How Do You Get Rid of Pain in the Arm?
It’s critical to have an accurate diagnosis of the source of your arm pain or injury so that the right therapy can be given. Musculoskeletal and sports injuries are best treated by your physiotherapist.
Your experienced neck healthcare practitioner, such as a physiotherapist, can successfully treat referred pain from your neck (e.g. Neck Arm Pain).
If you have arm pain, see your doctor or a physiotherapist as soon as possible. When the diagnosis is incorrect or treatment is delayed, several upper limb disorders can take months or even years to recover.
If surgery is necessary, your doctor or physiotherapist may advise you to consult an orthopedic surgeon.
Common Causes of Arm Pain
Shoulder discomfort, wrist pain, and elbow pain are the most common causes of arm pain.
- Shoulder pain is most usually caused by your rotator cuff or a frozen shoulder.
- Tennis elbow, often known as golfers elbow, is the most common cause of elbow pain.
- Wrist and hand pain can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist arthritis, or a disorder affecting the thumb tendon called as de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
Arm pain and injuries are very common. Most arm discomfort is caused by a trauma injury, work-related injuries, or even ordinary use. Arm discomfort can also be referred to from your neck joints, such as Neck Arm Pain.
Causes of Arm Pain by Region
Have a look at the causes of arm pain by region:
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Elbow Pain
- Wrist Pain
- Hand Pain
Causes of Arm Pain by Structure
Have a look at the causes of arm pain by structure:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Ligament Injury
- Muscle Pain
- Tendinopathy (Tendinitis-Tendinopathy-Tendinosis)
Neck-related Arm Pain
Neck pain, as well as numbness and weakness in the arms, can be caused by problems in the cervical spine, or the region of the spine in your neck.
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Neck Arm Pain
- Pinched Nerve
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Shoulder-related Arm Pain
Shoulder pain is a regular event. Your shoulders are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of injuries and degenerative disorders since they are the most active joints in your body. It’s possible that your shoulder ache will spread to your arm. A disease affecting your upper arm, on the other hand, may be felt around your shoulder.
- AC Joint Injury
- Biceps Tendinopathy
- Broken Shoulder – Fractured Humerus
- Bursitis Shoulder
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Frozen Shoulder
- Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinopathy
- Rotator Cuff Syndrome
- Rotator Cuff Tear
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Impingement
- Shoulder Tendonitis
- Swimmer’s Shoulder
Elbow-related Arm Pain
Overuse is a common cause of elbow pain. Repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements are required in many sports, hobbies, and professions. Although arthritis can cause elbow pain, your elbow joint is significantly less prone to wear-and-tear injury than many other joints.
- Tennis Elbow
- Golfers Elbow
- Olecranon Bursitis
Wrist-related Arm Pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the hand’s median nerve. Numbness, weakness, and discomfort in the arm and wrist are common symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated by reducing pressure on the nerve. Doctors may use a splint to accomplish this.
- Broken Wrist / Fractured Wrist
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Hand-related Arm Pain
Any region of your body might be affected by pain. Even though you might expect pain after an injury, it can sometimes arise from an unexpected source. Pain in the arms and hands, for example, can arise from a variety of sources other than injury. Because you rely on your arms and hands for so many tasks, such as writing, typing, and carrying groceries inside your house, the pain can be bothersome and prevent you from accomplishing what you need to do.
- Finger Sprain
- Hand or Wrist Arthritis
- Thumb Sprain
Muscle-related Arm Pain
Muscle or tendon injury is a common cause of pain in the right shoulder and arm. It can also happen if the peripheral nerves in such places are damaged.
- Cramps
- DOMS – Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
- Muscle Strain (Muscle Pain)
- RSI – Repetitive Strain Injury
- Overuse Injuries
Other Sources of Arm Pain
- Stress Fracture
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
What Arm Pain is Associated with a Heart Attack?
Left-arm pain might be a warning indication of a potentially fatal heart problem. A competent medical assessment, which includes an accurate history, symptom analysis, physical examination, and diagnostic tests to rule out a probable heart attack, is necessary to rule out this potentially life-threatening source of arm pain.
Great News. Most Arm Pain is NOT Life-Threatening.
Fortunately, life-threatening arm pain is far less likely than a musculoskeletal injury in the local area. Before beginning treatment, your health practitioner should assess and confirm arm pain caused by a localised arm muscle, tendon, or joint injury.
Arm Pain Prognosis
The good news is that when arm discomfort and damage are treated early, they usually respond well to medical or physiotherapy care. If you are experiencing arm pain, please see your doctor as soon as possible.
Common Arm Pain Treatments
Most arm injuries respond quickly to physiotherapy or medical care with accurate assessment and early treatment, allowing you to resume pain-free and normal activities of daily living quickly.
In the video below you see how we use Tecar Therapy common in Europe but Health Canada Approved at our both clinics in Toronto (Scarborough) and Vaughn (Woodbridge). You can see shoulder range of motion improvement.
Are you looking for physiotherapy or a Chiropractor? If Yes, then visit Simply Align Rehab Physio in Scarborough/Toronto or Woodbridge/Vaughan or you can always call or text us for your Physiotherapy or Chiropractor needs in Toronto at (416) 438-3230 or For Physiotherapy or Chiropractor need in Vaughan (Woodbridge) at (905) 638-9840.