When Should You Consult A Doctor For Arm Pain?
Experiencing discomfort in any area of your arms can prevent you from carrying out your daily activities. You might also experience symptoms such as redness, sensitivity, swellings, reduced motion, weakness, bruising, and lumps in addition to the pain. In minimal pain, simple stretching, hot and ice packs, and rest can heal your condition.
When the pain lasts for a prolonged period with worsening symptoms, you must consult a healthcare provider to conduct medical tests such as X-Rays to diagnose your condition. Hyattsville anesthesiology specialists help you manage your pain with treatment plans based on your problem, medical history, and symptoms and boost overall physical and mental health.
Common Conditions:
Rotator cuff injuries
The rotator cuff enables the raising and rotational movements of your arms. It consists of muscles and tendons which protect the shoulder joint. Tears in these muscles can occur due to overexertion due to the person’s occupation or athletic activities, aging, and bone spurs. You might experience pain, weakness in your arms, inability to lift objects, move your arm freely and hear popping sounds.
Broken bones
Accidents such as falls, car collisions, and injuries can result in the bones in your arms breaking. Deformities, intense pain, and bruising usually indicate fractures. Immediate medical care is advisable after a fracture to prevent the development of severe consequences such as bone infections and immobilization.
Arthritis
Arthritis is the inflammation of joints due to the wearing down of the cartilage. Older adults are more prone to arthritis due to the wear and tear of joints at their age; obesity and genetics are also factors that influence it. Arthritis can cause basic arm movements to be painful and reduce the range of motion. MRIs, X-Rays, and CT Scans are standard tests used to diagnose arthritis.
Pinched nerves
The compression of nerves in your arms can result in intense pain. Some common symptoms include a tingling sensation, numbness, muscle weakness, and reduced motion. Carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects your median nerve, is a common example that prevents you from grasping and lifting items you usually can. Other conditions include Cubital tunnel syndrome and radial tunnel syndrome. These are more common in your wrists and elbows due to the small structures the nerves run through.
Based on the severity and nature of your condition, your healthcare professional decides on treatment. Common rehabilitative procedures include physical therapy, acupuncture, steroid injections, and surgeries. Make healthy changes in your lifestyle that enable you to maintain the effects of your treatment and prevent the complication from occurring again.
