Six causes and what to do

There are several reasons why a person may experience pain in their right shoulder and arm. In many cases, the pain will occur as a result of muscle overuse, injury, or nerve damage.

Shoulder pain is the third-leading muscle and bone complaint in the United States. Researchers estimate that shoulder injuries account for 4.5 million doctor visits and $3 billion in healthcare costs in the U.S.

Sometimes, shoulder and arm pain have nothing to do with exercise or injury. Unexplained shoulder and arm pain can be a symptom of a heart attack.

Read on to discover the possible causes of right shoulder and arm pain and their associated treatment options.

Right shoulder pain varies depending on the cause. The pain may be constant or occur only when moving or lifting the shoulder. Sometimes, shoulder pain can be severe enough that it interferes with everyday activities.

Conditions such as shoulder impingement syndrome can cause pain in the top, outer part of the shoulder. This condition, along with tendonitis and brachial neuritis, can also cause weakness in the arm and aching at night.

If nerve damage is contributing to shoulder pain, it can cause numbness and tingling in the arm.

Shoulder pain may be severe and sudden for injuries such as a fracture or sprain or conditions such as frozen shoulder. Stiffness and reduced range of motion may also develop. Sometimes, shoulder pain can extend into the neck as well.

Swimmer’s shoulder describes a range of different shoulder injuries that may occur due to swimming. Swimmers are at increased risk of shoulder injuries due to the high number of swim stroke repetitions they perform during training.

Injuries associated with swimmer’s shoulder include:

• Impingement syndrome: A tendon in the shoulder rubs and catches on surrounding tissue when a person lifts their arm.
• Labral injuries: A tear occurs in a piece of cartilage called the labrum, which sits inside the shoulder socket.
• Shoulder instability: The structures around the shoulder joint are not effective in keeping the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket.
• Peripheral neuropathy: Damage occurs to one of the peripheral nerves, which generally causes numbness or weakness.

Rotator cuff tendonitis (RCT) refers to irritation or inflammation of the rotator cuff. This condition is particularly common among elite athletes and people who regularly play certain sports.

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons surrounding and supporting the shoulder joint. Together, they help hold the upper arm bone firmly in the shoulder socket.

Some causes of RCT include:

• poor overhead throwing technique in sports such as baseball and javelin
• direct trauma to the rotator cuff
• falling on a straight arm

Overuse can cause damage and inflammation to the muscles in the arm and shoulder. This can result in muscle pain and fatigue, but a person may not experience these symptoms until hours after overexerting the muscles.

A 2018 review suggests that massage therapy can be the most effective treatment for fatigued muscles.

Other techniques that may relieve muscle inflammation and fatigue include compression garments and cold-water immersion.

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is an inflammatory condition in which the shoulder becomes painful and difficult to move for months or years. It occurs when the tissue around the shoulder joint stiffens.

It is unclear why frozen shoulder occurs in some people. People aged 40–60 are most likely to develop frozen shoulder, and it is four times more common in females than males. People with a frozen shoulder may be more likely to have:

• diabetes
• thyroid issues
• stroke
• heart disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• cancer
• an injury or surgery that immobilizes the shoulder

Frozen shoulder involves three stages:

• stage 1 (freezing): The shoulder will feel painful and lose range of motion. This stage lasts from around 6 weeks to 9 months.
• stage 2 (frozen): For around 4–6 months, pain may improve, but the shoulder will remain stiff and hard to move.
• stage 3 (thawing): The shoulder will gradually become easier to move. However, it may take 6 months to 2 years to fully return to normal.

After experiencing a frozen shoulder, around 15% of people will develop the condition again in their opposite shoulder within 5 years.

A shoulder fracture, or broken bone, may involve the collarbone, shoulder blade, or humerus (the bone extending from the shoulder to the elbow).

A broken collarbone or humerus may occur from a fall or a car accident. While a shoulder blade is more difficult to fracture, the condition can result from a high-speed car accident.

Depending on the type of fracture, symptoms may include:

• pain
• swelling
• limited range of motion
• bruising

A shoulder sprain occurs when a ligament in the shoulder is stretched or torn. Ligaments are the connective tissues between bones.

An acromioclavicular joint injury is a shoulder sprain where ligament damage can lead to separation of the collarbone and the bone at the top of the shoulder, called the acromion. This condition makes up over 40% of all shoulder injuries and may result from a fall, car accident, or a sporting activity such as a skiing accident.

