Arm or elbow pain

1. Arm or elbow pain
Arm pain is common and usually happens after a trauma or fall. Occasionally, it’s rather a sign of the
underlying condition.
If your arm has suddenly started hurting and you do not know why, try nurturing it in your house
using ice and also over-the-counter painkillers (understand the advice from the box for this page).
If the pain doesn’t improve after several days, or if there’s increasing redness, swelling or pain, see
your GP.
Call at your GP immediately if:
Your arm pain is brought on by exercise and relieved with rest, as it can be described as a sign of
angina.
You would imagine you may have a broken arm.
See your nearest hospital accident and emergency department if:
The pain comes on suddenly whilst your chest is like it can be being squeezed (you may well be
having a heart attack).
You have obviously broken your arm (it looks the wrong shape).
The knowledge below should present you with really proper picture of what may be wrong, it mustn’t
be used to self-diagnose your problem.
This page concentrates on pain that merely affects the arm. This doesn’t happen cover widespread
pain that affects many areas, and shoulder pain is roofed separately.
Common reasons behind arm pain
The most common reasons behind arm pain are:
a fairly easy sprain
tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow (known medically as epicondylitis)
bursitis
a squashed or trapped nerve
angina (when the pain is due to exercise)
These are generally explained below.
Simple sprain

2. If you think maybe your pain has resulted from doing more activity than you’re used to, no doubt
you’ve just sprained your arm. Consequently the arm tissues have stretched, but aren’t permanently
damaged. Read more specifics of sprains and strains.
Avoid exercising the arm and look after it at your home using painkillers and a cold pack (see box
with this page for advice) until the pain vanishes entirely.
Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
Tennis elbow is really a condition that results in pain about the outside of the elbow. Issues occurs
after strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons nearby the cubital joint, for instance after
playing tennis.
The medical reputation for lateral humeral epicondylitis is lateral epicondylitis. The reason being the
anguish is frequently felt about the bony lump externally the elbow, called the lateral epicondyle.
Pain can also occur on the inner side from the elbow, called golfer’s elbow.
The anguish brought on by lateral epicondylitis or golfer’s elbow will last for many weeks or months,
but could eventually advance. Read Treating lateral epicondylitis for more info.
Bursitis
Repetitive movement with the arm could potentially cause a build-from fluid on the elbow, often
known as olecranon bursitis (the olecranon would be the bony tip with the elbow). This results in
pain and swelling.
In most cases, bursitis could be successfully treated in your own home (see box with tips on
managing pain). The pain will most likely improve in just a so often, although swelling usually takes
longer to totally disappear. View the information on bursitis to read more.
Squashed or trapped nerve
Sometimes, the general “usage” occurring in the joints and bones on the spine as people get older
can cause the nerves within the spinal-cord being squashed or trapped. It may pain that radiates in
the neck on the arms, and sometimes also pins and needles.
This kind of damage is known as spinal arthritis, or cervical spondylosis.
Arm pain due to cervical spondylosis varies from one person to another, but it’s typical to obtain
“good days” and “bad days”. Generally, symptoms can be controlled using over-the-counter
medication (for instance ibuprofen or paracetamol) and employ. Read more information about
treating cervical spondylosis
Angina
Angina is really a heart condition caused if your circulation towards muscles on the heart is
restricted. It usually occurs when the arteries that offer one’s heart become hardened and narrowed.
Usually, angina leads to a dull, heavy or tight pain from the chest that could sometimes spread to the
left arm, neck, jaw or back. The anguish is frequently triggered by exercising or stress in most cases
only is a couple of minutes.
But sometimes, angina may only be felt as pain in the arm. That is why it’s important to see your GP
immediately in case your arm pain comes on after exercise and is also relieved with rest. Angina is
often a serious red light you have a greater risk of experiencing worse conditions, say for example a

3. stroke or stroke. Find out more about the signs and symptoms of angina.
More uncommon reasons for arm pain
Pain in elbow
Less commonly, arm pain could be brought on by one of several following conditions or injuries:
de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, which is inflammation from the tendons on the inside of the wrist. Find
about tendonitis and tenosynovitis.
carpal tunnel syndrome, which is pressure around the nerve that controls sensation and movement
in your hand. It usually causes pain as well as a burning outlook during hand and fingers. Learned
about carpal tunnel syndrome.
cervical rib – this can be using an extra rib above your normal top rib, which may cause pain, tingling
or numbness inside the arm. Read more about cervical rib.
inflammation with the nerves in the arm, known medically as brachial and ulnar neuritis (this pain
may occur after shingles).
arthritis from the elbow, which can cause the cubital joint to get inflamed (swollen, warm or painful).
broken or cracked bone, that can cause extreme pain and occur following a fall or blow towards the
arm – see our page on broken arm to find out more.