Upper arm pain

Upper arm pain often indicate harmless sore muscles, but the symptoms can also have serious causes, such as a coronary infarction or various nerve blocks. For this reason, a distinction should always be made between how exactly the pain expresses itself and how it progresses.

What is upper arm pain?

The general term upper arm pain localizes the discomfort but does not say anything about the reasons that precede the pain. It is also not possible to determine exactly where the complaints are occurring.

In discussing the medical history, it is first necessary to find out which areas of the body are affected. These can affect bones, skin, muscles, tissue or the veins. Upper arm pain refers to pain in the arms between the shoulder and elbow.

Here, too, there may be different underlying diseases, so that the pain radiates into the upper arm. Whether this is the case or whether the symptoms actually arise in the arm can only be clarified with a detailed examination.

causes

The reasons for upper arm pain can be very different. First, a doctor should determine where exactly the pain is and how severe it is. It is also possible that the pain only radiates to the upper arm. Then the reasons for the complaints could not be found in this area.

The triggers for upper arm pain can be rheumatic diseases, injuries to the joints, osteoarthritis, inflammation of the tendon sheaths, muscle tension, tumors, skin diseases or the carpal tunnel syndrome. It could be an accident-related fracture or other sports injury.

All types of pain, which can provide clues as to the cause of the upper arm pain, must be identified. Redness and swelling are inflammatory processes, while restrictions on freedom of movement are more likely to be damage and diseases of the joints. Disturbances in sensations and numbness and paralysis can also occur. Often the symptoms are also based on excessive stress.

Inflammation, osteoporosis, chronic or even current disorders of the blood circulation or blood clots can trigger upper arm pain. Another possible cause of the symptoms is the so-called bottleneck syndrome. A ganglion can also be causally present. Tumors or previous operations also trigger the pain in the upper arm.

Diseases with this symptom

• Nerve block
• Heart attack
• Skin cancer
• osteoporosis

• Heart attack
• Skin diseases
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Circulatory disorders

• arthrosis
• Tendinitis
• Sports injuries
• Impingement syndrome

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Diagnosis & course

The diagnosis and course of upper arm pain can vary greatly depending on the cause. After the first conversation with the doctor, he will carry out appropriate examinations. In the event of fractures or joint damage, ultrasound, x-rays and an MRI are performed.

The doctor will also feel the appropriate places. Skin diseases can usually be diagnosed visually. A smear or a biopsy may be necessary here. Inflammation parameters can be determined with a blood test. However, it cannot be said whether this relates to the upper arm. It is also possible to check for rheumatic disease in the case of upper arm pain. Sometimes it also makes sense to rule out coronary disease in the case of radiating upper arm pain.

The symptoms can manifest themselves as the consequences of a stroke or heart attack. If the upper arm has been dislocated, it can be used again more quickly than if it had previously had a fracture or an inflammatory disease.

Tension in the muscles can also be treated very well, but they often disappear on their own. Sore muscles as the cause of the upper arm pain tend not to require therapy. To diagnose the symptoms, punctures of the joints, ultrasound, neurological examination methods or arthroscopy can be performed. If the causes of the upper arm pain are treated, they can be cured in most cases.

Complications

Upper arm pain leads to a severe impairment in coping with everyday life. Depending on your choice of profession, you may be temporarily unable to work. The arms are involved in almost every movement. Even brushing your teeth in the morning becomes a very unpleasant process for those affected. Because of the pain, some everyday processes can no longer be carried out as usual.

In severe cases it is no longer possible to drive a car. The experience of pain is experienced individually by each person. His reaction to it is just as individual. It triggers a bad mood, emotional problems, depression or tearful behavior. Interpersonal relationships are strained. With upper arm pain, tasks are redistributed to other people. This creates tension or conflict. A protective behavior is undertaken.

Leisure or sporting activities can no longer be carried out as intended. Painkillers are recommended for treatment. The drugs cause side effects. Many preparations attack the mucous membranes and lead to nausea, vomiting or stomach pain.

In patients with diabetes or a weakened immune system, the healing process for upper arm pain is slowed. The present complaints have the property that they can take a chronic course and thus become a permanent burden. A sudden change to acute upper arm pain is also possible.

