Arm Pain - Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Whether it is a dull ache, a sharp and shooting pain, or a tingling sensation, arm pain can make it challenging for you to go about your daily chores unless it goes away on its own or is treated appropriately. This kind of pain can affect any part of your arms, from shoulders to elbows to wrists.

Ignoring arm pain can lead to extended periods of discomfort, limited movement, or even serious complications. Hence, having a clear idea about the common causes of arm pain, their warning signs, methods of diagnosis, and treatment options can help you avail timely medical attention.       

What Causes Arm Pain?

From excessive usage and injuries to fractures and even heart attacks, arm pain can occur due to several reasons. Outlined below are the common ones:

1. Strained Muscles or Sprained Ligaments: Injuries caused by falls, sudden impacts, or rough sports often lead to sprains and strains in the arm. However, it is usually easy to recover from these, often at home.

Symptoms:  

• Pain
• Muscle spasm
• Bruises
• Swelling
• Limited mobility of a joint/joints

1. Muscle Soreness: You might experience this after a rigorous workout session at the gym or some intense physical activity. Muscle soreness typically lasts for a day or two, heals on its own, and is completely normal.

Symptoms:

• Pain
• Heavy feeling in shoulders and arms
• Difficulty with physical motions

1. Fractured Bones: If you break a bone, the pain can be sharp and intense, and you may also hear a snapping sound.

Symptoms:

• Bruises
• Swelling
• Visible deformity
• Inability to move the arm or a joint

1. Pinched Nerves: This usually happens when surrounding muscles, bones, tendons, or cartilages exert excessive pressure on a nerve.

Symptoms:

• Numbness
• A tingling sensation
• Weakness of muscles
• Sharp pain

1. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Arm pain can also be caused by arthritis, a chronic condition that primarily affects joints and presents with inflammation.

Symptoms:

• Swollen joints
• Tender and warm joints
• A stiff feeling in the joints
• Fatigue or weakness

1. Tendinitis: Like joints, tendons (the tissues that connect bones to muscles) can also become inflamed and cause arm pain. Tendinitis can range from mild to severe in form.

Symptoms:

• Tenderness
• Mild swelling
• A dull ache

1. Rotator Cuff Injury: The rotator cuff, composed of tendons and muscles, is a component of your shoulder and usually wears down with ageing or gets injured if you tend to move your arms over your head on a regular basis (common in basketball players and painters).

Symptoms:

• Weakness in the arms
• Dull shoulder ache

1. Angina: If the blood (and oxygen) supply to your heart is inadequate, it can cause angina or chest pain. You will usually experience pressure in your chest, back, and neck and pain in the shoulder and arm (generally on the left).

Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness

1. Heart Attack: A heart attack usually happens if a blockage cuts off the blood and oxygen supply to your heart muscle. If not addressed promptly, it can threaten your life.

Symptoms:

• Pain in one of the arms or both
• Pain anywhere else in your body’s upper portion
• Chest pain
• Cold sweat
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness

How to Diagnose Left Arm Pain?

To identify the reason behind your arm pain, a doctor generally performs a physical examination and asks about your medical history, daily activities, injuries (if any), and symptoms. They might also order some tests for proper diagnosis and treatment.  

• Physical Examination: The medical professional checks your arm(s) for tenderness, swelling, strength, and range of movement.
• Medical History: They ask about the type of pain, what triggers it, the duration of pain, and any other symptoms in other parts of the body.
• Blood Tests: These help spot certain health issues that cause joint inflammation or diseases like diabetes.
• X-ray: Involving the use of high-energy electromagnetic radiation, this test allows the doctor to detect fractures.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: These advanced imaging procedures help healthcare providers to study bones and soft tissues in more detail and identify any problems.
• Ultrasound: Sound waves of high frequency are used in this test to spot issues with tendons, joints, and ligaments.
• Nerve Damage Tests: Doctors suggest nerve conduction study or electromyography to measure nerve impulses and electrical activity of muscles to detect potential nerve damage.
• Tests for the Heart: If a medical professional feels the pain in your arm is connected to heart problems, they might recommend tests assessing your heart’s function and blood flow.

Available Treatment Options for Arm Pain

Arm pain can be treated in different ways based on the reason behind it as well as its severity and the presence of any other symptom. Common treatment options (including homely remedies) are:

• Rest: Often, simply resting the painful area and avoiding movement and heavy exercise can help you heal.
• Ice Pack: When applied to injuries, an ice pack wrapped in a towel can greatly reduce inflammation. You can use such packs for 20 minutes at a time and maintain a gap of an hour between applications.
• Elevation: Keeping the affected arm in an elevated position can lower pain and swelling.
• Compression: Use a brace or elastic bandage to wrap the painful area so you don’t extend a joint excessively. It will address any swelling and accelerate healing.
• Medications: In case of severe symptoms, doctors might prescribe pain and anti-inflammatory medications or injections to treat the underlying cause and swelling.
• Physical Therapy: In case your movement is limited, medical professionals might recommend physical therapy. It can include personalised exercises to minimise pain, strengthen muscles, and boost flexibility.
• Surgery: In extreme arm pain scenarios, like fractured bones, torn ligaments, or nerve compression, surgery might be essential.

Conclusion

Arm pain, as you may now understand, can result from something as simple as a muscle strain or as serious as angina. Therefore, it's important to consult a doctor immediately if your symptoms worsen, if you can’t move your arm normally, or if you experience dizziness, chest pain, nausea, or shortness of breath.

Keep a comprehensive health insurance policy handy and up-to-date as well, to avail financial protection for necessary consultations, medications, surgeries, and therapies. This will help you recover fast and resume everyday activities without dealing with monetary worries.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.