Understanding Pain in Upper Arm: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Pain in Upper Arm

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Elbow Pain

General

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.

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Signs & symptoms

The symptoms that can accompany arm pain will depend on the cause. They may include: * arm redness * stiffness * swelling * swollen lymph nodes under the arm

Diagnosis

The 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. * the doctor may order MRIs and CT scans to get a more detailed image of soft tissue and bones. This can help them detect problems.

Treatment

Treatments for arm pain will vary on the cause and the severity of the 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.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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