Symptoms may include:

• pain that can extend to the neck
• swelling
• bruising
• reduced range of motion

Disuse syndrome is a general term for conditions that result from a period of immobility or physical inactivity. It typically involves muscle atrophy or wasting.

People who have recently undergone a period of bed rest are at particular risk of developing disuse syndrome.

A person may experience the following symptoms even after a short period of physical inactivity:

• muscle stiffness
• muscle shrinkage and wasting
• muscles that are weak and susceptible to injury

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults perform at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.

However, some people have chronic conditions limiting their mobility or physical activity levels. People who have these conditions may find it helpful to talk with a physical therapist. They will work with the person to create an appropriate exercise program.

Brachial neuritis is a type of peripheral neuropathy that affects the following parts of the body:

• chest
• shoulders
• arms
• hands

Peripheral neuropathy is a disease of the nerves that transmit signals between the central nervous system and other parts of the body. Nerve pain and a loss of function in affected body parts characterize the condition.

Usually, people with brachial neuritis experience pain and weakness in the shoulder and arm on one side of their body. In 60% of these cases, it will occur on their dominant side.

Most people will experience pain on the outside part of the shoulder. It generally comes on suddenly and may worsen at night.

After a few days, the pain may disappear. A person can then experience the following symptoms in their shoulder and arm:

• weakness
• changes in reflexes
• loss of sensation

Many people associate a heart attack with pain in the left arm. However, some people may feel pain in the right shoulder and arm or on both sides of the body.

Learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack here.

In some instances, gallbladder disease can cause pain in the right shoulder. This occurs in more than a third of gallbladder inflammation cases.

Learn more about gallbladder inflammation here.

People should call 911 immediately if they experience unexplained arm and shoulder pain alongside any of the following symptoms:

• chest pain or discomfort, which may feel like pressure, burning, tightness, or sharpness
• pain radiating to the jaw on one or both sides
• shortness of breath
• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• a rapid heartbeat
• excessive sweating

Sports injuries, such as swimmer’s shoulder and RCT, may require medical attention if rest and ice do not alleviate symptoms. A doctor can prescribe pain relief and refer the person to a physiotherapist for further treatment.

Similarly, if other shoulder pain or stiffness develops that does not improve with rest or home treatments, it is important to see a doctor.

People with a fractured shoulder should seek urgent treatment. While minor shoulder sprains may not need medical evaluation, more severe sprains and dislocation typically require immediate treatment.

People with brachial neuritis may consult their doctor for a diagnosis and pain relief. However, there are few other treatment options available. The condition generally resolves on its own.

Pain in the right shoulder and arm is often due to muscle, tendon, or ligament damage. It can also occur as a result of damage to the peripheral nerves in those areas.

Unexplained shoulder and arm pain can sometimes be a warning sign of a heart attack, which is a medical emergency.

People should see a doctor if they are concerned about pain in their right shoulder and arm or if the pain is not improving. The doctor will work to diagnose the underlying issue and provide appropriate treatment.

Read the article in Spanish.

Pain in the middle of the bicep: Causes, treatment, and more

Various things can cause pain in the middle of the bicep, which is the muscle at the front of the upper arm. Muscle strains and bruises, for example, are common causes of bicep pain.

The bicep bends the elbow and twists the forearm, allowing the palm to face upward.

Pain at the top of the bicep, near the shoulder, or at the bottom, near the elbow, may result from tendonitis. But pain in the middle of the bicep is likely caused by a muscle strain or bruise. Either can happen during sports or other strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting.

In this article, we explore the possible causes of pain in the middle of the bicep and the treatment options.

People sometimes refer to muscle strain as a “pulled” muscle. It happens when a muscle bears too much pressure and the fibers inside it tear.

Lifting an object that is too heavy or doing too many repetitions of an exercise, for example, can lead to muscle strain.

Other symptoms

The symptoms of muscle strain depend on the severity of the injury:

• Grade 1: A mild strain causes pain and tenderness in the muscle, often the day after the injury.
• Grade 2: A moderate strain causes significant pain, moderate swelling, and some loss of muscle strength.
• Grade 3: A severe strain causes severe pain and swelling and a complete loss of muscle function.

Treatment options

For grade 1 and 2 muscle strains, doctors recommend following the RICE principle:

• Rest: Resting until the pain dies down will help the muscle heal.
• Ice: Using an ice pack several times a day for no more than 20 minutes at a time will reduce the swelling.
• Compression: Wrapping the muscle firmly in a bandage will also help ease the swelling.
• Elevation: Keeping the bicep raised as close to heart-level as possible will help speed healing.

