Pain in the right arm
introduction
Like the left arm, the right arm and both legs belong to the extremities.Pain in the right arm can have various causes, in addition, the intensity and type of pain can vary, making it difficult to talk about the one pain in the right arm.
causes
Have pain in your right upper arm different causes and also one different pain character.
The most harmless is the so-called aching. After a hard workout in the gym, the patient may experience pain in their right arm the next day. Usually the pain occurs then both sides on.
However, it can also be that, for example, after washing the windows with the right arm, the next day there is increased pain in the right arm because the right arm is clearly visible in comparison to the left arm overloaded Has.
Right-handers who have been writing texts with their right arm cramped for a long time are familiar with the phenomenon of uncomfortable and pulling pains in the right arm forearm comes, which radiates into the right hand.
Musicians can also be affected by pulling pain in the area of the right forearm. Sometimes the pain becomes so severe that you cannot continue writing the next day and cannot move your hand or forearm properly. This is due to the so-called Tendinitis. In general, our muscles, which pull from the forearm to the hand, run through a kind of tunnel, namely on the back of the hand and on the palm of the hand. This tunnel is bounded by ligaments at the top and bones at the bottom. The tendons of the hand muscles run through this tunnel, protected in their own sheath. If we now permanently overload the right arm, be it while writing texts or making music, the muscle tendons in the narrow tunnel can easily swell and become ignite.
This then leads to severe pain in the hand and forearm area. The pain is mostly rather pulling and increases with exercise.
In addition to tendinitis, it can also develop into one in general Tendinitis in the arm come.
Read about this too Right forearm pain.
Other causes
However, pain in the right forearm can also be due to degenerative diseases arise. The wrist and elbow are widely used joints. Here it can be too Joint wear (Arthrosis) come, which can happen especially in older patients who have used their right arm a lot. Patients feel increased pain in the area of the joint, especially under stress. In addition, arthritis can occur in younger patients due to joint inflammation. In this case, the patient suffers from a pronounced Morning stiffness, the pain only gets better with movement. Only the joints of the right arm are rarely affected, but also the Finger joints.
In rare cases it may be due to in the right arm Torn muscle fibers severe pain. In this case, a strong physical exertion must have preceded it (for example, carrying a heavy water crate exclusively with the right arm or enormous sporting stress in the area of the right arm). In this case, the pain does not get better with rest or exertion, although it is somewhat milder with rest.
Of course one can too fracture cause severe pain in the right arm. Usually one of the breaks here Forearm bones since these are narrower and therefore weaker than the Humerus. If the pain in the right upper arm is caused by a fracture, the patient usually feels this immediately after the fracture. However, it may be that due to the hormones that are released after particular stressful situations like a break (Adrenaline), the patient mistakenly interpreted the pain as too weak. After a serious fall on the right arm, an X-ray should always be taken to rule out a possible break. A bruise can also cause pain in the right arm. However, the pain should be within 2 Days disappear or at least have faded away significantly. If this is not the case, the patient should see a doctor again, as in some cases a break can only be seen on the X-ray after a few days.
In rare cases, it happens because of degenerative manifestations in the Cervical spine to pain in the right arm. Usually, however, the patient is more likely to feel it Loss of sensitivitywhich, however, can also be misinterpreted as pain. In this case, the pain lasts for a long time and gets worse and worse, especially with certain head movements or head postures.
Some patients have also been described as having a Heart attack Have had pain in your right arm, mostly in the upper arm area. In this very rare case it is so-called Annihilation painthat patients feel. The pain occurs suddenly and there is nothing that can be relieved.
In addition, there are usually sweats, a faster pulse and severe anxiety on the part of the patient. In this case it is important to always immediately Emergency doctor to call and calm the patient down as best he can.
Also problems of Gallbladder, for example at Gallstones or at one tumor in the gallbladder can in very rare cases lead to pain in the area of the right upper arm and especially the right shoulder. The reason for this is the fact that pain in the gallbladder cannot be felt as such, since the gallbladder is an organ that is painless in itself. However, if there are problems in the area of the gallbladder, the pain is projected into the area of the right shoulder / right upper arm because the gallbladder is here "Dermatome" has, i.e. the area in which we feel pain when something is wrong with the organ.
