Pain in the Upper Arm

[B83]

I've never posted anything on any kind of forum before but I thought I'd give it a shot..For a week now I've been having this sharp piercing pain in my upper arm muscle, a couple of inches below my shoulder. The pain happens any time I lift my arm. I can barely put a top on without hurting. Anyone have any idea where this pain is coming from and what may have caused it? I haven't done anything extreme as far as lifting heavy objects or anything. Advice?

[Tuckamore]

Hi B83,

I'm glad you found us at MedHelp. Welcome. I am hopeful you will find our community as supportive and informational as I have.

I am sorry you are experiencing such pain in your arm. None of us on this forum are strangers to pain. You didn't say which arm is causing so much pain. There are multiple conditions or injuries that could be the source of your pain. Several have been mentioned.

The deltoid muscle the big muscle on the upper arm. It has three parts. It is possible you could have strained or "pulled a section of that muscle.

It also could be related to your cervical spine. The axillary nerve, which originates from at C7  travels into the deltoid. The radial nerve also originates off the same cord.  If those nerves are compressed at the spine or even in the deltoid region that will also cause sharp pain.  

As mentioned in an earlier post it could be a bone spur or your rotator cuff. However if it is your rotator cuff you should also have extreme pain where your shoulder and arm meet, the "cuff."  You should also experience pain when you raise your arm.

If this is your left arm it can be cardiac related. Females do not have the typical cardiac symptoms as most males experience. However you are very young for such issues and cardiac is doubtful. I bring this up to demonstrate the many conditions this pain can represent.

The best suggestion I have is that you see your PCP. If this does not resolve on it's own I am sure your PCP will want to do some diagnostic scans. I wish you the very best. Please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing. We will look forward to your updates. Take Care, Tuck

[Mollyrae]

Hello amd welcome to Med Help>

I'm sorry for the discomfort you've been experiencing. There are no Doctors in the Pain Forum, only others who suffer with pain as well. This type of pain sounds muscle related. You don't have to lift anything heavy to pull a muscle. Something simular happened to my Husband and it ended up that he pulled a muscle and only time would heal it. I would recommend that you see your Doctor. You sound like you might need an x-ray of the area. Others will post with more advise as the evening goes on. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Take care and good luck, Mollyrae

[Cindee56]

I'm not a doctor,but it could be referred pain from the joint, or rotator cuff problem.  Sometimes arthritis pain radiates.  My husband had a lot of unexplained shoulder pain, and it ended up being bone spurs.  He had surgery and is much better now.