Upper Arm Pain mid arm between the elbow and shoulder

[socrates2k1]

I have been looking everywhere for an answer, maybe someone here can.

About 1 year ago I began having pain in my right upper arm, between the shoulder and elbow, about mid arm where the biceps brachii muscle or brachialis muscle is.
I went to my Primary Physician who said it was a torn brachialis muscle.  Since I was working at a 2nd job, I thought it might be job related so I went through the whole Workman's Comp issue.  They sent me to 4 doctors who did nothing for me, finally the case was settled and my lawyer got most of the money, but I still have the pain.  It is an extreme ache down to the bone, that is unbearable at night.  Even with pain medicine and sleep aides, I get about 2-3 hours a night.  Finally, I went back to my own doctor and asked if he could help me, he said yes.  He sent me for an MRI, and then to an Orthopedic Surgeon.  The Surgeon said the MRI revealed a cyst inside the humerus bone about 1 cm by 5 mm, that would have to be "watched" to see if it grows, if it does, it could weaken the bone, and the slightest mishap could break the bone.  However, he said it could NOT be causing me so much pain.  He checked out my arm and noticed a hard soft tissue knot, and suggested removing it through surgery and it "might" relieve my pain.  So, 3 weeks ago I had the said surgery and it was removed (a hard soft tissue mass about the size of a marble).  No, this was not the cyst inside my humerus bone.  Anyways, I still have the pain, and it is extremely terrible at night (on a scale of 1 to 10, a 20 at night).  I even have the same pain, in the same place, in my left arm, but to a much lesser degree (maybe a 5-7 at night, but bearable).  I have tried many unsuccessful web searches, trying to find something that might lead me to an answer for what this is, so here I am grasping at cyber straws.  I have this incredible pain, that is extremely painful at night, no idea what it is, therefore  no idea how to cure it.  Please, if you have any ideas of where to research, I am definitely open and also AWAKE.  Thank you for your time, consideration, and cooperation in this matter, I deeply appreciate it.

[PeterGibbons]

I have the same in both arms - exactly the same areas in both arms for this 3 months - excruciating pain especially at night time disturbing my sleep  - did anyone find a prognosis or cure ?

[Dianeby1]

I have the same problem having a steroid injection tomorrow, apparently it's something called an inflamed bursa

[Mad_Scientist_Saving_Angels]

I will tell you what it is I just found mine last night.  check your elbows and if you have a mass in there it is probably scar tissue thing is mine radiates down my forearms like a broom and pushed my tissue up into my arm causing me to have ripples around my arm like an armband.  This has been going on for the past 40 years.  I too have lumps under my arms the tissues are tangled with the elbows growing out of place changing the alignment in our ENTIRE BODIES creating diamonds of connective tissue because it is being separated

I have been to 21 doctors the last 2 months hunting down my pain in my shoulders that are being pulled off the tendons but told it is in my head

********

The doctors have refused to examine me nor touch me.  When I say I have shoulder pain they should examine and palpitate the arms

We don't need more xrays we need our tissues imaged yet you say scar tissue/tissue/fascia and their eyes glaze over with stupidity

Damn right I am mad simple fixes yet lifelong problems with lazy rich doctors who think they are God whom are really Satan in disguise micro slowly killing us

What the hell are doctors studying these days????

NOTHING

Making a dollar off of us and refusing proper healthcare

We need a fully body scanning machine that indicated where we are locked up and printout appropriate doctors to choose from depending on the insurance you have

IT IS NOT THAT HARD

************/madscientist

[Kujo29812]

I don't know if this is the best answer but I use Topricin every night to get sleep and have been taking black cherry juice Evey morning and the pain is getting less after a year of unbelievable pain!!!!My right arm was damaged at work and I went to using my left arm to do most anything but I would still use my right arm even though the pain would make me cry.I will try the exercise with full motion but I still use my left arm to even drink with my right arm. Try the Topricin it isn't cheap but it has been a life saver!!! I don't just back up anything unless it really works and it does and I can get some sleep. Make sure you do the arm and the shoulder. If you have gout or arthritis black cherry juice concentrate works wonders doctors don't want you to know but if it works you will know very fast that it is working. Thanks and I am going to sleep!!!

