Pain in the left arm with numbness
Pain in the left arm, which is accompanied by numbness, can have various causes, which in turn are more or less harmless. In any case, a doctor must be consulted to clarify the symptoms of numbness. A harmless cause can be the pinching of nerves of a nerve bundle.
More precisely, this nerve bundle is the so-called brachial plexus. It contains nerves that are responsible for the motor and sensitive innervation of the shoulder, arms and hands, among other things. Due to the spatial constriction in the shoulder and armpit area, where the brachial plexus is located, certain postures can lead to a pinching or constriction of the plexus with subsequent pain and numbness.
Typical postures that lead to this are lying on an arm stretched upwards at night. A herniated disc can be considered a less harmless cause of numbness. Depending on the severity of a herniated disc in the cervical spine, discomfort such as tingling paresthesia or numbness can occur.
Pain that extends from the left arm to the hand can have different guiding structures. For example, it can be both muscular pain and painful irritation of nerve structures. An exact diagnosis is therefore very important for pain that radiates into the hand.
Frequently, tendosynovitis, fractures or other more serious diseases are considered. In the end, in many cases, fortunately, I am only dealing with muscle tension. There are some muscles on the forearm, the beginnings of which are located in different parts of the hand.
Due to repetitive movement patterns and strong strains on these forearm muscles, muscle soreness or tension can occur. The pain then radiates from the forearm to the hand. Depending on the exact localization, i.e. inside or outside of the forearm, and the course of the pain radiation, conclusions can be drawn about the affected muscle.
The only sensible therapy is to spare or, if possible, to immobilize the muscle groups for a short time. In addition, an analgesic ointment, such as Voltaren® Ointment, can be helpful. As already mentioned, however, more serious diseases should not be underestimated.
These also include, for example, neurological disorders associated with nerve pain. A slipped disc in the cervical spine can also trigger pain in the left arm, which radiates into the hand. Pain in the chest that radiates into the left arm is also suspected to be the first sign of an acute heart attack.
Affected patients should immediately make an emergency call (telephone: 112) and express the suspicion of a heart attack. The emergency personnel will arrive promptly and initiate appropriate initial measures. As a rule, the suspicion of a heart attack is confirmed by means of an ECG.
However, it should be noted in this context that not every form of heart attack is visible on the ECG. The so-called “non-ST elevation myocardial infarction” can only be diagnosed by a blood test. The acute treatment of a heart attack, which causes pain in the chest and left arm, is primarily aimed at providing the heart with as much oxygen as possible, relieving pain and avoiding complications.
As a rule, nitroglycerine spray, morphine preparations, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), clopidogrel and heparin are already administered on site. The administration of oxygen is only necessary if a particularly low oxygen saturation of the red blood cells is measured. The general administration of oxygen is no longer recommended in the case of a heart attack due to its potentially harmful effects. Further diagnostic measures are then taken in the clinic and a suitable treatment strategy is initiated.In the case of a heart attack that causes pain in the chest and left arm, so-called reperfusion therapy is the treatment of choice.
