Arm Pain Specialist

Harvard Sports Medicine:

Dr. Verma and Dr. Lohr attended Harvard in 2019 to expand their knowledge about Sports Medicine.  At Harvard Sports Medicine a number of causes and treatment approaches for arm pain were discussed.  Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) and Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) are 2 common causes In the elbow injuries.  There is extensive research to support that effective treatment for elbow injuries include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and injections into the elbow ligaments to help the damaged tissue recover.  Osteochondritis dessicans is a common cause of elbow injuries occur in gymnastics athletes due to repetitive stress and overuse that causes painful loading on the joint.  

Bicep and Tricep muscle strains and ligament sprains are also common sources of injuries in the arm.  Harvard Sports Medicine advocated strongly that many of these injuries require surgery to fix followed by physical rehabiliation.

Wrist and Hand Injuries represent 25% of all athletic injuries.  At the office we utilize x-ray and ultrasound equipment to investigate the cause of wrist and hand pain.  Broken bones are quite common in the arm, typically occuring because you instinctively reach out with your arms if you fall, which puts extreme pressure on your hands, wrists, and elbows.

Harvard Sports Medicine outlined several goals of therapy to recover for arm injuries and return to regular activities:

1. Regain range of motion
2. Reduce swelling and edema
3. Decrease muscle wasting and atrophy
4. Decrease the effects of immobilization
5. Decrease the risk of scar tissue and adhesion formation

The health care professionals at Integrative Pain Institute perform a number of treatments with the above goals in mind when treating arm pain.  

Auto accidents can also cause fractures as well as soft tissue damage.

The majority of causes of arm pain are neuromusculoskeletal in nature, which means the pain is coming from your bones, connective tissues, muscles, or nerves. Conditions that cause nerve damage like fibromyalgia cause arm pain throughout both arms and the rest of your body as well.  We treat fibromyalgia with a combination of physiotherapy, medications, and injections.

Damage to the ulnar, radial, and median nerves can cause arm pain. For example, the median nerve that runs from your shoulder to your hand can come under pressure in your wrist, causing carpal tunnel syndrome. Trapped nerves in your neck and spine can cause pain in your arms, too.

One of the most frequent causes of arm pain is a sports injury.

What kinds of sports injuries cause arm pain?

Many sports injuries occur because you’re pushing yourself too hard, trying to do more than you’re fit for, overreaching in the heat of the moment, or using a poor technique. Another frequent cause of sports injuries is repetitive strain or overuse. 

Some of the most common arm injuries include:

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that doesn’t just affect tennis players. The repeated action causes inflammation in the tendons on the outside of your elbow. Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) is a similar condition that affects the inside of the elbow.

Ligament damage

Ligaments are the fibrous connective tissues that attach bones to other bones. They can stretch too far, causing sprains and in some cases tearing completely. The medial collateral ligament in the elbow is vulnerable to tearing when playing racket sports and ice hockey.

Muscle damage

Strains and tears of the biceps, the strong muscles at the front of your upper arms, are the most common cause of muscular arm pain. Any of the muscles can get sore from overuse or when you start doing something new, as well.

How is arm pain treated?

Treatments for arm pain vary depending on what’s causing the pain. Potential treatments include:

• Physical therapy
• Medication
• Laser therapy
• Massage and soft-tissue therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Heat and cold therapy
• Steroid injections
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections 

If you have troubling arm pain, call Integrative Pain Institute today or book an appointment online.