Arm Pain
Arm pain can range from a dull ache to sudden, severe discomfort. While often caused by muscle strain or tendonitis, it can sometimes be a sign of a heart attack or nerve compression requiring immediate attention.
🚨 Call Emergency Services Immediately
If you have arm pain that:
- Occurs suddenly with chest pain, pressure, or shortness of breath.
- Radiates from the chest to the left arm, shoulder, neck, or jaw.
- Follows a traumatic injury with deformity or open wound.
- Is accompanied by cold, pale, or blue-colored arm/hand.
- Comes with sudden weakness, numbness, or inability to move.
🏥 Schedule a Doctor’s Visit
If your arm pain:
- Persists for more than a few days without improvement.
- Occurs with certain activities but improves with rest.
- Is accompanied by tingling, pins-and-needles, or numbness.
- Follows repetitive motion or overuse (work, sports).
- Wakes you up at night or is worse in the morning.
Common Symptoms & Possible Causes
| How the pain feels & location | Possible Cause |
|---|---|
| Dull ache, stiffness, worse with movement | Muscle Strain or Overuse Injury |
| Sharp, burning pain from elbow to wrist | Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) |
| Pain, numbness, tingling in hand/fingers | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Cervical Radiculopathy |
| Sudden, sharp pain with popping sensation | Rotator Cuff Tear or Tendon Rupture |
| Crushing chest pain radiating to left arm | Heart Attack or Angina (Emergency) |
| Warmth, redness, swelling in one arm | Deep Vein Thrombosis or Cellulitis |
Causes by Category
Tendonitis: Inflammation of tendons (biceps, rotator cuff).
Bursitis: Inflammation of fluid-filled sacs in shoulder or elbow.
Fractures & Stress Fractures: From trauma or repetitive impact.
Arthritis: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis affecting joints.
Cervical Radiculopathy: Pinched nerve in neck radiating to arm.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Median nerve compression at wrist.
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: “Funny bone” nerve compression at elbow.
Peripheral Neuropathy: From diabetes or other conditions.
Heart Attack: Referred pain, especially to left arm.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Blood clot in arm vein (rare but serious).
Peripheral Artery Disease: Reduced blood flow to arms.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Compression of nerves/blood vessels between collarbone and ribs.
Diagnostic Procedures
X-Ray
Detects fractures, dislocations, and arthritis in joints.
MRI
Detailed images of soft tissues: tendons, ligaments, nerves.
Ultrasound
Evaluates tendon tears, bursitis, or blood clots (Doppler).
EMG/Nerve Conduction
Tests nerve function and identifies compression points.
CT Angiogram
Checks for blood clots or vascular abnormalities.