Definition
Arm pain can be caused by a wide variety of problems, ranging from joint injuries to compressed nerves. Depending on the cause, arm pain can start suddenly or develop over time.
In many cases, arm pain actually originates from a problem in your neck or upper spine. Arm pain, particularly pain that radiates into your left arm, can even be a sign of a heart attack.
Causes
Possible causes of arm pain include:
- Angina
- Brachial plexus injury
- Broken arm
- Broken wrist/broken hand
- Bursitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cervical disk herniation
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
- Dislocated elbow
- Meralgia paresthetica
- Heart attack
- Pinched nerve
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Rotator cuff injury
- Sprains and strains
- Tendinitis
- Tennis elbow
- Thoracic outlet syndrome