Acute arm pain is characterized by the sudden onset of mild to severe discomfort, manifesting anywhere from the wrist to the shoulder. Leading causes of acute arm pain include injuries to the bones, muscles and tendons of the affected limb. Less commonly, infections and illnesses may provoke acute arm pain. Physical examination, diagnostic testing and consideration of the factors surrounding the onset of the discomfort help determine the cause and appropriate treatment for acute arm pain.
Types
Acute arm pain can be traumatic or nontraumatic. Traumatic injuries remain the most common cause of acute arm pain, reports MayoClinic.com. Traumatic arm injuries frequently occur in association with accidents, falls, sports injuries and forceful blows. Infections and heart disease are among the leading causes of nontraumatic acute arm pain.
Traumatic Causes
Fractures of the arm bones are a common cause of acute arm pain among children and adults. Falling onto a firmly outstretched arm commonly leads to a broken lower forearm. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that 40 to 50 percent of all bone fractures among children occur in the forearm. Fall-related forearm fractures also commonly occur in older adults, especially among those with osteoporosis. Fractures of the upper arm and elbow occur less commonly than forearm fractures.
A high-energy blow to the arm can cause a soft tissue injury called a contusion. Acute pain, swelling and bruising commonly accompany this injury. Forceful pulling, lifting and twisting injuries can cause joint dislocations, and muscle, tendon or ligament tears.
Nontraumatic Causes
Bacterial infection of the skin of the arm is a frequent cause of nontraumatic acute arm pain. Cellulitis commonly presents as a tender, hot, red, swollen area of skin that quickly expands outward with the spread of the infection, notes The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. Fever often accompanies cellulitis.
Heart attack is a potentially life-threatening cause of nontraumatic acute arm pain. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute points out that heart-related pain can occur in one or both arms and may be accompanied by other symptoms, including chest discomfort, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, profuse sweating and lightheadedness.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of the underlying cause of acute arm pain begins with determining when and how the pain started. Doctors then conduct a physical examination to evaluate the structure and function of the arm and detect other physical findings that may point to the underlying cause of the pain.
Evaluation of a traumatic arm injury frequently includes X-rays or other imaging studies to visualize the bones and other arm structures, notes the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Blood tests and an EKG often prove useful in evaluating nontraumatic acute arm pain.
Treatment
Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment of traumatic acute arm pain ranges from ice and over-the-counter pain relievers to surgery, casting and a protracted course of physical therapy.
Antibiotics remain the primary form of treatment for acute arm pain caused by cellulitis. Arm pain associated with a heart attack requires emergency medical care to reestablish blood flow to the heart. Treatment for other causes of acute arm pain depends on the underlying cause.