Illustration causes of pain in the right arm
Right arm pain
- Cervical spine (cervical spine)
- Collarbone - Clavicle
- Shoulder corner - Acromion
- Humerus head - Caput humeri
- Pectoralis major -
Pectoralis major muscle - Two-headed upper arm muscle
(Biceps), long head -
Biceps brachii muscle,
Caput longum - Upper arm shaft - Corpus humeri
- Two-headed upper arm muscle
(Biceps), short head -
Biceps brachii muscle,
Caput breve - Three-headed upper arm muscle
(Triceps), inner (lower) head -
Triceps brachii muscle,
Caput mediale - Elbow joint
- Ellschaft - Corpus ulnae
- Spoke shaft - Corpus radii
- Common tendon sheath
the finger flexor -
Vagina communistendinum
musculorum flexorum - Upper (proximal) wrist
- Gallstones
- Gallbladder Body -
Corpus vesicae biliaris
Causes:
A. - Osteoarthritis joint disease
(Joint wear, cartilage abrasion)
B - torn muscle fiber
C - fracture (humerus,
Forearm bones)
D - tendinitis
E - gallbladder problems
(Gallstones, tumor)
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
Symptoms
Pain in the right arm can have different intensities and different courses.
The pain in the right arm occurs due to a Sore muscles on, the pain is usually not very bad and disappears again after a few days, and the pain is about the same under rest or stress.
Is it because of one thing Torn hamstring In addition to pain in the right arm, the pain becomes worse and worse under exertion, so the patient should avoid exertion.
Same goes for one Tendinitis. In this case, the patient feels drawing pains in the area of the right forearm and hand. In the case of a fracture in the right arm, the pain is usually very severe very quickly, and it also comes Swelling and Bleeding in the area of the fracture.
The cause of the pain in the right arm lies in the Cervical spine, the patient usually has in addition Loss of sensitivity.
In elderly patients with arthrosis If the joints become stiffened, the pain gets worse, especially under load, whereas with one arthritis especially younger patients are affected, in whom the pain gets better under stress.
A Heart attack expresses itself with severe, sudden pain.
Stir the pain in the right arm from the Gallbladder here, step additionally Digestive problems The patient can no longer tolerate meals that are high in fat, in particular, and the stool can become discolored.
Right shoulder pain
If the pain occurs in the shoulder area, different causes can be responsible, depending on the quality and intensity of the complaints. While harmless causes make up the bulk of the causes of right shoulder pain, so too can Reasons in need of treatment behind the complaints.
Often it is not the shoulder joint itself that causes the pain, but surrounding structures such as Muscles, Tapes or annoy. In addition to harmless and temporary causes of the pain, such as simple sore muscles, other diagnoses may also be considered. An orthopedic surgeon can best find out the possible cause in an individual case by performing certain movement tests. Some examples of possible causes include:
Damage to the so-called rotator cuff. This can occur, for example, due to an accident or in the context of degenerative diseases in old age. An accident can also lead to a dislocation of the shoulder.
In old age, degenerative joint diseases such as shoulder joint osteoarthritis or AC joint osteoarthritis should be considered as a cause.
It is also possible that inflammation of the bursa and synovial membrane in the shoulder cause the symptoms. The so-called impingement syndrome is also an important differential diagnosis for pain in the shoulder.
Pain in the ribs and shoulder blades
Pain in the ribs is usually evident in the context of intercostal neuralgia (= pain between the ribs). Here, irritation of the nerve running between the ribs is possible due to physical stress. It is a phenomenon of no great disease value. In addition, a bruise of the ribs can be a possible cause of pain.
The shoulder blade is mainly fixed in its position on the back by muscles. Localized pain is therefore mainly due to tension, as well as sore muscles or torn muscle fibers. The shoulder blade is the origin of four muscles that fix the shoulder joint. These muscles are grouped together under the name rotator cuff. If the associated rotator cuff defect arises, pain can be transferred to the shoulder blade. On the upper edge of the scapula there is a notch specially designed for the nerve, the scapular notch. The nerve (supraspinatus nerve) runs through this and is held there by means of a ligament, the transverse ligament. If this is ossified as a result of excessive stress or as a sign of old age, this can cause painful constriction of the nerve.
Pain in the neck
Pain in the neck area is often associated with discomfort in one or both arms. This is in the course of certain annoywhich pull from the neck into the arm. Muscular tension occurs particularly often in the neck area and can irritate the nerves there. The pain is transmitted by the nerves and can then be felt not only in the neck area but also in the right arm.
