Injury and overuse are the main causes of discomfort or pain anywhere in the arm. It is important to receive an accurate diagnosis explaining your arm pain to undergo appropriate treatment to restore functionality. It would be wise to collaborate with your primary care provider to treat Peachtree City arm pain, especially if you have an underlying chronic illness that can put you at risk of arm complications. The professional intervention can lead to an accurate diagnosis and ensure appropriate treatment planning to restore arm structure and function.
What are the symptoms of arm pain?
There are no typical signs of arm pain. The signs you will experience will depend on the underlying cause of your condition. Another factor that determines the symptoms you experience is the severity of your arm pain. The following are some common symptoms patients experience together with arm pain:
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Redness
- Tingling
- Sharpness
- Muscle weakness
The most effective diagnostic test for your arm pain
Your doctor will conduct an initial consultation to understand details about your condition and develop a treatment plan to achieve desired treatment outcomes. During your initial consultation, your doctor will physically examine your arm to identify concerns. It would help if you took the time to inform your doctor about the nature of your pain and the mobility limitations you are experiencing. Your doctor may leverage imaging tests to make a detailed diagnosis to help him develop an effective treatment approach for you. The most common imaging test for arm pain includes X-rays and MRIs. Indications for imaging tests will depend on your doctor’s suspicion of an underlying problem.
The most common causes of arm pain
The following are the main reasons that could explain your arm pain:
- Pinched nerves: This condition happens when the nerves in your arms experience increased pressure. The main risk factors for this condition include being overweight, engaging in sporting activities, or having an injury. Your doctor may recommend conservative treatments like medications to treat your pinched nerves. However, surgical intervention may be necessary in severe circumstances.
- Sprains: The elbow and shoulder joints assist in arm movement. Aggressive sports and lifting heavy objects can cause twisting of these joints, causing symptoms like pain, swelling, redness, and a reduced range of motion.
- Tendonitis: You may experience a dull ache in your arm due to lifting heavy objects or engaging in aggressive sports. Your problem could be tendon inflammation, affecting your arm’s movement.
- Broken bones: This occurrence follows an injury and requires immediate intervention to restore structure and function.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This degenerative disease happens due to age or overuse, causing swelling, stiffness, and fatigue, which limit your arm’s range of motion.
- Angina: Your doctor will perform a comprehensive evaluation on your arm to determine the root cause of your angina and thus prevent adversities due to an underlying heart problem.
- Heart attack: A blood clot in your heart can limit blood supply to your arm, causing pain in one or both arms.
An accurate diagnosis will lead to desired treatment outcomes. Contact Alliance Spine & Pain to schedule a diagnostic appointment for your arm pain and reveal the underlying cause before beginning treatment to restore arm structure and function.