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), can help with the pain.

As the pain gets better, start using the muscle again gradually, rather than returning to previous levels of activity right away.

For someone with severe muscle strain, there is a risk of the muscle tearing away from the tendon. When this happens, the only treatment is surgery.

After the operation, the person usually needs to wear a sling for a few weeks. In most cases, doctors also recommend physical therapy. Most people make a full recovery.

Bruising is another possible cause of pain in the middle of the bicep.

It happens when a blunt force crushes the small blood vessels inside the muscle. The blood leaks out of the broken vessels and becomes trapped within the muscle.

Many things, including sports injuries, falls, and other accidents, can cause a bicep bruise.

Other symptoms

A bruised muscle might be tender to the touch.

Treatment options

The best approach is to follow the RICE protocol described above. It can take 2 weeks to several months for a bruise to heal.

Learn what the color of a bruise means here.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) happens when someone overworks their muscles, usually during exercise. It tends to happen when starting a new activity or increasing the intensity of a workout.

DOMS can affect any muscle in the body, including the biceps.

Other symptoms

Symptoms include pain and soreness in the bicep. It may hurt to straighten the arm or carry things.

The pain usually starts 6–8 hours after exercising, and it may last up to 48 hours.

Treatment options

People can use over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as Advil or Aleve, to help with the symptoms. Massage and rest can also help ease the pain and soreness.

Sometimes, pain in the left arm can signal a heart attack. This happens when part of the heart does not get the blood it needs to function properly.

A heart attack is a medical emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain that the more time that passes without treatment to restore the flow of blood to the heart, the greater the damage.

Other symptoms

The pain can be different for everyone, but it might radiate from the shoulder down into the bicep area. Usually, the pain comes on suddenly. Other heart attack symptoms include:

• pain or discomfort in the left or center of the chest
• feeling weak, faint, or lightheaded
• a cold sweat
• pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
• shortness of breath
• unexplained tiredness
• nausea and vomiting

The pain or discomfort in the chest might last for more than a few minutes or keep going away and returning. People have described it as a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the chest.

Treatment options

If someone may be having a heart attack, call 911 or the local emergency number right away. The sooner the person receives medical attention, the more likely they are to recover.

Learn about spotting the signs of a heart attack here.

Anyone who may be having a heart attack should receive emergency medical care.

Mild to moderate muscle strains, bruises, and DOMS usually get better on their own. If muscle pain is severe or does not go away, speak with a doctor.

Muscle injuries often happen when people suddenly increase the duration, intensity, or frequency of activities, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports.

The association offers this advice:

• Start or add new activities slowly and build up their intensity gradually.
• Always warm up before exercise or other strenuous activities.
• Drink plenty of water during these activities.
• Always cool down afterward.
• Have regular rest days to allow the muscles to recover.

Having a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent a heart attack. Top tips from the CDC include:

• having a balanced diet
• maintaining a moderate weight
• exercising regularly
• not smoking

Common causes of pain in the middle of the bicep include muscle strain, bruises, and DOMS after exercise. Mild injuries usually get better on their own, while more severe ones may require medical treatment and physical therapy.

Sometimes, pain in the left arm can indicate a heart attack. Anyone who may be having a heart attack should receive emergency medical care.

Pain in the right arm

Causes of pain in the right arm

Pain in the right arm in clinical practice is often called right-sided brachialgia (from the Greek words – brachion – shoulder and algos – hurts, pain). This is a common complaint and is one of many manifestations of the underlying disease that causes pain. Differentiating such a pain symptom is extremely difficult, as well as diagnosing, since its causes are very diverse.

The complexity of diagnosis is due to the following factors:

• Pain in the right arm as a symptom is almost identical in sensations from other algic manifestations in the shoulder or neck, since most often it is a pain syndrome of one general pathology.
• Pain in the right hand can be a reflected, radiating symptom, the cause of which is located in almost any area of ​​the body – from the distal areas (fingers) to the spinal cord. Any pathological process occurring in the complex system “head-neck-shoulder-arm” can be clinically manifested in every part of this system. According to the statistics of complaints of pain in the cervico-shoulder region, in the hand one of the most frequent among the various forms of regional myalgia, they account for about 40%.
• The difficulty lies in the fact that brachialgia can be accompanied by concomitant vascular, autonomic or trophic pathologies, which is understandable from the point of view of the anatomical and physiological structure of the shoulder girdle and arm. They contain many nerve endings, muscles, ligaments, joint capsules, blood vessels.

