What To Know and Do About Arm Pain
PeopleImages / Getty Images
Medically reviewed by Raynetta Samuels PT, DPT, CLT
Arm pain is a common experience with many possible causes. Acute injury, overuse (wear and tear), and underlying conditions affecting arm bones, muscles, joints, tendons, or other connective tissues can cause pain and discomfort anywhere from your shoulders to your fingers. In some cases, arm pain can signal a problem with your heart (like a heart attack) or reduced blood flow to your arm.
Depending on the cause, you may experience mild pain that doesn't affect your ability to use your arm. Pain might be more severe, even debilitating, and interfere with sleep and daily functioning.
How Arm Pain Presents
Arm pain varies depending on the cause and which structure in the arm is affected—for example, bone or muscle. You may have pain in one or both arms and notice that some activities worsen the pain while others provide relief. Here's an overview of how arm pain may present:
Onset: Arm pain may develop suddenly (e.g., after an injury) or gradually over time (e.g., from overuse).
Location: Arm pain can affect your shoulder, upper arm, forearm, wrist, hand, or fingers.
Sensation: You may experience dull and aching pain, sharp stabbing sensations, stiffness, burning, tingling, or numbness.
Intensity: Pain severity can range from a mild ache that's a minor inconvenience to more severe pain that limits your arm's range of motion and functioning.
Pattern: Pain may be constant, come and go, or occur only during certain activities.
Additional symptoms: Some causes of arm pain may cause additional symptoms, including weakness, swelling, redness, or limited range of motion.
Potential Causes of Arm Pain
Acute (sudden) injuries, wear and tear from overuse, and certain medical conditions can affect muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and joints in one or both arms and cause pain.
Key Terms
Ligament: Connective tissue that connects bones at joints like elbows and wrists
Tendon: A thick, flexible band of tissue that connects muscles to bones
Bursa: A small, fluid-filled sac that provides cushioning for bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons near a joint
Rotator cuff: A group of muscles, tendons, and bones that stabilize the shoulder joint
Acute Injury
An acute injury to one or more arm structures—such as a muscle, bone, or ligament—is a common cause of arm pain. Acute injuries can develop from a fall, forceful twisting or pulling movements, or direct blows to your arm. They might occur due to an accident or while playing sports.
Common acute injuries to the arm include:
Sprains: A sprain is a torn or stretched ligament. Symptoms include swelling, bruising, and trouble moving the affected joint. You might hear a pop or tearing sound when a sprain occurs.
Strains: A strain is a torn or stretched muscle or tendon. Muscle or tendon strains can cause pain, muscle spasms, weakness, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected area.
Fractures: Broken bones in the arm are most common in the elbow, shoulder, wrist, forearm, and upper arm. The ulna and radius are the two bones that extend from your elbow to your wrist. The humerus is the large bone that extends from your shoulder to your elbow. A fracture can cause bruising, intense pain, swelling, numbness or tingling, and difficulty moving your arm.
Dislocation: A joint dislocation in your elbow or shoulder occurs when the joint surfaces partially or entirely separate from their normal position. Dislocations can cause pain during movement as well as symptoms like bruising, swelling, weakness, and muscle spasms. You might feel like the joint is sliding in and out of place.
Overuse Injury
An overuse injury occurs from performing repetitive motions. This might happen due to repetitive movement patterns at work or as a result of playing sports.
Overuse injuries include:
Bursitis: Inflammation of a bursa causes pain, swelling, and tenderness near the affected joint. Bursitis in your arm can affect your elbow (olecranon bursitis), shoulder (subacromial bursitis), or wrist (ulnar and radial bursitis). Pain may worsen during movements and make daily activities like getting dressed challenging.
Tendinitis: Tendon inflammation causes pain that worsens with activity, swelling, and worsening pain at night. It can also cause morning stiffness. Tendinitis frequently affects the shoulder, elbow, or wrist. Tendonitis sometimes goes by different names based on the sport associated with the injury, such as tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, or golfer's elbow.
