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Request Appointment Symptoms Arm pain Print Definition Causes When to see a doctor Products and services When to see a doctorBy Mayo Clinic Staff 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 - possibly signaling heart disease or chest discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to your heart muscle (angina) 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 home care Increasing redness, swelling or pain in the injured area 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 R.I.C.E. measures soon after your injury. 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. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. 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Thank you for subscribing You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Causes ShareTweet March 27, 2021 Show references McMahon SB, et al., eds. Non-specific arm pain. In: Wall & Melzack's Textbook of Pain. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.; Saunders Elsevier: 2013. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 6, 2016. Henderson MC, et al., eds. Arm and hand pain. In: The Patient History: An Evidence-Based Approach to Differential Diagnosis. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://accessmedicine.com. Accessed Jan. 16, 2016. Heart attack. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/. Accessed Jan. 16, 2016. Sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00111. Accessed Jan. 16, 2016. LaDou J, et al., eds. Shoulder, elbow, & hand injuries. In: Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2013. http://accessmedicine. com. Accessed Jan. 16, 2016. Products and ServicesProducts for Pain Relief, Mobility and SafetyBook: Mayo Clinic Guide to Pain Relief See also Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)AnginaBrachial plexus injuryBrachial plexus surgeryBrachial plexus anatomyBroken armBuerger's diseaseCarpal tunnel exercises: Can they relieve symptoms?Carpal tunnel syndromeCarpal Tunnel Tune-UpClaudicationCold and flu viruses: How long can they live outside the body?Coronary artery spasm: Cause for concern?Fibromuscular dysplasiaFlu shotsFlu: When to see a doctor?Herniated diskWhat is a herniated disk? 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