A reflected pain symptom in the arm may be the result of a myalgic impulse from damaged or inflamed areas of the upper abdomen or chest.

Causes of pain in the right arm

Right-sided brachialgia or pain in the right arm can be caused by a variety of etiological factors, which are systematized into three groups:

• Vertebrogenic diseases and injuries are the most common causes of pain in the right arm.
• MBS (myofascial syndrome) – somatogenic myalgia, characterized by the appearance of small painful seals in the muscle tissue.
• Pain of unclear etiology, often undifferentiated due to a complex combination of symptoms.

Among the causes that cause a pain symptom in the arm, the following diseases are most often detected:

• Vertebrogenic pathologies and injuries.
  • Cervical osteochondrosis, accompanied by pain in the arm.
  • Benign or malignant spinal neoplasm (tumor).
  • Residual manifestations of whiplash, accompanied by radicular damage and reflected by pain in the hand.
  • Plexopathies caused by trauma, tumor or developing as a result of radiation therapy. Among the lesions of the shoulder section there are Duchenne-Erb syndrome, partial paralysis of the hand – Dejerine-Klumpke syndrome.
  • Avulsion or damage to the spinal root due to trauma or a fall (Horner’s syndrome).
• Neurovascular, neurodystrophic causes of pain in the right arm.
  • Frozen shoulder syndrome – humeroscapular periarthrosis, in which the arm can hurt as a result of limited movement (shoulder muscle contracture), and then the pain symptom is caused by severe swelling of the wrist and wrist joint (Paget-Schroetter syndrome).
  • Scalenus anterior syndrome, scalenus syndrome, or Naffziger’s syndrome.
  • Pseudocardialgia or pectalgia, a syndrome associated with reflex disorders in the pectoral muscles, manifested by pain in the left or right arm, chest pain similar to symptoms of heart disease.
  • Idiopathic plexopathy or Persnage-Turner syndrome. Amyotrophy is symptomatically similar to radicular syndrome, and is manifested by pain in the shoulder, in the right or left forearm.
• Causes of pain in the right arm of myofascial etiology.

Pain has specific receptor triggers located in the following muscles:

• Musculus supraspinatus – supraspinatus muscle.
• Musculi scaleni – anterior, middle and posterior scalene muscles of the brachial plexus.
• Musculus infraspinatus – infraspinatus muscle.
• Biceps, musculus biceps brachii – biceps muscle.
• Musculus coracobrachialis – coracobrachialis muscle.
• Triceps, musculus triceps brachii – triceps muscle.
• Musculus brachialis – shoulder muscle.
• Muscles of the forearm – Musculus extensor pollicis longus, Musculus extensor digitorum manus, Musculus extensor carpi ulnaris – extensors of the fingers and wrist.
• Musculus palmaris longus – long muscle of the palm.
• Musculus supinator – muscle – supinator, which provides external rotation of the forearm.

Factors that provoke myofascial pain in the arm:

• Muscle strain during static posture.
• Prolonged immobility, immobilization.
• Hypothermia.
• Pressure.
• Injuries.
• Stretching.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the cause of compression-ischemic etiology, the following factors provoke the syndrome of the wrist:

• Work that requires maintaining a static posture and performing the same type of hand movements, a professional factor.
• Prolonged immobilization due to surgery or fixation of the arm after a fracture.
• Endocrine pathologies – acromegaly, hypothyroidism, menopause.
• Taking hormonal drugs, including oral contraceptives.
• Metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus.
• Disturbed metabolism due to alcoholism, drug addiction.

Tunnel neuropathies , accompanied by pain in the arm, have the following varieties:

• The most common type is carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Pronator syndrome (constant pressure on the palm).
• Ulnar nerve neuropathy, Guyon’s bed syndrome.
• Neuropathy nervus radialis – radiation syndrome or Roth-Bernhardt disease, which is called “tennis elbow”.

Causes of pain in the right arm of arthrogenic etiology.

Pain can be triggered by such diseases:

• Osteoarthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Dermatomyositis.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Psoriatic arthritis.
• Gout.
• Neurogenic arthropathy (Charcot’s disease).
• Reiter’s syndrome.