Rotator cuff tear: Rotator cuff injuries can range from minor tears to complete ruptures. Most injuries develop slowly from overuse (repetitive motions with the same arm) or age-related wear and tear. Symptoms include pain during activities and at rest, limited range of motion, and weakness. Lifting or rotating your arm and performing daily activities may be difficult. You may experience crepitus, a crackling sensation when you move your shoulder.
Nerve Compression (Pinched Nerve)
Nerve compression, or a "pinched nerve," can cause arm pain. Swelling of nearby soft tissues or damage to surrounding structures can put pressure on an arm nerve. Symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling ("pins and needles"), burning sensations, and weakness along the path of the affected nerve.
Key Terms
Median nerve: Runs from your forearm to your palm
Ulnar nerve: Runs from your neck to your hand
Radial nerve: Runs through the muscles on top of your forearm and elbow
These three nerves originate from your neck (cervical nerve roots).
Nerve compression conditions include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome: Compression of your median nerve occurs when surrounding tissues press on and reduce blood supply to the nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your forearm and hand that often worsens at night and makes it difficult to perform tasks like writing with a pen or grasping objects.
Cubital tunnel syndrome: Compression of your ulnar nerve causes aching elbow pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your pinky and ring finger. You may have difficulty gripping objects or performing fine motor skills like typing or playing piano.
Radial tunnel syndrome: Compression of the radial nerve causes dull or burning pain in your forearm that may radiate down to your wrist. Weakness and difficulty moving your forearm and straightening your wrist are also common.
Cervical radiculopathy: Compression of any nerve in your neck (cervical nerves) causes pain and numbness that radiates down one or both arms. Herniated (slipped) discs or age-related wear and tear can cause your neck's discs and bones to press on and irritate a cervical nerve, leading to weakness and limited range of motion in your arm(s).
Arthritis
Arthritis is joint inflammation in your shoulder, elbow, or wrist. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints. Types of arthritis that can affect arm joints include:
Osteoarthritis (OA): OA occurs when the cartilage that cushions bones within a joint breaks down from a previous injury or age-related wear and tear. It can affect your elbow, shoulder, wrist, and hands. Symptoms include pain that often worsens with activity, morning stiffness, swelling, and limited range of motion.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune form of arthritis that causes inflammation in the lining of your joints (synovium). It can affect any joint but is most common in the hands and wrists. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA): PsA is a form of inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis—an autoimmune condition that speeds up the growth of skin cells and causes inflamed skin patches. PsA can affect large and small joints, including your elbow, shoulder, wrists, and fingers. It causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in the affected joints.
Other Causes
Other possible causes of arm pain include:
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): CRPS is a chronic (long-term) pain condition that can develop after an injury, surgery, or trauma such as a heart attack or stroke. It commonly affects your arms and may cause symptoms like sudden burning or tingling, skin color and texture changes, and hair and nail growth changes on the affected arm.
Thoracic outlet syndrome: This condition results from compression of nerves and blood vessels in your upper chest and neck. It can cause arm pain, weakness, and numbness.
Cancer: Though rare, bone cancers can cause a dull, aching pain in the affected arm that may worsen at night and during physical activity.
Infection: An infection in a bone (osteomyelitis), skin (cellulitis), or muscles (pyomyositis) in your arm can cause pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area. You may develop a fever, muscle aches, or joint pain.
Arm artery disease: Reduced or blocked blood flow to the arms can cause severe pain in your arms and hands. You may feel tingling, numbness, or forearm cramping.
When Arm Pain Signals a Heart Attack
Arm pain is a common symptom of a heart attack. Call 911 if you experience pain in one or both arms along with other symptoms of a heart attack, such as:
Squeezing pain, pressure, fullness, or tightness in your chest
Pain or discomfort in your jaw, back, arms, or stomach
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Nausea
Sweating
When To See a Healthcare Provider
Some arm pain may resolve on its own with rest, but reach out to a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment when:
Arm pain is severe, persistent, or worsens despite self-care measures like ice therapy and rest
You notice significant bruising, swelling, or physical changes in your arm
You cannot perform daily activities (e.g., getting dressed, brushing hair)
Pain develops after a recent trauma (e.g., fall, accident)
You have a fever or notice redness, swelling, or skin changes in the affected area
How Is Arm Pain Diagnosed?
