially, left arm pain could sometimes indicate a heart-related concern. In this guide, we’ll break down everything about arm pain — its causes, symptoms, and the most effective treatments.
What is Arm Pain?
Arm pain refers to discomfort, aching, or sharp pain in any part of the arm — including the shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, or hand. It may be constant or come and go, and the sensation can range from dull aches to intense burning or stabbing pain.
Main Causes of Arm Pain
Let’s look at some of the most common reasons you might be feeling pain in your arm:
1. Muscle Strain or Overuse
Overworking the muscles through exercise, heavy lifting, or repetitive movements can lead to muscle strain or tendinitis.
2. Nerve Compression or Damage
- Pinched nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy) may radiate pain down the arm.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the wrist but can also cause arm pain.
3. Injury or Trauma
Falls, accidents, or sports injuries can cause fractures, sprains, or dislocations, resulting in sharp pain, swelling, and limited movement.
4. Heart-Related Issues (Especially Left Arm Pain)
Left arm pain, particularly in women, can be a warning sign of a heart attack. If the pain is sudden, severe, and accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, or nausea, seek immediate medical help.
5. Referred Pain
Pain from another part of the body (like the neck or shoulder) can radiate into the arm.
6. Joint Conditions
- Arthritis in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist
- Frozen shoulder or bursitis
- Tennis elbow
Causes and Risk Factors of Arm Pain
The Mayo Clinic lists the following diseases and disorders as potential sources of arm discomfort.
- Angina
- Injuries to the brachial plexus
- Arm broken
- Hand or wrist fractures
- Bursitis
- As for carpal tunnel syndrome,
- A herniated disc in the cervical spine
- Tenosynovitis of the De Quatrain’s space
- Upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis
- Elbow dislocation
- Compression of a nerve (pinched nerve)
Repetitive stress injuries and pinched nerves are common causes of arm discomfort, and there are certain established risk factors. Some examples of such elements are:
Sex: – Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women since their carpal tunnels are smaller.
Issues with the Thyroid: – For unknown causes, thyroid issues can increase the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diabetes: – Compression of a nerve may be more likely if the nerve has already been damaged by diabetes. Obesity The danger of compression of nerves is increased with increasing body weight.
Pregnancy: – Gaining pregnancy weight may be stressful on the nervous system.
Overuse:- According to the Mayo Clinic, repetitive stress injuries like tendonitis or a pinched nerve are more likely to occur if your profession or pastime requires you to repeatedly use your hands, wrists, or shoulders.
How Is Arm Pain Diagnosed?
There are many potential reasons for arm pain, and if yours continues or causes substantial distress, you should make an appointment with your doctor.
The physical exam or your answers are helping the doctor diagnose your arm discomfort. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following imaging tests may be ordered by your doctor if necessary:
The Use of MRI Technology: – The test takes pictures of certain parts of your body using a magnetic field and radio waves.
Ultrasound: – Compression disorders like carpal tunnel may be diagnosed with the use of this test, which employs sound waves to create pictures of structures in your body.
Experiment on Nerve Conduction: – A tiny quantity of electrical current is delivered to a specific location of the body, and the resulting nerve impulses are measured.
Duration of Arm Pain
Depending on the underlying cause and intensity, arm discomfort may persist anywhere from a few days to months or even years. The discomfort might be intermittent or persistent.
When discomfort lasts more than a few days & disrupts normal living, consult a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
Medicines & Treatments for Arm Pain
Self-care and over-the-counter pain relievers are often sufficient for many types of arm discomfort.
Avoid doing things that put stress on your arms, such as lifting heavy objects, and take regular pauses if you get arm discomfort from overuse or a pinched nerve.
The RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) is recommended by the Mayo Clinic for the temporary relief of arm discomfort caused by overuse or exercise.
- Rest: – Stop what you’re doing and relax for a while.
- Ice: – For 15 to 20 minutes, three times a day, place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on the painful region.
- Compression: – To minimize swelling, a compression bandage should be used.
- Elevation: – Keep your arm up over your heart to alleviate the swelling.
Which arm hurts before a stroke?
Pain in a man’s left arm might go anywhere from the shoulder to the elbow or even the chin.
Seek immediate medical attention if the pain comes on suddenly, is unusually severe, or is accompanied by a feeling of pressure or squeezing in the chest. The discomfort is often milder in females. The affected arm may be the right or left one.
Why is my whole arm hurting all of a sudden?
Wear and tear, misuse, accidents, pinched nerves, and medical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia all contribute to this issue. Arm discomfort can start quickly or get worse over time, depending on what’s causing it.
When should you get your arm pain checked?
Arrange a time with your doctor if: arm pain does not go away after you’ve tried home remedies. Redness, swelling, or pain in the damaged area getting worse.
How I will stop my arm from aching?
Stop doing anything that hurts and take some time to rest. Ten to fifteen minutes at a time, placed ice or cold carry on your arm. Use a thin towel as a barrier around your body’s skin and the cold.
What part of your arm hurts when you have heart problems?
Pain will radiate from the left shoulder, lower the left arm, or even to the chin in males. For women, pain can feel very different.
It may spread to the opposite arm, the face, the shoulders, the upper back, and even the stomach (in the form of nausea, indigestion, or uneasiness).
How do you know if left arm pain is not heart-related?
A cardiac issue is not likely if the left arm ache lasts less than a few seconds. It’s also unlikely that the discomfort is cardiac in nature if it persists for days (or even weeks).
What kind of arm pain is serious?
A visit to the emergency room or a doctor’s office is warranted if you have sudden, severe pain in your arms, shoulders, or back that is accompanied by a sense of fullness or pressure in your chest.
How do you treat upper left arm pain between the elbow and shoulder?
The R.I.C.E. approach (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) is effective for treating most cases of shoulder and elbow discomfort. If utilized with over-the-counter NSAIDs (No steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), it could reduce swelling and pain.
Why does my arm hurt inside my upper arm?
Overuse injuries to the upper part of the arm include shoulder area bursitis and biceps tendinitis, and impingement. Other potential causes of upper arm discomfort include having weak muscles, using bad technique, or exercising too intensely.