The causes of a pain symptom in the arm can be associated with polyneuropathies, visceral-radicular syndrome, pathologies of the broncho-pulmonary system, gallbladder, angina pectoris.

Symptoms of pain in the right arm

The symptomatology of pain in the arm depends on the underlying cause and can be systematized by type.

Radiculoalgia. Symptoms of pain in the right hand of this type are characterized by lancinating (dagger, sharp) sensations. The pain is often paroxysmal, localized indistinctly and quickly spreads from the main source to the distal zones. For this type of pain, all manifestations of radicular damage are typical – numbness of the arm, tingling and a feeling of “creeping goosebumps” (paresthesia). The muscle strength of the arm is noticeably reduced, all reflexes are slowed down (hyporeflexia).

Hyperpathy – a feeling of severe pain in the arm in the absence of a real pain stimulus, for example, when stroking.

Pain in the right hand can be the primary symptom, for example, in case of injury, and quite often pain sensation is a clinical manifestation of a reflected, radiating symptom. Depending on where the pain radiates, you can determine the factor that causes right-sided brachialgia.

Pain radiates to the right arm

• Steinbroker’s syndrome or “shoulder-hand” syndrome most often develops as a result of humeroscapular periarthritis or trauma.
• Complication of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (compression syndrome).
• Spinal tumor.
• Whiplash.
• Plexopathies.
• Diabetic neuropathy.
• Pain radiates to the right arm in case of broncho-pulmonary pathologies, diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts.
• Rarely referred pain in the arm may be due to angina pectoris.

Pain in right hand

May have reasons

• Rheumatoid arthritis characterized by intense pain at night. As a rule, the disease manifests itself with symmetrical symptoms on both hands, but it can “start” from one, for example, the right hand.
• Gout developing from the toes and extending up the joints. In addition to the fact that a person has pain in the right hand, the wrist, elbow, and less often the shoulder suffer. The pain is very characteristic – sharp, burning, throbbing.
• Osteoarthritis of the hand, manifested by aching, dull pain, most often in the daytime.
• Arthritis causing immobility or limitation of hand movement.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome is a typical disease associated with occupational factors.

Right elbow pain

May develop due to such diseases:

• Osteochondrosis.
• Gout.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Tumor of the elbow joint.
• Tendinitis.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Ulnar tunnel syndrome.
• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).
• Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow).
• Pain in the elbow of the right hand may be a signal of bursitis, inflammation of the articular bag.
• Neurotrophic arthropathy (Charcot’s disease).
• Herniated disc and C5 or C6 segments.
• Elbow injury.

Pain in the right wrist

• Injuries – fractures of the lunate or scaphoid.
• Dislocation, sprain of the ligaments holding the carpal bones.
• Tendinitis of the wrist.
• Pain in the right wrist may be caused by stenosing tendovaginitis, a disease of the tendon. The disease most often affects women, is characterized by severe pain and almost complete disability.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome is a typical disease of the right hand, since it is the working one. The syndrome is provoked by a purely professional factor.
• Damage to the extensor tendons – peritendinitis.
• Hypertrophic osteoarthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Necrosis of the skeletal system involving the bones of the wrist (avascular). This is a pathological softening of the bone tissue, leading to a deformity of the wrist.

Aching pain in the right arm

Most often associated with reflex neurovascular syndromes associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The source of pain, as a rule, is located in the most damaged fibrous ring, where there are many highly sensitive pain receptors. Also, a pain impulse in the arm can come from inflamed longitudinal ligaments and the capsule of the shoulder joint. Aching pain in the right arm is localized in the shoulder, forearm or hand, but can move to the back of the head. The pain symptom intensifies with a change in posture, turns, movement of the body or arm. Most often, right-sided brachialgia develops as a result of humeroscapular periarthritis or Paget-Schretter syndrome (shoulder-hand syndrome). In addition, aching pain in the right arm may be the primary signal of a developing cholelithiasis or an inflammatory process in the lungs and bronchi.

Severe pain in the right arm

These are almost all types of radiculoalgia, in which the pain symptom is intense, acute. The pain is characterized as cutting, dagger. In addition, severe pain in the right arm can be caused by certain neuropathic syndromes, such as radial neuropathy, which is a sharp, shooting pain. Neuralgic amyotrophy, complex regional syndrome (CRPS), accompanied by burning pain, swelling of the arm, movement disorders, various arthritis, osteoarthrosis, gout – this is not a complete list of diseases that can cause severe, intense brachialgia.

