Pain in Right Arm and Shoulder

If the pain in arm and shoulder is due to a muscle strain and pain, then with some rest and home care measures it can be gotten rid of. However, if you have been suffering from right arm pain and shoulder pain for a long time, then it is imperative you contact a doctor to find out the cause behind the condition, to seek appropriate treatment. Given below, are the various conditions associated with shoulder pain and arm pain.

Possible Causes of Pain

• Bursitis is inflammation of a fluid filled sac (bursa), that lies between tendon and bone or between tendon and skin. This condition can cause considerable pain in the form of right shoulder pain and right arm pain.
• Another condition which causes shoulder pain, is frozen shoulder syndrome where tendons, muscles and ligaments present in the shoulder are stiffened. This makes it painful for the shoulder and arm to move.
• Overuse or a certain injury, can cause the nearby tendons to become inflamed. Sharp pain in shoulder and arm can occur when tendons that are connected to the bicep muscles of your arm become inflamed.
• Another disorder which can cause right shoulder and arm pain, is carpal tunnel syndrome. The primary symptoms of this condition is pain in the wrist, which leads finally to pain and weakness in shoulder and arm.
• Rotator cuff is a type of tendinitis, which is a common condition that leads to shoulder pain. In this condition there is inflammation of the tendons which are present in the shoulder. This leads to pain, that becomes worse at night.
• A condition that occurs due to physical trauma called thoracic outlet syndrome, can cause arm and shoulder pain, which can even lead to numbness of these areas.
• Common sprains and strains are a common reason which can cause mild to severe pain in the right arm and shoulder pain. Incorrect posture is a common reason, when sitting in front of the computer for long can cause pain under right shoulder blade.
• A primary symptom of heart attack is pain in the neck, arms and shoulders. This is irrespective of the pain being on the left or right side. Along with these symptoms a person experiences pressure in chest, shortness of breath and sweating.

Treatment

The treatment differs according to the cause. Hence, contact a doctor to figure out the condition behind the pain. However, for strains and pains you can use the mentioned below home care measures.

Home Remedies

• It is important that you give the affected arm and shoulder as much rest as possible.
• You should take a break from school or work, and protect and rest the affected shoulder and arm till the pain fades away.
• For relief from pain, you can use an over-the-counter painkiller.
• You can apply an ice compress 3 times a day to the affected region for 15-20 minutes.
• Keep your arm elevated to bring down the swelling.

When to Seek Medical Care

• It is important you seek emergency medical help if you are showing heart attack symptoms. Also, seek emergency medical care if you have an obvious deformity or a protruding bone injury in the shoulder or arm region.
• Seek immediate medical help if you severe pain and swelling or have difficulty moving your arm/shoulder in the normal motion. If your shoulder, arm, or back pain which occurs without any exertion and goes away with rest then also see a doctor right away. Another condition which calls for immediate medical help is when you hear a sudden snap or cracking sound during a shoulder/arm injury.
• If your symptoms of lower or upper right arm pain and shoulder pain become worse, or don't get better within a week of using the above home care measures then contact a doctor.

These were the causes for this condition, some self-care treatment measures, and situations where you need medical help. So, use the home care measures for sprains or strains, but seek medical care for the above mentioned situations.