6 Different Types of Arm Pain and Their Treatments

Many overuse injuries can be eased with simple home treatments like resting, applying ice and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Physical therapy and splinting can also help.

If pain in your arm is sudden and interferes with everyday activities, see a doctor. They can determine the cause of your arm pain and prescribe treatment.

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1. Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is an overuse injury of the muscles and tendons that bend your wrist and fingers. It occurs when repetitive stress causes tiny tears in the tendon that connects forearm muscles to the outside of your elbow bone.

Treatment starts with avoiding activities that make your pain worse. You can also use a special strap, clasp or splint to decrease pressure on the injured area. Ice packs can help reduce swelling. Over-the-counter NSAID pain medications can ease the pain, but should only be used for short periods of time.

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may order X-rays, an MRI and/or electromyography to evaluate your arm, wrist and finger movements.

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when a nerve in the wrist (the median nerve) gets squeezed. The nerve provides feeling in your thumb and all fingers except your pinkie and controls movement of muscles at the base of your thumb. Symptoms include pain, tingling and weakness. They usually start at night and get worse over time.

Treatments include painkillers and a splint to keep your wrist in a neutral position while you sleep. Your doctor may also order an MRI scan to see if other tissues are impacting the nerve.

Surgical procedures are available to cut away the ligament that is pressing on the median nerve, and they are successful in most cases. These surgeries are called carpal tunnel release.

3. Tendonitis

Tendonitis is pain in the tissues around a joint usually from overuse or repetitive motions. It’s most common with sports or jobs that require overhead activities, but anyone can get it. The symptoms include a dull, aching pain and swelling of the affected tendon.

Treatment includes icing and over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medicines. Doctors may also inject a corticosteroid into the area to decrease inflammation and pain.

Physical therapy helps reduce the pain by improving movement and strength over time. Some doctors offer platelet-rich plasma therapy to speed healing and relieve pain. 

Other treatments include extracorporeal shock wave therapy, which involves passing a pulse of shock waves through the skin to break up calcium deposits that cause pain.

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4. Nerve Entrapment

Treatments include steroid injections to reduce swelling and relieve pressure on nerves. Your doctor may also prescribe a splint or brace to keep your arm, wrist or hand in a neutral position.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and do a physical exam. They might also order X-rays, an MRI scan, or a CT scan to get a more detailed picture of your bones and soft tissue. These tests can help find the source of your pain. 

They might also do an EMG/nerve conduction study to see how well your nerves are working. These tests can help your doctor know if there is any damage to the outside layer of the nerve (the myelin sheath) that helps send electrical signals.

5. Fractures

The joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons in your arms can get injured from overuse, accidents or certain medical conditions. Over-the-counter pain relievers usually work for mild to moderate arm injuries.

If you have severe pain that won’t go away, see your doctor right away. It could be a sign of a broken bone (fracture).

When you have a break, your body starts an inflammatory process to repair the damage. This causes redness, swelling and tenderness. It also can lead to numbness, tingling or weakness. Symptoms of this type of arm pain may last a few days to a few weeks. Your doctor will ask you about your past injuries, do a physical exam and order imaging tests if needed.

6. Sprains

The tough bands of tissue that connect bones (ligaments) can be sprained. Treatments for sprains vary based on the severity.

For example, a grade 1 sprain involves stretching of the ligament with abnormal looseness in the joint. A grade 2 sprain causes partial tearing of the ligament with swelling and some loss of movement. A grade 3 sprain involves severe tearing of the ligament with swelling and significant loss of movement.

Other causes of arm pain include herniated disks in the neck or a thoracic outlet syndrome that occurs when something compresses blood vessels and nerves near the collarbone. These conditions may be treated with medication or surgery.

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