Common causes of arm pain

The most common causes of arm pain are:

• a simple sprain
• tennis elbow or golfer's elbow
• bursitis
• a squashed or trapped nerve
• angina
• repetitive strain injury (RSI)

These are discussed below.

Simple sprain

If you think your pain has been caused by doing more activity than you're used to, you may have just sprained your arm. This means the arm tissues have been stretched, twisted or torn,but aren't permanently damaged.

Read about sprains and strains .

Avoid exercising the arm and care for it at home using painkillers and an ice pack (see the advice above) until the pain goes away.

Tennis elbow or golfer's elbow

Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are conditions that cause pain around the outside or inside of the elbow. They often occur after strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons near the elbow joint (for example, after playing tennis or golf).

The pain caused by tennis elbow or golfer's elbow can last for several weeks or months, but will eventually get better.

Bursitis

Repetitive movement of the arm can cause a build-up of fluid over the elbow joint, known as olecranon bursitis (the olecranon is the bony tip of the elbow). This results in pain and swelling.

Most cases ofbursitis can be successfully treated with painkillers at home, but some cases will be complicated by infections and may need antibiotics (this is more common after sustaining a scratch or penetrating injury to the arm).

The pain will usually improve within a few weeks, although the swelling may take longer to completely disappear.

Squashed or trapped nerve

Sometimes, the general "wear and tear" that occurs in the joints and bones of the spine as a person gets older can cause the nerves in the spinal cord to become squashed or trapped. This can cause pain that radiates from the neck to the arms, and sometimes also pins and needles .

This type of wear and tear is known as spinal arthritis or cervical spondylosis .

Arm pain caused by cervical spondylosis varies from person to person, but it's typical to have good days and bad days. In most cases, symptoms can be controlled using over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, and exercise.

This can sometimes occur in the wrist ( carpal tunnel syndrome ) or in the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome). Pain and tingling in your arm and hand that isn't associated with neck pain may be caused by these conditions.

Angina

Angina is a heart condition caused when the blood supply to the muscles of the heart is restricted. It usually occurs when the arteries supplying the heart become hardened and narrowed.

Anginausually causes a dull, heavy or tight pain in the chest that can sometimes spread to the left arm, neck, jaw or back. The pain is usually triggered by physical activity or stress and often only lasts for a few minutes.

However, sometimes angina may only be felt as pain in the arm. This is why it's important to see your GP as soon as possible if your arm pain comes on after exercise and is relieved with rest. Angina is a serious warning sign that you have an increased risk of more serious conditions, such as a heart attack or stroke. Learn more about the symptoms of angina .

Repetitive strain injury

Repetitive strain injury may be diagnosed if your arm or elbow pain seems to be caused by a repetitive task and then fades when the task is stopped. It often occurs in people who work with computers or carry out repetitive manual work.

Sometimes,the pain is caused byan underlyingproblem, such as bursitis or tendonitis.

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