Upper Arm Pain: Causes, Treatment & Help

Upper arm pain often indicates harmless muscle soreness, yet the complaints can also be based on serious causes, such as a coronary infarction or various nerve blocks. For this reason, it should always be distinguished how exactly the pain manifests itself and how it progresses.

What is upper arm pain?

The general expression upper arm pain localizes the discomfort, but says nothing about the reasons that precede the pain. The general expression upper arm pain localizes the discomfort but says nothing about the reasons that precede the pain. Nor does it make it possible to determine exactly where the discomfort occurs. In discussing the medical history, it is first necessary to find out exactly which areas of the body are affected. These may involve bones, skin, muscles, tissues or the veins. Upper arm pain thus refers to pain in the arms between the shoulder and elbow. Again, various underlying conditions may be present, causing the pain to radiate into the upper arm. Whether this is the case, or whether the complaints 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 occurs and how severe it is. Furthermore, it is possible that the pain only radiates into the upper arm. In that case, the reasons for the discomfort would not be found in this area. The triggers for upper arm pain can be rheumatic diseases, injuries to the joints, arthrosis, inflammation of the tendon sheaths, muscle tension, tumors, skin diseases or even carpal tunnel syndrome. It may be an accidental fracture or other sports injuries. All types of pain, which can give clues as to the reason for the upper arm pain, should be identified. For example, redness and swelling are inflammatory processes, and restrictions of movement are more likely to be damage and disease of the joints. There may also be disturbances in sensation and numbness, as well as paralysis. Often, the complaints are also based on overload. Inflammation, osteoporosis, chronic or even current disorders of blood circulation or blood clots can trigger the upper arm pain. Another possibility that can be considered as a cause for the complaints is the so-called constriction syndrome. A ganglion can also be causative. 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
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Tendonitis
  • Sports injuries
  • Impingement syndrome

Diagnosis and course

The diagnosis and course of upper arm pain can vary greatly depending on the cause. After the initial discussion with the doctor, he conducts appropriate examinations. In the case of fractures or joint damage, ultrasound, X-rays, and an MRI will be performed. The doctor will also palpate the corresponding areas. Skin diseases can usually be diagnosed visually. A smear test or even a biopsy may be necessary here. Inflammation parameters can be determined with a blood test. However, it is not possible to say whether these relate to the upper arm. Furthermore, it is possible to examine upper arm pain for a rheumatic disease. Sometimes it is also useful to exclude coronary disease in the case of radiating upper arm pain. The complaints may well be the consequences of a stroke or heart attack. If the upper arm has been dislocated, it can be used again more quickly than in the case of a previous fracture or inflammatory disease. Tension in the muscles can also be treated very well, but often disappears all by itself. Muscle soreness as the cause of upper arm pain tends not to require therapy. Punctures of the joints, ultrasound, neurological examination methods or arthroscopies can be performed to diagnose the complaints. If the causes of upper arm pain are treated, they are easily curable in most cases.

Complications

Upper arm pain leads to severe impairment in coping with everyday life. Depending on the choice of occupation, temporary disability occurs. The arms are involved in almost every movement. Even brushing one’s teeth in the morning becomes a very unpleasant procedure for the affected person. Due to the pain, some everyday processes can no longer be performed as usual. In severe cases, driving a car is no longer possible. The experience of pain is experienced individually by each person. His reaction to it is equally individual. It triggers a bad mood, mental problems, depressiveness or tearful behavior. Interpersonal relationships are strained. With upper arm pain, tasks are redistributed to other people. This triggers tension or conflict. A sparing 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 of upper arm pain is slowed down. The present complaints have the characteristic 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 occur for many different reasons, so in some cases even a visit to the doctor is necessary. The most common cause of upper arm pain is overuse of the muscles. We are talking about a harmless muscle ache. Of course, in such a case it is not necessary to see a doctor, because a sore muscle should disappear within one or two days without any treatment. However, complications can arise in this context. If the affected muscle groups continue to be stressed, damage to the individual muscles may occur. A visit to the doctor is then necessary in any case, because only in this way can serious consequential damage be avoided. Of course, a fracture can also be responsible for pain in the upper arm. Of course, a visit to the doctor is inevitable in case of a fracture. Only with the right treatment and possible surgery can serious complications be avoided. Thus, the following applies: pain in the upper arm can arise for many different reasons. If the pain does not subside even after two to three days, it is imperative to consult an appropriate physician. Affected persons who continue to put weight on the arm are in fact taking a very high risk. Injuries can develop, which can only be eliminated by appropriate treatment and the right medication.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment is based on the type of upper arm pain. A distinction is made between unilateral and bilateral pain and between acute and chronic pain. Damage to the skin can be relieved with ointments and appropriate dressings. In some cases, the use of cortisone as an injection or ointment is necessary. If there are problems with the joints and muscles, the upper arm pain can initially be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. However, if the symptoms do not disappear, medical or invasive measures should be considered. In addition, the upper arm should be immobilized. This can be done with casts, for example. Painkillers are also given, especially in the case of accidents, fractures, rheumatic diseases and inflammations in the upper arm. Sometimes it is already sufficient to cool the affected areas or even to subject them to heat treatment. Furthermore, physiotherapy and massages are very useful. Physiotherapy, training of the muscles, bath therapies, etc. can also be used promisingly.

Outlook and prognosis

Pain in the upper arm can occur for many different reasons, making it very difficult to predict an accurate outlook and prognosis. In most cases, overuse of the muscles is responsible for pain in the upper arm. In such a case, affected individuals complain of long-lasting pain that also occurs during periods of rest. Normally, however, this pain should disappear completely on its own after two to three days at the latest.However, it becomes complicated if the affected muscle regions continue to be heavily loaded. In such a case, consequential damage or other serious injuries can occur under certain circumstances, which must be examined and treated by a doctor afterwards. Therefore, if you want to achieve a quick recovery from a sore muscle, you should give the affected muscle region a break. This is the only way that overstrained muscles can recover quickly. If the pain in the upper arm is caused by a fracture, then the prospect of healing looks quite different, of course. If the affected person seeks medical treatment immediately, then a healing period of around 4 to 6 weeks can be expected. However, if a doctor is not seen until late in the process, there may be significant problems. The fracture may need to be straightened by surgery, so the healing time will be considerably longer.

Prevention

To prevent pain in the upper arm, it is a good idea to take it easy on the affected areas and to perform massages, even during periods without symptoms. In addition, stressful and especially one-sided activities should be avoided. A healthy and exercise-friendly lifestyle also reduces the risk of a heart attack.

Here’s what you can do yourself

A visit to the doctor is not always necessary for upper arm pain. Discomfort as a result of a pulled tendon, sore muscle or after a vaccination, can in most cases be relieved by regular rest and loosening exercises. Pain in the biceps and brachialis is relieved by pressure point massage (for example, pressure movement technique, thumb index finger technique) or massage with a hard massage ball. Sports activities should be replaced during recovery with “joint-friendly” sports such as swimming or physiotherapy. For severe upper arm pain, water and bath therapy with anti-inflammatory herbs also helps. The use of orthopedic aids such as bandages can additionally relieve the arm and thus often also reduce the pain. The application of analgesic creams containing either salicylic acid or ibuprofen has a supporting effect. Once the inflammation has subsided, baths and heat patches, but also compresses with cool curd and applications of St. John’s wort oil or calendula ointment, which are applied to the painful area, help. Whether the use of the above home remedies is useful always depends on the cause of the upper arm pain. It is therefore advisable to discuss any self-measures with your family doctor before using them.