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Arm pain
By Mayo Clinic staffMayo Clinic Health Manager
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Definition
Your arms are made up of three major bones and nerves as well as muscles, tendons and ligaments. All are susceptible to damage or injury that can cause arm pain. In some cases, arm pain can originate in your neck or even your chest. The first sign of a heart attack may be pain that radiates into your left arm.
Arm pain can occur anywhere from just below your shoulder to your wrist. Often, the pain is fairly minor, but some fractures and nerve problems can cause severe arm pain and may require extensive medical care. Other types of arm pain usually respond well to home treatments.
Causes
Most arm pain results from an injury in an accident or fall. Older adults with fragile bones, active children and people who participate in contact or adventure sports are especially vulnerable. Repetitive stress injuries can also cause pain in your upper arms and wrists. So can damage to the brachial plexus — the network of nerves in your neck and shoulder that carry signals between your spinal cord and arms.
Common causes of arm pain include:
- Brachial plexus injury
- Broken arm
- Broken wrist/broken hand
- "Burner" or "stinger" — a sports injury that occurs when you stretch your head and neck away from your shoulder, causing an electric shock sensation and even weakness running down your arm
- Bursitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- Intersection syndrome — a painful condition affecting your forearm and wrist caused by repetitive wrist movements
- Kienbock disease — stiffness, pain and swelling that develop in your wrist, usually after an injury
- Postherpetic neuralgia
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Tendinitis
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency treatment if you have:
- Arm, shoulder or back pain that comes on suddenly, is unusually severe, or is accompanied by pressure, fullness or squeezing in your chest (this may signal a heart attack)
- An obvious deformity or protruding bone in your arm or wrist, especially if you have bleeding or other injuries
See your doctor right away if you have:
- Arm, shoulder or back pain that occurs with any sort of exertion and is relieved by rest (this may signal heart disease or angina — chest discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to your heart muscle)
- A sudden injury to your arm, particularly if you hear a snap or cracking sound
- Severe pain and swelling in your arm
- Trouble moving your arm normally or turning your arm from palm up to palm down and vice versa
Schedule an office visit if you have:
- Arm pain that doesn't improve after a week or so of home care
- Increasing redness, swelling or pain in the injured area
- A brachial plexus injury that hasn't improved in a month
Self-care
Even serious arm injuries can be helped initially with home treatment. If you think that you have a broken arm or wrist, apply ice packs to the affected area and use a sling to help hold your arm still until you can get medical care.
If you have a compressed nerve or repetitive strain injury, be consistent about therapy; maintain good posture; and take frequent breaks at work and during repetitive activities, such as playing an instrument or practicing your golf swing.
Most other types of arm pain will get better on their own, especially if you start P.R.I.C.E. measures within 48 hours of your injury.
- Protection. As much as possible, try not to use your arm.
- Rest. Take a break from your normal activities.
- Ice. Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
- Compression. Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
- Elevation. If possible, elevate your arm to help reduce swelling.