In almost every case of neck pain, a muscular cause of the discomfort can be identified as the cause. Overloading through sports or in particular through Posture problems is in the foreground here. Not infrequently, neck pain is also diagnosed in the context of psychological backgrounds (for example, in the context of depression). Degenerative diseases of the bones and joints of the cervical spine are rarely responsible for the symptoms. Systemic diseases of the rheumatic type are also possible causes of the symptoms. Rarely, sudden and severe neck pain can also affect one Heart attack Clues.
Pain up to the hand
If pain occurs in the right arm, it is often reported that it can be felt over the entire arm down to the right hand. There the symptoms take the form of tingling, numbness or more or less weakened pain.
This can be explained by the course of the nerves on the arm and hand. The nerves, which for the Transmission of pain and the feeling of the arm and hand are responsible, all come from the cervical spine as well as the upper thoracic spine. Pain that arises in the course of the arm is often passed on to the hand, although there is no cause at all for the pain.
Sometimes the pain in the hand is so severe that it overshadows the underlying cause, which can be found further up on the arm, and therefore complicates the diagnosis. The other way around it can also be that the pain occurs in the hand and can be felt in other parts of the arm. Through a precise examination of one Orthopedists the cause of the complaint can usually be determined.
Pain in the armpit
The reasons behind the development of armpit pain are diverse. Ingredients of care products or insufficient or incorrect care of this region are possible reasons. The consequences of shaving in the area can also cause discomfort. Likewise, muscles and annoy that run in the armpit be irritated.
Since there are many lymph nodes in the armpit area, they should be examined for sensitivity and size. If there is swelling under the armpit, a doctor should be consulted to rule out malignant processes.
Pain in the heart region
In most cases, right arm pain is not a cause for concern and can be managed conservatively. In some cases, however, serious cardiac disorders can also lead to pain in the right arm.
Particularly in the context of a heart attack, severe so-called annihilation pain can occur in the right arm. The reason for this is that certain nerves are irritated by the heart attack. The Pain perception and processing in the brain is relatively imprecise in this case, and so it happens that a heart attack can also trigger severe pain in other typical areas, such as the left arm. Although the left arm or the back and the lower jaw are usually affected, the pain can occur in the right arm. The pain is difficult to bear here. If this type of pain occurs, it should happen immediately Emergency doctor are called so that the consequences of the heart attack do not materialize and medical intervention can be taken immediately if necessary.
Pain in right arm and chest
Right chest pain can be a symptom of multiple conditions. The heart, which can also radiate into the right half of the chest, is the most serious reason for pain in the right chest in combination with the right arm. However, pain in the left arm is far more common in combination with pain in the chest. Due to the variety of possible diseases, medical advice should be sought in the event of severe pain.
In the case of milder complaints, in addition to heart complaints, inflammation of the lungs, as well as of the pulmonary membrane and other lung diseases, as well as bruises, tension, sore muscles or also pain between the ribs (intercostal neuralgia) can be mentioned. Heartburn and inflammation of the gallbladder can also radiate into the area of the right shoulder. If the complaints are serious, further diagnostics should definitely be carried out.
Right arm pain and right chest pain indicative of a stroke
The harbingers or symptoms of a stroke can be specific and differently pronounced. In the case of small strokes, there may even be complete lack of symptoms.Occurring symptoms can range from the localization in the head, as a stabbing or piercing headache to other parts of the body. In addition to nausea and vomiting, chest pain can often occur. These are observed more frequently in women in particular.
Read more on the subject at: Symptoms of a heart attack
Right arm pain indicative of thrombosis
Thromboses can occur in the venous system and cause a serious complication, the embolism. This means that the thrombus (blood clot) loosens and works its way through the vascular system to the next physiological constriction, usually in the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism, which can lead from symptom-free appearance to cardiac arrest. In most cases, however, patients with a pulmonary embolism experience acute pain in the chest area. An embolus in the arterial vascular system is also conceivable, which can occlude the arterial vessels supplying it and thus affect various organs. If this organ radiates physiologically into the chest, chest pain can be a non-specific sign of this. When an arterial vessel is blocked, one speaks of an infarction.
Pain with numbness / numb fingers
Pain in the right arm accompanied by numbness can have various causes. Permanent pressure and excessive mechanical irritation on nerve tracts are possible causes. So-called neurodegenerative diseases also show similar symptoms. Both are based on influencing nerve currents.
