ehealthyland.com

Your arms are made up of three major bones and nerves as well as muscles, tendons and ligaments. All are susceptible to damage or injury that can cause arm pain. In some cases, arm pain can originate in your neck or even your chest. The first sign of a heart attack may be pain that radiates into your left arm.

Arm pain can occur anywhere from just below your shoulder to your wrist. Often, the pain is fairly minor, but some fractures and nerve problems can cause severe arm pain and may require extensive medical care. Other types of arm pain usually respond well to home treatments.

A person with arm pain has discomfort in the structures of the arm. Arm pain is usually caused by an injury, irritation, or inflammation of the skin, muscles, bones, or joints in the arm. Rarely, arm pain may be a symptom of heart disease.

Symptoms that occur with arm pain include arm redness, arm stiffness, arm swelling, arm tenderness, and swollen lymph glands under the arm. Symptoms that occur with arm pain caused by heart disease include excessive sweating, nausea, difficulty breathing, palpitations, fainting, and chest pain.

The treatment for arm pain depends on the underlying cause. Treatment for arm pain may include rest, elevation, an elastic wrap, a splint or sling, cold compresses, acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain, and surgery. Additional treatment for arm pain caused by infection may include warm compresses and antibiotics.