Pain throughout the arm or in one specific part of the arm can seriously affect your quality of life. In some cases, arm pain is more than just a tightening of a muscle, and can be indicative of a bigger problem. Anyone experiencing arm pain should schedule an appointment with a physician who can perform diagnostic testing. If pain is occasional or constant, finding the cause and getting treatment can relieve that pain and return the patient back to a normal life. Here are some of the most common causes of and general treatments for arm pain.

Causes of Arm Pain

While arm pain might be caused by an identifiable event, like falling out of a tree and hitting the arm on the ground, if pain comes on gradually or appears with no apparent reason, finding the cause may be difficult. Arm pain may be a result of any of the following.

• Broken arm
• Fractured bone
• Carpal tunnel
• Arthritis
• Sprains
• Strains
• Tendinitis

Finding the exact cause of the arm pain may not always be necessary in order to treat that pain, but knowing the cause can help ensure the treatment is as effective as possible. Patients should examine how they use their arms and determine if there is an action or set of actions that might be contributing to their pain. Once the patient has identified the problem, it’s important to speak with a physician in detail about symptoms and causes.

Treatments of Arm Pain

Treatments for arm pain are just about as varied as the causes for this kind of pain. Here are some of the most common treatments:

• Medication – If the arm pain is acute, taking a pain reliever may alleviate it. If the patient has to take constant medication to alleviate the pain, another treatment may be necessary.
• Rest, heat, and ice – For minor arm sprains and strains, a little bit of rest, ice compresses in the first 48 hours after the injury occurred, and then the use of heat packs can relieve the pain until the arm is fully recovered.
• Chiropractic treatment – If arm pain is the result of pinched nerves or bones or joints that are not properly aligned, chiropractic treatment can be effective in relieving this pain, and fixing the underlying cause.
• Surgery – Surgery is a last resort, but may be performed in cases of chronic pain.

Chiropractic Treatments for Arm Pain

As a person uses his or her arms, the bones and joints may drift out of alignment. This puts pressure on the nerves in the arm, causing them to become sore. The benefit of choosing chiropractic treatment for arm pain is that chiropractors can realign the joints, providing long-term relief and treating not just the symptoms, but also the real cause of the acute and chronic pain.

For more information about treating arm pain, contact Horst Chiropractic today. Any of the staff at the office can set up appointments for patients, and would be happy to help answer questions.