Typical signs of this are pain, numbness and even loss of function, in this case of the arm. The exact location of the nerve damage is very important here. Due to the nerve supply of the arm via the arm nerve plexus in the area of the lateral neck, as well as the subsequent division of the nerves at the level of the armpit, pathological consequences can already result here due to narrowing or incorrect posture. In the further course of the upper and lower arm, the three large nerve cords run in bony furrows, along muscles, as well as joints and muscle boxes, so that nerve irritation and even entrapment can occur here in all levels of the arm. Deaf fingers can result from impairments of the nerve near or far from the body. A well-known syndrome is the carpal tunnel syndrome, in which a chronic constriction of a nerve in the area of the wrist can cause sensitive failures.
Read more on our website Numbness in the finger
Duration of pain and numbness
A distinction is made here between acute and chronic events, which have a different duration of symptoms.
Acute events are symptoms that arise from injuries or poor posture of extremities and last only a few minutes to a maximum of days. In the case of chronic, mostly neurodegenerative diseases, permanent sensory or motor impairment must be expected, so that the symptoms persist irrevocably without therapy.
Pain and numbness in the inside of the right arm / finger
The origin of the two nerves, which sensitively supply the inner side of the upper and lower arm, that is, create the tangible / palpable experience, lies in the same section of the spine. The origin is at the transition from the cervical spine to the thoracic spine. This is where the nerve cords exit into the environment. A misalignment of the spinal cords caused at this point, for example, can thus trigger a feeling of numbness in the localized area. Neuralgia, i.e. pain caused by nerves, could also be triggered. Possible reasons for such a misalignment can be scoliosis or degenerative spinal diseases, such as osteoporosis. However, the pain or numbness need not be confined to the inside of the arm. If nerves from the spinal cord are trapped, it can also appear in other areas, such as the armpit, elbow and, if the fingers are involved, the wrist.
Tingling in the right arm
As part of the pain in the right arm, a tingling sensation in the hand or in other parts of the arm can occur in addition to other symptoms. The tingling sensation is caused by impairment of certain nerves. This impairment can have several reasons. The tingling sensation often occurs when a nerve is compressed. If the arm is in an unfavorable position when sleeping, for example, a nerve can be squeezed and the arm begins to tingle. This is a passing, harmless phenomenon.
But illnesses can also be responsible for the symptoms. Inflammation of the arm is also a possible cause of the impairment. Injuries to the nerves during operations or accidents must also be considered as a cause.
Right arm pain - especially at night
Since additional weight is placed on the arm and arm joints at night by lying down and lying in bed, pain or a feeling of numbness can arise that might otherwise not occur during the day.
The degenerative (due to wear and tear) appearance of the impingement syndrome in old age is known here, which can be explained by increased friction between thickened, degeneratively changed / calcified soft tissue (muscle tendons, joint capsule parts) and solid parts in the joint space. This results in pain when being trapped by lying down at night.
A very kinked posture of the cervical spine during sleep, with a pillow that is too thin or too thick is also a possible source. In rare cases, a heart attack (see also: Signs of a heart attack) radiating into the right arm, typically the left arm. If the pain symptoms in the right arm persist for days and weeks, a heart attack appears to be the underlying cause as very unlikely.
In addition to chronic joint diseases, nocturnal pain in the right arm can also be caused by arteriosclerotic changes in the vessels (see also: PAD) may be conditional. It is not uncommon for risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and high blood fat levels, diabetes mellitus, age and others to cause so-called plaque deposits in blood vessels. These reduce the blood circulation in the respective supply area of the vessel and can be bent further at night through preferred sleeping positions (angled arm under the head). Due to the further reduced blood flow, pain can arise as a result of the reduced blood flow.
Pain when using a mouse
The mouse, as an indispensable tool in computer operation, has medical consequences for the arm due to its classic shape. The rotation of the hand does not take place in the wrist as intended, but is an achievement from the elbow joint. The forearm architecture with ulna and radius and their corresponding joint surfaces allow them to be twisted to one another. It is therefore necessary to position the palm of the hand down towards the mouse and table. This is called pronation. In the pronated position of the hand, the ulna and radius are not parallel to each other, but assume a slightly crossed position. This position compresses certain forearm muscles and stretches others. Under these circumstances, the close proximity to the nerves can cause irritation and even compression of the nerve tracts. Operating the mouse over long periods of time can result in sensory disturbances and even painful conditions. Repeated / cumulative stress on the upper extremity with activities, such as working on the computer using the mouse, can result in a recurring pain event. This syndrome can be summarized under the name of repetitive strain injury syndrome (RSI syndrome for short).