Sharp pain in the right arm

This is pain that is characterized as shooting or dagger. This may be a compression-radicular form of brachialgia, and a sharp pain is also characteristic of tearing or damage to the spinal root during trauma, a fall, or a blow. The pain symptom is acute, sharp, often spreads along the damaged root and completely immobilizes not only the hand, but the entire human body. In addition, a sharp pain in the right arm may be associated with Parsonage-Turner syndrome (amyotrophy), a disease of infectious etiology, in which the shoulder and forearm are affected. Intense, sharp pain is caused by mechanical injuries, sprains of tendons and ligaments.

Pain in the little finger of the right hand

May be a symptom of the following diseases:

• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
• Dislocation, finger injury.
• Raynaud’s syndrome.
• Neuropathy of the ulnar or radiocarpal nerve.
• Ganglionic cyst of the wrist.
• Injury or fracture of the elbow joint.
• Bursitis of the elbow.
• Less commonly – tunnel syndrome.
• Osteomyelitis is a purulent, necrotic process in the bone tissue, usually affecting the hand and fingers, including the little finger.

Pain in the little finger of the right hand may be a manifestation of epicondylitis – a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the elbow joint.

Drawing pain in the right arm

Most often provoked by brachial periarthritis, a violation of the structure of the cervical spine. The pain curls gradually, and spreads from the shoulder to the arm, which significantly reduces the motor activity of the upper limb. Shoulder-shoulder periarthritis is rarely secondary, it is a typical neurodystrophic disease. Also, pulling pain in the right hand is the main symptom of an occupational disease – carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by pinching of the nerve endings in the wrist as a result of constant stress or an uncomfortable position of the hand during work. Static, long-term load on the muscles of the arm, the performance of monotonous movements leads to mechanical damage to the median nerve, located between the tendons and bones.

Diagnosis of pain in the right arm

Pain in the right hand is a rather complex symptom complex in the diagnostic sense, so the examination plan may include a variety of methods and techniques. Since the main causes of the pain symptom of brachialgia are neurological diseases associated with vertebrogenic, traumatic or neuroreflex factors, the diagnosis of pain in the right hand is usually carried out by several doctors – a vertebrologist, a chiropractor, a surgeon and a neurologist. In order for diagnostic measures to be effective, both standard examination schemes and paraclinical methods are used.

First of all, an anamnesis is collected, all information about previous diseases, conditions, heredity, treatment, lifestyle, and so on. It is very important to specify the nature of the pain, its localization, distribution, trigger points and determine the list of provoking factors. The following research methods are mandatory:

• X-ray of the spinal column, X-ray of the limb (joints).
• Neurological examination and tests.
• Computed and magnetic resonance imaging.
• Electromyography (fixation of electrical potentials of the muscular system).
• Blood test (UAC, biochemical).
• Dopplerography of vessels according to indications.

What to do if your right arm hurts

Therapeutic measures directly depend on the identified cause of pain.

Treatment of pain in the right hand with an intense, acute nature of sensations is primarily aimed at relieving the symptom. It is possible to carry out a novocaine blockade, prescribe anti-neuralgic drugs, local anesthesia with chloroethyl. If the pain is associated with an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, traction and fixation of the damaged area are prescribed. Also, the treatment of pain in the right hand involves a long course of physiotherapy, acupuncture, massages.

To consolidate the therapeutic result, ointments containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances, vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed, both in injections and in tablet form. B vitamins, calcium, magnesium are standard drugs for the treatment of brachialgia. In addition, a special diet, especially for diagnosed gout, can greatly alleviate symptoms and speed up the healing process.

Prevention of pain in the right arm

Prevention of pain in the right hand is a set of measures that help prevent the development of the underlying, provoking disease. Compliance with the following recommendations, which relate not only to the prevention of brachialgia, but also help to maintain activity and normal health in principle, does not require material or physical effort, they just need to be implemented in your life to be healthy:

• Give up bad habits, especially smoking.
• At the time of illness and treatment, restriction of physical activity is indicated, however, a complex of physiotherapy exercises should be systematically performed.
• Compliance with the rules of a healthy diet, which should include vitamins, trace elements that support the bone and muscle system in order.
• Regular examination of the body, which must be carried out at least once a year.
• Fulfillment of all medical recommendations and refusal to experiment with self-medication.
• With static stress, which requires a profession, work, it is necessary to take regular breaks, and change posture, perform warm-ups.
• At the first discomfort manifestations, symptoms, it is necessary to seek medical help in order to prevent the development of the disease and its exacerbation.

