Diagnosis
The diagnosis of upper arm pain is performed in several steps. At the beginning, a detailed doctor-patient consultation (anamnesis) is conducted. During this conversation, the affected patient is asked to describe the symptoms he/she has experienced as precisely as possible.
In this context, the exact localization, possible pain radiations and the intensity of the complaints play a decisive role. In addition, any accompanying symptoms can provide a decisive indication of the underlying disease. The doctor-patient consultation is followed by an orienting physical examination.
The attending physician usually starts by examining the skin surface of the upper arm for possible injuries, swellings and bruises. He then tries to provoke pain at certain pressure points. Finally, functional examinations of the range of motion of the shoulder joints (always in bilateral comparison) provide information about the most likely diseases.If the findings are unclear, various imaging techniques can help to confirm the diagnosis.
Especially the preparation of radiological images plays a decisive role in the diagnosis of upper arm pain. In cases of doubt, additional computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging can be performed. The treatment of upper arm pain depends primarily on the underlying disease.
If functional causes, such as muscle complaints or nerve compressions, are responsible for the development of upper arm pain, the therapy is carried out with a combination of medical massages and physiotherapy. In addition, a complementary acupuncture treatment can usually lead to relief of the pain in the upper arm within a short time. In addition, the relief of acute pain can be achieved by taking painkillers (analgesics) orally.
Especially suitable in the treatment of pain in the upper arm are drugs that contain one of the active ingredients ibuprofen or paracetamol. Affected patients should, however, note that taking an analgesic does not treat the cause of the pain in the upper arm. For this reason, although the pain usually subsides quickly, it is recommended that the upper arm be spared for the time being and not subjected to high loads.
Fractures (bone fractures) of the upper arm, on the other hand, must be completely immobilized or fixed. In most cases, the fracture, which causes pain in the upper arm, heals without any problems in this way. In some cases, however, the fracture of the upper arm is so complicated that surgical correction is necessary.
Diseases of the blood vessels (e.g. thrombophlebitis) that are associated with pain in the upper arm can be treated by administering anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, depending on the severity of the disease underlying the pain in the upper arm, surgical intervention may also be necessary. Surgical treatment of vascular diseases in the upper arm region primarily involves the removal of blood clots and/or individual vessel sections.
Ulcers (tumors) that cause pain in the upper arm must also be surgically removed. The so-called lipomas are among the most common tumors in the area of the upper arm. In some cases, the underlying diseases that lead to pain in the upper arm can already be treated by homeopathic treatments and/or naturopathic therapies.
Manual treatment measures in particular offer particularly promising approaches in the treatment of pain in the upper arm. In this context, osteopathy, Rolfing and chiropractic play a decisive role. If tense muscles or muscle groups are responsible for the development of pain in the upper arm, the affected muscles can be loosened, blockages released and trapped nerves relieved of pressure.
The choice of the most suitable treatment method for upper arm pain should not be based on a single symptom. In addition to pain in the upper arm, other complaints, such as back, loin or hip pain, should also influence the choice of treatment method. In addition, various homeopathic preparations are used in naturopathy for the treatment of functional pain in the upper arm.
All the typically used drugs are said to have a positive influence on the muscles and the connective tissue surrounding the muscles. Especially Arnica, Bryonia and Calendula are among the classic homeopathic remedies for the treatment of functional pain in the upper arm. These drugs are preferably used in patients suffering from pulled muscles or torn muscle fibers. In addition, so-called “Schüssler salts” can help to treat the diseases typical for the occurrence of pain in the upper arm. Since it can generally be assumed that pronounced disorders of the acid-base balance or a possible overacidification of the organism are involved in the development of muscle-related pain in the upper arm, balancing this imbalance can also help to alleviate the complaints.