In order to explain where the pain in the upper arm comes from, one must look at the structures that are located in the upper arm. The upper arm bone is involved in two joints: the shoulder joint and the elbow joint. The associated muscles serve to mediate movements of the arm in these joints.
In addition, numerous vascular and nerve pathways run through the upper arm, which innervate and supply the arm and hand. The arm is often exposed to a lot of stress, whether in everyday life or during sports. Wrong or too long loads, for example when carrying or lifting, cause pain. In addition to muscle pain, joints, nerves, vessels and bones can also cause pain.
Cause of pain shoulder joint
The complicated structure of the shoulder and constant strain can lead to shoulder pain, which, depending on the type of disorder, causes pain in the front upper arm in the direction of the bicep. The cause of such pain is often a lesion in the connective tissue structures, which should stabilize the course of the biceps tendon. This results in a lesion not only in instability but also in disease and inflammation of the anterior shoulder capsule and the long biceps tendon (tendovaginitis).
In addition, joint degeneration (arthrosis) of the large shoulder joint can also cause pain in the front upper arm. Pain in the upper arm can also be caused by other joint diseases: dislocation of the shoulder (luxation), inflammation of the joint (arthritis), rheumatism in the joint (rheumatoid arthritis). Pain in the shoulder, if it persists for a longer period of time, should always be clarified by a doctor to stop further damage to the nerves.
Cause of pain spine
The shoulder is closely associated with the spine. Numerous nerves run through the spinal column, which in their course release branches for the innervation of the body. Each nerve is assigned a specific area (so-called dermatome).
If the nerve is damaged or pinched, pain or sensory disturbances occur in the corresponding dermatome, which means, for example, that touch is no longer felt as well. The dermatomes of the nerves C6 and Th1 are associated with the front upper arm. If these symptoms occur, a doctor must be consulted, as the nerves can be permanently damaged and lose their function after prolonged entrapment.
The muscles can cause pain for several reasons. The biceps brachialis muscle is mainly involved in the muscular structure of the front upper arm. Since the biceps is very stressed in weight training and other sports, the pain can be caused by muscle tension or muscle injuries.
If the biceps is subjected to unusually heavy strain, the known muscle soreness can occur after a certain period of time (hours until the next day). The resulting pain subsides after a few days. If the pain in the front upper arm is caused by an injury, such as a pulled muscle or torn muscle fibre.
In contrast to aching muscles, the pain here occurs immediately and lasts longer. In connection with muscle injuries, the affected area may be swollen or bruised. In the case of an acute injury, cooling helps and one should spare the injured muscle until the injury has healed. Muscle pain in the front upper arm can also occur as a result of overstraining through monotonous movements (repetitive strain injury).