Read more on the subject at: Mouse arm
Pain in the right arm such as sore muscles as a sign of a herniated disc in the cervical spine
A herniated disc becomes more common with age. This is the decreasing resistance of the outer layer of the intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus), which can lead to a breakthrough under certain conditions. The gelatinous core of the intervertebral disc (nucleus pulposus) then emerges through the hernial orifice to the center back or center-to-side. This pathologically broken part can then in turn cause further symptoms by pressure on the nerves lying here. These are listed according to their frequency of pain, impaired sensation and / or paralysis. Here the pain clearly dominates. In the area of the cervical spine, these can resemble tension in the neck or shoulder area, as can classically occur with chronic poor posture or excessive exercise. Confusing a herniated disc in the cervical spine with pure pain symptoms and sore muscles is therefore quite conceivable, although the incidence of herniated discs in this area of the cervical spine is negligible. Disc herniations in the transition area between the lumbar spine and the sacral spine are much more common.
Read more on the subject at: Herniated disc of the cervical spine
Diagnosis
Pain in the right arm can mostly be based on the anamnese, so the doctor-patient conversation more precisely differentiated and diagnosed become.
It is important here that the patient precisely describes and characterizes the pain he feels in the right arm and also specifies where the pain is located (more in the area of the elbow, more after exercise in the area of the upper arm. In addition, next to the currently existing pain in the right arm Concomitant symptoms To be received.
For example, digestive discomfort could indicate that the gallbladder cannot produce enough bile to absorb the fats in our food. If the pain occurs in the area of the Joint in young patients, this indicates a possible arthritis down. In this case, blood should always be drawn because the inflammation parameters increase, and usually specific antibodies can be proven. If the pain arose after a fall on the arm, an X-ray should always be taken because a fracture must be excluded.
therapy
Depending on the cause of the pain in the right arm, there are different therapy options.
With a simple one aching it helps to protect the arm for a long time and, if necessary, to use a Hot water bottle to warm, so that the muscles can relax a little.
At a Tendinitis It is very important to take sufficient care of the affected muscles and, if necessary, through Bandages a Immobilization to force, otherwise permanent problems can arise. Often also help anti-inflammatory ointments or ointments that can relieve the pain a little. However, it is important not to simply apply the ointment and then continue as usual. An inflammation of the tendon sheath must be cured, otherwise a chronic inflammation can occur.
In the elderly, those under arthrosis Above all, it is important that the patient can load the joint normally again without pain. In addition, further joint wear should be avoided and the existing problem should not be made worse. However, there is only one thing that helps, especially for older patients surgeryso that the patient can move the joint again painlessly and normally without being restricted by joint wear.
If there is one among young people arthritis, often help in the early stages Cooling the joints and to immobilize the joint. Frequently, however, the affected patients have to take additional pain medication (especially in the acute phase) and anti-inflammatory mediators like for example Glucocorticoids take in. In addition, the patient should always have a Ergo-and physical therapy to keep his joints flexible despite restrictions and not to aggravate the existing symptoms. In worse cases, a surgery be considered.
The pain in the right arm is due to a Torn hamstring, it is important to arm yourself save and to calm down. Any strenuous activity should be avoided, including writing for right-handers. Patients should also use the arm for treatment of pain in the right arm due to a torn muscle fiber cool so that the pain is relieved and the discharge of blood is tied off from the blood vessels.
In the event of a fracture in the right arm or in one degenerative cervical vertebral disease, which then leads to pain in the right arm, a doctor should always be consulted since in both cases it is often an indication of surgery.
Does the patient have a Heart attack sudden pain in the area of the right upper arm, he must always be immediately taken to the hospital and there intensive care are supplied.
forecast
Pain in the right upper arm is usually about harmless Reasons, such as sore muscles, tendinitis or a torn muscle fiber.
As long as the patient follows the doctor's instructions, there is usually one very good prognosis.
prophylaxis
The best prophylaxis for right arm pain is one healthy lifestyle.
Sudden excessive stress or excessive permanent stress on the right arm quickly leads to pain and can easily be avoided by taking breaks and relaxing the right arm.