When should you go to the doctor?

Upper arm pain can arise for many different reasons, so in some cases a visit to the doctor is necessary. The most common cause of upper arm pain is muscle overload. We're talking about a harmless sore muscles. Of course, in such a case you do not necessarily have to see a doctor, because sore muscles should go away within one to two days without any treatment. However, complications can also arise in this context.

If the affected muscle groups continue to be stressed, the individual muscles can be damaged. A visit to the doctor is then required in any case, because this is the only way to avoid serious consequential damage. Of course, a fracture can also cause pain in the upper arm. Of course, a visit to the doctor is inevitable if you have a fracture.

Serious complications can only be avoided with the right treatment and, if necessary, surgery. So the following applies: Pain in the upper arm can arise for many different reasons. If the pain does not decrease even after two to three days, it is imperative that you consult a doctor. Affected people who continue to strain the arm run a very high risk. Injuries can develop that can only be corrected with appropriate treatment and the right medication.

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Treatment & Therapy

Treatments are based on the type of upper arm pain. A distinction is made between unilateral and bilateral as well as acute and chronic pain. Damage to the skin can be alleviated with ointments and appropriate bandages.

In some cases it is necessary to use cortisone as an injection or ointment. If there are problems with the joints and muscles, the upper arm pain can first be treated with anti-inflammatory medication. However, if the symptoms do not go away, medical or invasive measures should be considered. In addition, the upper arm should be immobilized. This can be done with plaster of paris, for example.

Painkillers are also given, especially in the event of accidents, fractures, rheumatic diseases and inflammations in the upper arm. Sometimes it is sufficient to cool the affected areas or to subject them to heat treatment. Physiotherapy and massages are also very useful. Physiotherapy, training of the muscles, bath therapies, etc. can also be used promisingly.

Outlook & forecast

Upper arm pain can arise for many different reasons, making it very difficult to predict an exact outlook and prognosis. In most cases, overuse of the muscles is responsible for pain in the upper arm. In such a case, affected people complain of long-lasting pain, which also occurs during periods of rest. Normally, however, this pain should go away completely on its own after two to three days at the latest.

However, it becomes more complicated if the affected muscle regions continue to be heavily stressed. In such a case, consequential damage or other serious injuries can occur, which must be examined and treated afterwards by a doctor. The following applies: If you want to achieve a quick healing of sore muscles, you should give the affected muscle region a break. This is the only way that overused muscles can recover quickly.

If the pain in the upper arm is caused by a fracture, the prospect of healing is of course very different. If the person concerned immediately seeks medical treatment, a healing time of around 4 to 6 weeks can be expected. However, if a doctor is only consulted late, this can lead to considerable problems. The fracture may have to be straightened by surgery, so that the healing time is significantly longer.

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prevention

In order to prevent pain in the upper arm, it is advisable to take care of the affected areas and to carry out massages, even in symptom-free times. In addition, stressful and, above all, one-sided activities should be avoided. A healthy and active lifestyle also reduces the risk of a heart attack.

You can do that yourself

A doctor's visit is not always necessary for upper arm pain. Symptoms as a result of a strained tendon, sore muscles or after a vaccination can in most cases be alleviated by regular breaks and relaxation exercises.Pain in the biceps and brachialis are relieved by a pressure point massage (for example, pressure movement technique, thumb and index finger technique) or massage with a hard massage ball.

During recovery, physical activity should be replaced by "joint-friendly" sports such as swimming or physiotherapy. For severe upper arm pain, water and bath therapy with anti-inflammatory herbs can also help. By using orthopedic aids such as bandages, the arm can also be relieved and the pain can often be reduced.

The application of pain relieving creams that contain either salicylic acid or ibuprofen has a supportive effect. Once the inflammation has subsided, baths and heat patches, but also compresses with cool quark and applications with St. John's wort oil or marigold ointment, which are applied to the painful area, help. Whether it makes sense to use the home remedies mentioned always depends on the cause of the upper arm pain. It is therefore advisable to discuss any self-measures with your family doctor before use.