Arm Pain Treatment
Find the Source and Get Lasting Relief
Arm pain can affect nearly every part of your day, from getting dressed in the morning to doing your job or enjoying the activities you love. Our team works to understand the true source of your pain and build a personalized plan to help you find lasting relief.
We treat arm pain affecting the muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and joints throughout the entire arm, including the forearm, biceps, triceps, and upper arm. Whether your pain came on suddenly from an injury or has been building for months, we’re here to help.
What Is Arm Pain?
Arm pain is any discomfort, aching, burning, or soreness felt anywhere from the shoulder down to the fingertips. It may affect one arm or both, and can begin suddenly or build gradually over time. It’s sometimes accompanied by numbness, tingling, swelling, weakness, or a reduced range of motion.
Arm pain can come from the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or joints, but sometimes pain that feels like it’s coming from the arm is actually referred from somewhere else, like the neck, spine, or heart.
Sudden left arm pain along with chest tightness, shortness of breath, or nausea can be a sign of a heart attack. If you experience these symptoms together, call 911 or seek emergency care immediately.
When Should You See Someone About Arm Pain?
Mild arm pain from minor overuse often improves with rest, ice, compression, and elevation over a few days. It’s time to have your arm evaluated if you experience:
- ✓Pain that persists for more than a week or keeps returning
- ✓Pain severe enough to limit your daily activities, sleep, or work
- ✓Numbness, tingling, or weakness radiating into your forearm or hand
- ✓Visible deformity, significant swelling, or bruising after an injury
- ✓Pain that worsens with activity and doesn’t improve with rest
- ✓Arm pain alongside neck pain, back pain, or headaches
What Are the Symptoms of Arm Pain?
Symptoms can range from mild and occasional to severe and constant, and may include:
- ✓A dull, deep ache in the upper arm or forearm
- ✓Sharp, shooting, or burning pain along the arm
- ✓Numbness or tingling traveling from the neck, shoulder, or upper arm into the forearm and hand
- ✓Muscle weakness that makes gripping, lifting, or carrying difficult
- ✓Swelling, bruising, or tenderness along the arm
- ✓Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- ✓Pain that worsens with specific movements or repetitive activity
- ✓Pain at rest or that wakes you up at night
What Causes Arm Pain?
Muscle and Soft Tissue Conditions
- ✓Biceps or triceps tendonitis, inflammation of the tendons connecting these muscles to the bone
- ✓Myofascial pain syndrome, chronic muscle pain from trigger points in the arm’s connective tissue
- ✓Forearm muscle strain, tears or overstretching from overexertion or repetitive motion
- ✓Biceps or triceps muscle tear, a partial or complete rupture causing sudden pain, weakness, and bruising
- ✓Bursitis, inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the arm’s muscles and bones
Nerve Conditions
Nerve-related arm pain is often burning, shooting, electric, or tingling, and may travel along the length of the arm. Common causes include:
- ✓Brachial neuritis (Parsonage-Turner syndrome), sudden, severe shoulder and upper arm pain from inflammation of the brachial plexus
- ✓Brachial plexus injury, damage to the nerve network running from the spine through the neck and into the arm, often from trauma
- ✓Radial nerve entrapment, compression along the back of the forearm and into the hand
- ✓Ulnar nerve entrapment (cubital or Guyon’s tunnel syndrome), affecting the inner forearm and the ring and little fingers
- ✓Median nerve compression (carpal tunnel syndrome), causing pain, numbness, and burning that can radiate up the forearm
- ✓Cervical radiculopathy, a pinched nerve in the neck that refers pain into the arm
- ✓Thoracic outlet syndrome, compression of nerves or blood vessels between the collarbone and first rib
- ✓Peripheral neuropathy, nerve damage from diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or other systemic causes
Bone and Structural Conditions
- ✓Humerus fracture, a break in the upper arm bone
- ✓Stress fractures, small cracks in the forearm bones from repetitive loading, common in throwing athletes
- ✓Forearm fractures, breaks in the radius or ulna from falls or direct impact
- ✓Arm compartment syndrome, increased pressure within the arm’s muscle compartments, a serious condition requiring urgent medical attention
Vascular Conditions
- ✓Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the arm, a blood clot causing pain, swelling, and warmth
- ✓Effort thrombosis (Paget-Schroetter syndrome), a clot from repetitive overhead activity, often in young, active individuals
- ✓Arterial compression, narrowing or blockage of the arm’s arteries, causing pain with use
Arthritis and Degenerative Conditions
- ✓Osteoarthritis, wear-and-tear breakdown of joint cartilage
- ✓Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition causing joint inflammation and swelling
- ✓Psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory arthritis affecting the joints and tendons of the arm
How Is Arm Pain Treated?
Arm pain treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our therapists evaluate each patient individually to understand the source of the pain and build a personalized care plan.
Your treatment plan may include:
- ✓Targeted strengthening, stretching, and range-of-motion exercises
- ✓Manual therapy to address joint and soft tissue mobility
- ✓Dry needling with electrical stimulation
- ✓Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to help manage pain
- ✓Taping and bracing
- ✓Activity modification and coaching, including ergonomic and posture adjustments
- ✓Education to help manage your pain and prevent it from returning
Some conditions benefit from treatment beyond physical therapy. Depending on your situation, your physician may discuss options such as medication, injections, or other procedures, and in some cases may refer you to a surgeon. We work closely alongside your physician and can also support you before and after a procedure, helping you prepare and recover safely.
Our Approach to Treating Arm Pain
Your treatment should be as individual as you are. We’ll thoroughly review your symptoms, medical history, prior imaging, and physical exam findings to identify the true source of your pain. Our goal at Big Stone Therapies is to treat the cause, not just the symptom, and to give you the tools and support you need for long-term recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arm pain can come from muscle strains, nerve entrapments, tendon inflammation, fractures, arthritis, vascular conditions, or referred pain from the neck or spine. Overuse, sports injuries, and trauma are among the most common causes, and a thorough evaluation helps pinpoint the source.
Upper arm aching that seems to come out of nowhere is often related to biceps or triceps tendonitis, myofascial pain syndrome, brachial neuritis, or referred pain from a pinched nerve in the neck. Posture and repetitive movement at work can also play a role. A physical therapist can help identify the source and recommend treatment.
Nerve pain is often described as burning, electric, shooting, or tingling, and may travel from the neck or shoulder down through the forearm and into the fingers. You may also notice numbness, weakness, or a sensation that your arm or hand has fallen asleep. These symptoms should be evaluated promptly.
The forearm, between the elbow and wrist, involves the radius and ulna along with muscles and nerves that control the wrist and fingers. Forearm pain is often linked to repetitive strain or nerve entrapment. Upper arm pain, between the shoulder and elbow, involves the humerus, biceps, and triceps. Both can benefit from different treatment approaches.
Yes. Cervical radiculopathy, a pinched nerve in the neck, is one of the most common sources of arm pain. It often comes with numbness, tingling, or weakness, and the exact symptoms depend on which nerve is affected.
No. While most arm pain comes from muscles, tendons, or nerves, it can also stem from vascular conditions or systemic diseases like diabetes. Left arm pain along with chest pressure, jaw pain, or shortness of breath can be a sign of a heart attack and needs immediate emergency care.
We’ll review your health history and any prior imaging, and perform a complete physical exam. Some patients may need additional testing. From there, we’ll talk through your treatment options and build a plan that fits your goals and lifestyle.
Contact Us to Get Started
If you’re living with persistent or severe arm pain, relief is within reach. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation with our specialists.
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