Diagnosing the cause of arm pain involves a medical history review, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Your healthcare provider may ask questions like:
Did you experience a recent or past arm injury?
Do you play any sports?
Does your work involve repetitive arm movements?
Can you describe your symptoms and when they began?
Which activities and movements worsen or relieve the pain?
Your healthcare provider will examine your arm for signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, and tenderness. They may ask you to move your arm in multiple directions to assess your range of motion and test your grip strength and nerve function (e.g., feeling sensations like hot and cold).
Diagnostic tests can help your healthcare provider pinpoint the cause of arm pain to provide an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. They may order:
Imaging tests: X-rays, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans allow healthcare providers to visualize bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and soft tissues in your arm. This can help them identify abnormalities like fractures, nerve compression, bursitis, and tendinitis.
Electromyography (EMG): This test EMG assesses your muscles' nerve signals when in motion and at rest.
Nerve conduction study: This study measures how well and quickly your body's electrical signals reach the nerves in your arms.
Blood tests: A blood sample, usually taken from a vein in your arm, can help identify signs of inflammation and infection and diagnose conditions like arthritis or bacterial infections.
How Is Arm Pain Treated?
Arm pain treatment may include at-home measures, medical treatments, and complementary therapies depending on the cause and severity of arm pain.
At-Home Treatments
Self-care measures may be enough to treat minor injuries or acute (short-term) inflammation affecting your arm. Your healthcare provider may recommend the RICE protocol, which includes:
Rest: Limit or avoid activities that worsen arm pain for a day or two
Ice therapy: Apply an ice pack (wrapped in a thin cloth) for up to 20 minutes several times daily
Compression: Apply pressure to the affected area—for example, with a supportive brace or elastic bandage—to reduce inflammation and swelling
Elevation: Keep the injured part of your arm elevated above your heart with a pillow to reduce swelling
Over-the-counter (OTC) medication: Try pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) to help reduce pain and inflammation
Medical Treatments
Some causes of arm pain require prescription medications or medical therapies and treatments to relieve pain and promote healing. These treatments may include:
Prescription medications: Moderate to severe arm pain may require prescription-strength pain relievers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen or corticosteroid injections in the affected area can effectively reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Immobilization: Some arm injuries may require casts, splints, or braces to protect injured tissues and bones and keep your arm still to promote healing.
Physical therapy (PT): Physical therapy may benefit acute and overuse injuries. A physical therapist will help you perform and learn specific exercises and stretches to build strength, improve flexibility (range of motion), and function in the affected arm. PT might also include therapeutic massage.
Surgery: Damaged nerves, ligaments, tendons, and broken bones may require surgery to repair the injury and help your body heal.
Complementary Therapies
Some complementary therapies may promote relaxation and provide short-term pain relief.
Massage therapy: Applying gentle pressure to muscles and soft tissues in your arm may reduce muscle tension and spasms.
Ultrasound therapy: Ultrasound therapy, which involves applying sound waves to the affected area, may reduce tendonitis-related inflammation and pain and promote healing.
Acupuncture: This Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice involves inserting thin needles into specific body parts. Acupuncture may offer short-term pain relief for conditions like arthritis and musculoskeletal injuries.
Mind-body techniques: Relaxation techniques like mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, and guided imagery may promote relaxation and help manage chronic pain.
A Quick Review
Arm pain has many possible causes that range from minor injuries to more serious, chronic conditions. It might occur anywhere from your shoulders to your fingers. Fortunately, there are many treatments for arm pain. At-home remedies like rest, icing, and OTC pain relievers are often helpful starting points. Arm pain that persists or worsens requires a diagnosis and medical treatment to promote healing and prevent complications.
If you live with chronic arm pain, work with your healthcare provider to find an effective pain management strategy. This may include massage, physical therapy, or mind-body techniques that help relieve pain and improve your quality of life.
For more Health.com news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Health.com.
