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A Quiz for TeensAre You a Workaholic?How Well Do You Sleep?Tools & ResourcesHealth NewsFind a DietFind Healthy SnacksDrugs A-ZHealth A-ZConnectFind Your Bezzy CommunityBreast CancerInflammatory Bowel DiseasePsoriatic ArthritisMigraineMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisFollow us on social mediaShopProducts by ConditionInsomniaStress ReliefBack PainNeck PainSleep ApneaHot SleepersAllergiesPain ReliefProduct ReviewsVitamins & SupplementsSleepMental HealthNutritionAt-Home TestingCBDMen’s HealthWomen’s Health Health ConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShop Subscribe Possible Causes of Arm Pain William Morrison, M.D. — By Ana Gotter — Updated on August 20, 2019 SymptomsCausesDiagnosisWhen it’s an emergencyTreatmentHome remediesPrevention Share on PinterestWe include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Arm pain Arm pain is defined as discomfort or pain experienced anywhere throughout the arm. It can include pain in the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Arm pain can occur due to a variety of causes. The most common causes are injury or overuse. Depending on the cause, the pain may start suddenly and go away, or it may increase gradually. Symptoms that occur with arm pain The symptoms that can accompany arm pain will depend on the cause. They may include: arm rednessstiffness swelling swollen lymph nodes under the arm Causes of arm pain Causes of arm pain and the accompanying symptoms can range from mild to severe. Possible causes of arm pain include: Pinched nerves Pinched nerves happen when a nerve has too much pressure on it due to surrounding:bonesmusclecartilagetendons Other symptoms can include:tinglingnumbnesssharp painmuscle weakness Sprains Sprains are stretching or tearing of the ligaments or tendons. They’re common injuries. You can take care of a mild sprain at home, but more severe strains may require surgery. Common symptoms can include swelling, bruising, limited joint mobility, and an unstable joint. Tendonitis Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon. It commonly occurs in the shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Tendonitis can vary from mild to severe. Other symptoms include mild swelling, tenderness, and a dull, aching pain. Rotator cuff injury These occur most often in people who perform overhead motions in their daily lives, like painters or baseball players. Symptoms include a dull ache in the shoulder and potential arm weakness. Broken bones Broken or fractured bones can cause immense, sharp pain in the arm. You may hear an audible snap when the bone breaks. Symptoms include:swellingbruisingsevere paina visible deformityan inability to turn your palm Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder caused by inflammation that primarily affects the joints. Common symptoms include:warm, tender jointsswelling of the jointsstiffness in the jointsfatigue Angina Angina is chest pain that occurs when your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen. It can cause pain in the arm and shoulder as well as pressure in your chest, neck, and back. Having angina often indicates an underlying heart problem. Other symptoms can include:chest painnauseashortness of breathdizziness Heart attack Heart attacks occur when blood can’t get to the heart due to a blockage that’s cutting off the heart’s oxygen supply. This can cause sections of the heart muscle to die if oxygen doesn’t return quickly. When experiencing a heart attack, you may have: pain in one or both armsshortness of breathpain elsewhere in your upper bodynauseaa cold sweatchest paindizziness Call 911 if you think you’re having a heart attack. Diagnosing arm pain Your doctor will first need to diagnose the underlying cause of the pain to treat it. They’ll first conduct a history and physical exam, asking you about your activity, potential injuries, and symptoms. Based on your symptoms, the following tests may help your doctor make a diagnosis:Your doctor may ask you to lift your arms or do other simple motions to evaluate your range of motion. This can help them identify the location and cause of potential injuries or pain.Blood tests can help your doctor detect some conditions that can cause arm pain, such as diabetes, or certain conditions that cause inflammation of the joints. X-rays can help your doctor diagnose broken or fractured bones.If your doctor thinks your arm pain is associated with potential heart complications, they may order tests to evaluate how your heart is working and evaluate the blood flow through your heart. Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to get an image of the inside of the body. They can help your doctor detect problems with joints, ligaments, and tendons. Your doctor may order MRIs and CT scans to get a more detailed image of soft tissue and bones. This can help them detect problems. When arm pain is an emergency Most of the time arm pain isn’t a sign of a medical emergency. In many cases, you can treat arm pain with home remedies. However, you should get emergency medical in some cases. You should call 911 immediately if you suspect that a heart attack, or another heart condition, is causing your arm pain. Other symptoms of a heart attack include:chest pain or pressurepain in the back, neck, or upper bodydizzinesslightheadednessnausea shortness of breath You should also seek immediate medical care or visit your nearest emergency room if you suspect your arm pain is due to a broken arm. Other symptoms of a broken arm include:severe, sharp painvisible, physical deformities, like your arm or wrist sticking out an angle being unable to bend or turn over arms, hands, or fingers Treatments for arm pain Treatments for arm pain will vary on the cause and the severity of your arm pain. Treatments for arm pain can include the following:Pain medication. For some cases, pain in the arm may be severe enough that your doctor will prescribe pain medication. Anti-inflammatory medications. For pain due to inflammation, anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids can help reduce the underlying cause and the subsequent pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs are available as oral medications, injections, and intravenous medications. Physical therapy. You may need to treat some arm pain with physical therapy, particularly when you have a limited range of motion. Surgery. In severe cases of arm pain, surgery may be necessary. Examples include torn ligaments and broken bones. Home remedies In addition to the medications your doctor can prescribe for arm pain, you can use a variety of treatments at home. Examples of home remedies for arm pain include: Rest Sometimes, all the body needs is rest. Rest the area in pain, and avoid strenuous exercise and movement. Ice Icing injuries can often help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Use an ice pack, covered in a towel, for 20 minutes at a time on the painful area. Wait for at least an hour between ice packs. Shop for ice packs. Over-the-counter OTC painkillers If you don’t want to make an appointment to see your doctor and your pain is mild, OTC pain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen can help treat your discomfort. Don’t use these medications for longer than their recommended use. Compression Wrapping the area where you’re experiencing pain with an elastic bandage or brace can help reduce swelling and prevent you from extending a joint too far, encouraging healing. Buy an elastic bandage and brace. Elevation Keep your arm elevated to help reduce swelling and pain. If any of these remedies make your pain worse, stop the home treatment immediately and consult your doctor. Preventing arm pain In many cases, arm pain occurs due to a preventable injury or condition. You can do the following to prevent injury and arm pain:stretch regularly, particularly before exercisingmake sure you have the correct form for the exercises you’re performing to prevent injury wear protective equipment while playing sports stay in shape lift objects carefully If, despite your best efforts, you’re still experiencing arm pain that’s persistent or interferes with your daily routine, see your doctor. They can determine the cause and discuss the best treatment options with you. Last medically reviewed on August 20, 2019 How we vetted this article Sources History editorial policy.Angina (chest pain). (2015).heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/SymptomsDiagnosisofHeartAttack/Angina-Chest-Pain_UCM_450308_Article.jsp - .V0OG7rQ9BFIElbow and arm pain. (2017).nhs.uk/conditions/arm-pain/Pages/Introduction.aspxMayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Pinched nerve.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pinched-nerve/basics/definition/con-20029601Rotator cuff injury. (n.d.).cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/r/rotator-cuff-disorder.htmlTendonitis/Tendinitis. (n.d.).hss.edu/condition-list_tendonitis.aspWhat is a heart attack? (n.d.).nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Share this article William Morrison, M.D. — By Ana Gotter — Updated on August 20, 2019 Read this next Tennis Elbow William Morrison, M.D. Tennis elbow often occurs when a specific muscle in the forearm, the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle, is damaged. 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