Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Pain In Left Upper Arm?
Question: For about 2 weeks I have had pain in my left upper arm and don't know what caused it?
Brief Answer:
Will keep possiblity of musculoskeletal origin first.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM.
Left upper arm pain is likely to be due to muscular (myalgia or muscle spasm) or musculoskeletal origin.
I will keep this possibility first and will advise you to continue using over the counter pain reliever medications like tylenal (as prescribed by your doctor) with muscle relaxant like mebeverine 200 mg for symptomatic relief for couple of more days.
However,I would like to ask some more information here,
Do you have chest pain or shortness of breath?
Is there any other symptoms apart from arm pain?
Is the pain is constant or intermittent?
Meanwhile,avoid heavy weight lifting and do hot fomentation frequently in a day.
If pain does not subside even after this symptomatic treatment then it should be further evaluated by examination and tests.
So,you will need to go for
1) routine blood works and EKG
2) vitamin B12 and D3 level to rule out neuropathic pain with
3) x-ray and MRI scan of cervical spine to rule out any nerve route compression,
for which you may need to consult ortho-surgeon who will do complete medical history and physical examination with some relevant tests.
Hope this will help you.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Will keep possiblity of musculoskeletal origin first.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM.
Left upper arm pain is likely to be due to muscular (myalgia or muscle spasm) or musculoskeletal origin.
I will keep this possibility first and will advise you to continue using over the counter pain reliever medications like tylenal (as prescribed by your doctor) with muscle relaxant like mebeverine 200 mg for symptomatic relief for couple of more days.
However,I would like to ask some more information here,
Do you have chest pain or shortness of breath?
Is there any other symptoms apart from arm pain?
Is the pain is constant or intermittent?
Meanwhile,avoid heavy weight lifting and do hot fomentation frequently in a day.
If pain does not subside even after this symptomatic treatment then it should be further evaluated by examination and tests.
So,you will need to go for
1) routine blood works and EKG
2) vitamin B12 and D3 level to rule out neuropathic pain with
3) x-ray and MRI scan of cervical spine to rule out any nerve route compression,
for which you may need to consult ortho-surgeon who will do complete medical history and physical examination with some relevant tests.
Hope this will help you.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
I have no shortness of breath or chest pain.
Brief Answer:
That rules out cardiac possibility completely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sharing the information.
In case there is no chest pain or shortness of breath,it rules out cardiac/heart possibility completely.
And if there is no relief from OTC pain killers then you will need further evaluation as I discussed earlier.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
That rules out cardiac possibility completely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sharing the information.
In case there is no chest pain or shortness of breath,it rules out cardiac/heart possibility completely.
And if there is no relief from OTC pain killers then you will need further evaluation as I discussed earlier.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