[hippiechick1963]

I have had the EXACT same symptoms for approximately 2 years now...not only is it extremely painful at night while lying down trying to sleep, but it basically aches most of the the time and sometimes makes it impossible to bend my arms back or up to reach for something...the docs wouldn't send me for an MRI and I too, cannot find any answers on the web.....

[BlueSkies]

I cannot believe IBut  am reading all these comments that many of them I could have written ver batum.
My right arm pain started about 4 months ago, and has been with me nearly every day since.  I went to chiro and he told me it was tendonitis. Told me to use ice on for 20, off for 20, yada yada....but I started losing strength in my arm and now, since I have started "favoring" it, and lifting, vacuuming, etc with my left arm, the bicep is beginning to atrophy.  I swear, my right arm used to be the strong arm.  Now, looking in the mirror, it has definitely deflated and my left arm looks like I am a body builder in comparison.  THIS scares me.  I am to see my PCP in 3 weeks and am going to ask for MRI.  It's almost like my muscle has died.  And it KILLS me at night....
But....I really think it started with poor posture sitting in bed typing on my laptop.  But who knows?  I have considered trying to exercise it...ie, lifting things....wrong...only makes it hurt worse and depresses me because now I am afraid to pick up my grandbabies.  I am 61, female, and have always been in good physical shape. But now, my right arm, right bicep, right shoulder that I can hear crackling in the joint, has me really worried.  OTC pain meds don't help and even stronger ones don't help.  I just hope this can be diagnosed and I can get my strength built back up with no more pain.  The night pain is unbearable, but when I wake up, it's gone...but it comes back quickly after I get up.  I have read some very good things on this thread.  Going to write many of the various diagnoses down to read to my doctor.  Hurting RIGHT NOW as I type!  Good luck to us all with this annoying and frightening (to me) aillment!

[MagickalJules]

I started having the exact same arm pain first in my right arm then a couple months later in my left arm.  I thought I tore my bicept in half it hurt so bad.  I was already getting acupuncture for other things so started having needles done on my right arm.  When they really didn't have an effect I went to my reg dr. and he ordered an xray to be done of both arms.  They didn't see anything on the xrays but something funny in the left arm so he ordered an mri.  After the mri  I went to a specialist who told me I had shoulder impingements.  The bursa sac in my shoulders where inflamed and they were also pinching the nerves running down my arms.  They told me it was caused by sleeping on my side.  They told me to do pt to help.  I went twice and what they had me doing hurt worse than the arm pain and I have slept on my side my entire life so it didn't just start hurting at age 57.  I did however get invisiline braces 2 years ago so my jaw was changed quickly.  My acupuncturist and I both believe that this has led to the shoulder movements.  I now go to a doctor of osteopathy and my right arm is feeling much better.  My left arm is still giving me fits but not as bad.  I get needles in it probably every 3-4 weeks and then the dr of osteo works on it once a month.  I don't take anything for pain.  If it really hurts I use ice for 20 minutes then off for 20 then on for 20 and take otc pain reliever.  I haven't had to do this for months so I am hoping I am on the road to recovery with the left arm like the right arm is.  Hooking my bra is the worst and I saw someone else say reaching out the car window, yes that hurts still.  I can feel the bursa sacs and the fluid in them.  I also will hold down on the points that hurt until the pain subsides.  I don't rub I kinda push through it.  Hope this helps.  I highly suggest acupuncture, but please find a medically trained acupuncturist.

[April007]

I highly recommend seeking a chiropractor, this sounds more like a nerve issue and you could have swelling in your brachial plexus. A chiropractor can manipulate muscles and nerves and at times relieve a great deal of pain! Good luck!

[Jamesmace]

I have an answer!! I went to a physiotherapist and he told me it was a result of years of bad posture! He gave me exercises to do and how I am pain free! I urge you to try it! I suffered 3 years with the pain and finally I can move on!