Arm Pain

Treating Arm Pain

As Chiropractors, Osteopaths and sports therapists, the ProBack team are responsible for more than just back pain but for the mechanical components of the whole body; how they align and interact is key to understanding how any pain evolves including pain in the arms.

We see many patients whose arm pain is a direct result of nerve compression within the upper back or neck; similar to the well-known entrapment in the lower back known as sciatica, neck radiculopathy (trapped nerves) most commonly involve shooting pain down the arm often extending into the wrist and fingers, however sometimes the pain occurs just in the elbow or wrist without additional symptoms.

Pain in the left arm

Quite rightly, pain in the left arm is a cause for concern, whilst there are a multitude of simple biomechanical explanations for pain in the left arm, it is also the referral pattern for heart, therefore angina and heart attacks must be ruled out. Heart Pain tends to be sudden onset but ranges from mild to severe, it has a specific pattern involving the upper left chest, anterior shoulder, then down the inner bicep and into the little finger. It is often accompanied by other symptoms such as being short of breath, sweating or nausea. If in doubt, then it is advised to contact emergency services.

Pain in the right arm

Unlike the left arm, when pain is felt in the right arm its far less of a concern as the heart does not refer to this side. Pain in the right arm therefore is far less sinister and can be from a multitude of biomechanical injuries as described below.

Causes of Arm Pain (either side)

Alternative causes for pain in the arm or wrist can be brought on by many different things, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Often specific injuries can be related from a certain individual action or a direct injury with an obvious cause such as a work or sports injury.

Yet there may be a more complicated problems related to a bio-mechanical issues as a result of stresses and strains on the system, it is impossible to underestimate the role of the neck and the nerves supplying the arm in this scenario; as they coordinate the firing or movement patterns or the arm an irritation at the top of the neck can lead to a muscular instability and eventual injury further down the extremity.

To find out an exact diagnosis; a full examination and sometimes x-rays will be needed. Here are just some of the possible locations or causes of pain in the arms:

• Epicondylitis: Repetitive strain injuries including golfers/tennis elbow
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: pain in the wrist and hand
• Muscle strains or sprains: i.e. bicep strain/tendinopathy
• Bursitis (various locations)
• Rotator cuff injuries (shoulder)
• Arthritis: (various locations)
• Clavicle or Scapular dysfunction and referral