Pain in upper right arm between elbow and shoulder treatment

For many forms of arm pain, self-care and over-the-counter treatments are enough to effectively resolve the pain.

If you have arm pain from overexertion or a compressed nerve, avoid repetitive movements and take frequent breaks from activities that stress the area.

For arm pain due to overuse or overexertion, remember the acronym RICE:

Rest Take a break from your normal activities.

Ice Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes, three times a day.

Compression Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.

Elevation Elevate your arm above heart level to help reduce swelling.

When to See a Doctor

Seek emergency treatment if your arm, shoulder, elbow, or wrist pain is the result of severe trauma or comes on suddenly. If you have trouble moving your arm or see protruding bones, see your doctor right away, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Sudden arm, shoulder, chest, or back pain, accompanied by pressure in your chest, may signal a heart attack, and you should call 911 and seek emergency treatment immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital if you think you are having a heart attack.

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have:

• Pain that occurs with exertion and is relieved by rest (this may indicate reduced blood flow to your heart)
• Sudden injury
• Severe pain and swelling
• Difficulty moving or rotating your arm

Schedule a regular office visit with your doctor if you have arm pain that isn’t getting better with self-care, or if you have an injury and notice an increase in redness, swelling, or pain.

Medication Options

Common over-the-counter medications to help relieve arm pain include acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Depending on the source of your arm pain, your doctor may administer drug treatments to help relieve inflammation, such as an injection of corticosteroids.

Your doctor may also prescribe a topical anti-inflammatory drug that you apply to the skin in the area of your pain, notes the Mayo Clinic.

Physical Therapy

Some conditions that cause arm pain, including many chronic tendon conditions, may benefit from physical therapy.

A physical therapist can work with you to identify activities or other factors that may be contributing to your condition, and develop specific exercises to help you strengthen and stretch the affected muscles and tendons.

One category of exercises that often helps with tendon problems is known as eccentric strengthening. This practice involves contracting (squeezing) a muscle at the same time that it’s lengthening.

A physical therapist can also help you regain range of motion and avoid scarring after surgery done to repair a fracture or treat carpal tunnel syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Pain in the shoulder and elbow areas can be the result of a condition such as arthritis or bursitis, but more commonly comes from an injury that can range from a simple strain to a tear in the tendons.

Understanding the Shoulder and Elbow

A shoulder is what is known as a ball-and-socket joint. This is because the upper arm has a rounded shape that fits into a hollow socket in the shoulder blade. The joints within the shoulder are very flexible, in fact, more flexible than any other joint in the body.

The elbow is a hinge joint connecting the forearm to the upper part of the arm. A hinge joint allows for flexibility in the lower part of the arm.

The shoulder and elbow are held together with ligaments, tendons and various soft tissues. Ligaments connect bones to other bones, where tendons connect bones to muscles. A thin layer of cartilage covers these areas and eases any friction during movement. If there is damage, from disease or injury, you may experience pain, numbness or a weakened range of motion. Because the shoulder and elbow are so heavily utilized, they are commonly prone to injury or disorder.

Shoulder and Elbow Conditions

There are a number of disorders, preexisting or new, that can lead to shoulder pain including:

Bursitis – A painful condition caused by inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sacs, called bursae, that protect and lubricate the bones, tendons and muscles around the shoulder and elbow.

Arthritis – Also known as osteoarthritis, this condition is caused by cartilage degeneration or a loss of cartilage, the flexible covering between bones, that causes friction between the bones and leads to pain in the joints.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome – Similar to the more well-known wrist condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the shoulder or elbow from long periods use, leaning or being put in an awkward position.

Shoulder or Elbow Arthrosis – Damage to the shoulder or elbow joint causing damage to cartilage causing rubbing between bones and pain or loss of movement.

“Frozen” Elbow – There is still some uncertainty of the causes but “Frozen” elbow is pain and limited movement caused by the gradual degeneration of the elbow and can lead to scar tissue in the elbow joint.

Shoulder and Elbow Injuries

It is very important to work with your doctor to correctly classify a shoulder or elbow injury so effective treatment can be administered. Common shoulder and elbow injuries include:

Tennis Elbow – Inflammation in the tendons that connect the forearm muscles, caused by tension, heavy use or trauma. Manifests as swelling and pain in the elbow, worsened by movement of the palm.

Golfer’s Elbow – Inflammation of the elbow joint where the bone is attached to the tendon. Golfer’s elbow is caused by repeated movements and can cause limited mobility, swelling and pain.

Tendonitis – Inflammation and irritation of the shoulder or elbow tendon from overuse or injury and causes impingement (pinching) of tendons and nerves. Over time the pinching can lead to heightened pain and pain in other areas of the body.

Rotator Cuff Injury – The rotator cuff is a collection of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint, keeping the upper arm bone firmly in the socket of the elbow. If these tendons are sprained or torn it can lead to sharp pain, and if left untreated will lead to further damage to the shoulder joint.

Shoulder or Elbow Dislocation – An injury that causes the bone to become dislodged and moved out of place from the joint. Dislocation causes damage to the surrounding tendons, muscles and nerves.

Shoulder or Elbow Joint Overload – Pain and inflammation caused by activities like swimming, baseball or tennis. This is caused by microtrauma or wear of the joints and can cause sharp pain, especially at night.

Shoulder and Elbow Treatment

Most shoulder and elbow pain can be cured with R.I.C.E. method (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). This coupled with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) can help to relieve swelling and reduce pain.

Using a splint, brace or sling helps a particular area of the body to rest until the pain subsides. These shouldn’t, however, be used indefinitely as they can lead to lowered flexibility and reduce muscle mass.

If the pain is not residing with conservative treatment your doctor may recommend physical therapy or other treatments, such as injections, that can assist in healing.

Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Surgery may be required if all other treatments have been exhausted and there are still pain or immobility problems. Common surgical procedures for the treatment of shoulder and elbow injuries include:

Arthroscopy – A surgical procedure that is done with small incisions and a special camera to allow surgeons to remove loose or damaged cartilage, bone fragments or bone spurs to relieve pain and restore mobility.

Rotator Cuff Surgery – A common shoulder procedure that is performed arthroscopically, through small incisions to the shoulder area. Surgeons drill tiny holes in bine to anchor a “patch” (usually using a piece of a tendon) to fix instability caused by a tear in the rotator cuff tendons.

Shoulder or Elbow Replacement – Full or partial shoulder or elbow replacement may be necessary if the joint is damaged beyond arthroscopic repair.

Learn more about shoulder replacement surgery.

Learn more about elbow replacement surgery.

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