What Could be Causing Arm Pain?

What Causes Arm Pain?

Arm pain can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'critical'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose arm pain, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "arm pain" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Osteomyelitis
T4 Syndrome
Periarteritis
Angina
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia
Torticollis
Heart Disease
Peripheral Vascular Disease

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

heart attack(s) in mother

abnormal taste in mouth

pain in chest or left side

significant right hypochondriac pain

severe diffuse bone pain

radiating chest pain

appendix removed before age 20

history of tender muscles

chronic fatigue in family members

male pattern hair loss

irritated eyes

joint pain/swelling/stiffness

... and more than 70 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of arm pain:

Cause	Probability	Status
T4 Syndrome	95%	Confirm
Peripheral Vascular Disease	23%	Unlikely
Torticollis	13%	Unlikely
Heart Disease	0%	Ruled out
Angina	0%	Ruled out
Periarteritis	0%	Ruled out
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia	0%	Ruled out
Osteomyelitis	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate problems with limbs, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Do you suffer from pain in your arms that is hard to pinpoint?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No
→ Yes, slight
→ Yes, moderate
→ Yes, severe

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate absence of non-specific arm pain, non-specific arm pain or severe non-specific arm pain, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Angina

Arm pain due to angina is explained by the concept of referred pain: the same spinal level that receives nerve signals from the heart simultaneously receives sensation from certain areas of skin, without the ability to discriminate the two. The arms are typical locations for the referred pain, usually the inner left arm.

Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Compartment Syndrome

Compartment syndrome usually occurs in the legs, but very occasionally affects the arms.

Coronary Disease / Heart Attack

Arm pain, usually in the left arm, can signal a heart attack or impending heart attack.

Herniated Disc In Neck

Osteoarthritis

Degenerative wear and tear may affect the ligaments and musculature surrounding the elbow, resulting in chronic diffuse arm pain or pain that is poorly defined about the elbow.

Osteomyelitis

Periarteritis

Peripheral Vascular Disease

T4 Syndrome

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Torticollis (Loxia, "Wryneck")

The pain of torticollis may spread to the arms or hands.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™