Prevention of pain in the right hand is primarily the prevention of osteochondrosis, which today is one of the most common diseases and factors that provoke many pain symptoms.

Pain in the hand in March in St. Petersburg

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• Listen to patient complaints;
• Make a preliminary diagnosis;
• If necessary, send for additional tests that can be done at our center;
• will prescribe an individual course of treatment.

Pain in the arm is a common complaint with which people go to the doctor even
quite healthy people. However, such a description of the existing problem is
very general character, because the whole arm can hurt, and only
its part: shoulder, forearm, hand or some specific joint.
The pain may appear suddenly or develop gradually, be acute
or blunt, cutting or shooting. She may attend
constantly or occur paroxysmal, accompanied by a violation
sensitivity, swelling or pain in other parts of the body or not.

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Causes of arm pain

The most obvious cause of arm pain is trauma. It could be
sprain or rupture of ligaments or muscles, fracture of bones, bruise, dislocation.
However, there are also serious diseases, the symptom of which
is arm pain:

• Arthritis . Aching pain in the joints of the hands with arthritis
  accompanied by swelling of the joints, redness and local increase
  temperature.
• Gout . The pain in the joints of the hand is so
  strong that even the lightest ones become unbearable
  touch.
• Osteoarthritis The disease usually affects small
  joints of the hand, causing their deformation, pain and a specific crunch
  when moving. At rest, the pain usually disappears.
• Shoulder or elbow bursitis . Pain
  accompanies inflammation, swelling and stiffness of movements.
• Osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia of the cervical region
  spine . This disease is characterized by acute
  pain that can reach to the fingertips, which is noticeable
  aggravated by movement of the affected spine.
  Painful sensations are usually accompanied by a feeling of numbness,
  tingling, decreased sensation, movement disorders
  and sometimes headaches.
• Displacement of the intervertebral disc in the cervical region
  spine . The pain extends to the length of the arm and
  accompanied by numbness.
• Myocardial infarction . For this state
  characterized by a sudden burning sensation in the chest and tingling pain in
  left hand, which may be accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea,
  pallor, cold sweat and fear of death. Myocardial infarction –
  deadly and requires urgent medical attention.
• Angina . With angina pectoris, chest pain
  or in the region of the heart during physical exertion also gives in
  left hand. Pain in the right arm usually indicates causes other than
  associated with the cardiovascular system.
• Scalene anterior syndrome . For
  disease is characterized by severe pain in the neck, shoulder and arm, which
  aggravated at night, when the head is tilted, some movements of the hand.
  The pain is accompanied by weakness of the hand, pallor of the skin and
  edema.

In addition, pain can be caused by physical overexertion
muscles, skin diseases, inflammatory processes in soft tissues,
e.g. tendinitis, cervical myositis, diseases of the peripheral
vessels and nerves and neoplasms in bone tissue.

At the MART

clinic on Vasilyevsky Island

• Evidence-based medicine
• Experienced professionals
• Patient follow-up for 6 months
• Diagnostics (MRI,
  Ultrasound, tests, mammography)
• Daily 8:00 – 22:00

Make an appointment

Treatment of arm pain in the clinic MARCH

If arm pain is the result of an injury, urgent need
see a traumatologist. This makes sense even if the first
there are no signs of a fracture. If the cause of the pain is not clear,
it is worth contacting a neurologist, who, after an initial examination and
the necessary laboratory and hardware examination will appoint
effective treatment or refer you to a specialist whose profile includes
treatment of this disease.

If pain persists for a long time or without
apparent causes reappear, intensify with physical exertion
or accompanied by sensory disturbances, swelling or
stiffness of the joints, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Hand pain treatment at the MART medical center depends on
the established diagnosis. In case of damage to the bone of the limb
immobilized with plaster. When pain is caused by
problems with the cervical spine, an individual is prescribed
a course of physiotherapeutic procedures, exercise therapy classes and treatment with
manual techniques. The main goal of this therapy is to remove
irritation or compression from the nerves and improved blood supply
the affected area.

For the treatment of the pain syndrome itself, usually prescribed
painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
However, it should be noted that the use of these drugs
possible only on prescription and along with the treatment of the underlying
diseases. Otherwise, the desired result cannot be achieved.