Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses and SymptomsEmergency CareNonemergency CareNot Heart-RelatedDiagnosisTreatment Options
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes and Symptoms
Emergency Care
Nonemergency Care
Not Heart-Related
Diagnosis
Treatment Options
Pain in your left arm can have many different causes, from injuries and muscle strain to a pinched nerve or sprain.In some cases, left arm pain is one sign of a heart attack (myocardial infarction), which is a medical emergency.
This article discusses some of the potential causes of left arm pain, including both cardiac and noncardiac reasons. This information may help you decide when to seek help from a healthcare provider and if you need immediate medical attention.
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Causes and Accompanying Symptoms
Some of the most common causes ofleft arm paininclude:
Below are common causes of left arm pain:
Fracture (Broken Bone)
In addition to pain, other symptoms of a fractured arm bone may include swelling, bruising, weakness, or difficulty moving. Sometimes, the bone(s) in your arm may look disjointed or out of place. If you think you’ve experienced a fracture, such as if you hear a snapping sound when you hurt your arm, it’s important to get help from a healthcare provider right away.
Herniated Disc
Spinal discs act as “cushions” that separate the individual vertebrae from one another. Injuries and strains, as well as long-term degeneration and weakening, can lead to herniated or slipped discs, meaning that part of the disc has been pushed out of place and pressed on the spinal nerves.
If this happens in thecervical spine(the vertebrae in your neck) this can lead to peripheral neuropathy in the left or right arm. Peripheral neuropathy refers to pain, numbness, and tingling in the extremities. You may experience a pins-and-needles sensation, aching, or weakness in the affected arm, hand, and/or fingers, often alongside back pain.
Pinched Nerve or Cervical Radiculopathy
Rotator Cuff Tear
There are four muscles that form a cover for the top of the humerus (bone of the upper arm). Together, they are known as therotator cuff.
Sprains and Strains
Symptoms of a sprain or strain may include:
Tendinitis
Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Past shoulder injuries and anatomical differences, such as an especially long neck, may put you at a higher risk for this condition. It may cause left arm pain (or right arm pain) as well as neck and shoulder pain. Because of poor circulation, you may also notice weakness, swelling, coldness, numbness, tingling, and discoloration in the affected forearm, hand, and/or fingers.
Angina
Angina is easy to confuse with symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn or bloating. There are two types of angina: stable angina, which gets worse when you’re exercising, and unstable angina, which happens even when you’re not engaged in physical activity. Unstable angina requires immediate medical attention.
Bursitis
Heart Attack
When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
If you have anysigns of a heart attackalongside left arm pain, you need to seek emergency medical attention. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away if you experience:
You should also seek emergency medical care if you:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you do not have any symptoms that might warrant immediate medical attention, you should reach out to a healthcare provider if your left arm pain hasn’t gotten better in several weeks. You should seek help earlier if the pain is severe, if it affects your quality of life, such as your ability to participate in normal activities, or if you have other accompanying symptoms.
In the meantime, you can take steps to soothe your pain at home. For example, try icing the affected area, applying heat, resting your arm, and/or taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen). Contact a healthcare provider if these measures do not help to resolve your symptoms.
How Do You Know If Left Arm Pain Is Not Heart-Related?
Likewise, if you have no risk factors for heart disease, you have a relatively low chance of experiencing a heart attack (although it’s still possible). Arm pain that gets worse with physical activity and goes away with rest is less likely to result from a heart problem. Still, if you think you may be having any cardiac event, it’s best to seek help from a healthcare provider.
How Left Arm Pain Is Diagnosed
If you go to the emergency room because you suspect you may be having a heart attack, your healthcare provider will most likely perform the following tests:
Meanwhile, left arm pain after an injury or for any other reason will typically be assessed with a physical examination and imaging tests, such as X-rays. Your healthcare provider will also ask you about your pain, other symptoms, medical history, and family history.
Treatment for pain in your left arm pain depends on its underlying cause. Examples include:
Summary
Left arm pain can have both cardiac and non-cardiac causes. Some of the most common causes for pain in the left arm may include fractures, herniated disks, pinched nerves, rotator cuff tears, sprains and strains, tendinitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, and bursitis. Possible heart-related causes includeanginaand heart attack.
Call 911 or go to the hospital right away if you experience left arm pain and other signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. You should also get emergency medical care for acute left arm pain after an injury.
If the pain in your left arm persists for several weeks, reach out to a healthcare provider. They can provide comprehensive diagnostic testing and help you put together a treatment plan, which may include physical therapy and other measures to relieve your pain.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Arm injuries and disorders.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.MedlinePlus.Fractures.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve).OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: Frequently asked questions.National Health Service.Sprains and strains.MedlinePlus.Tendinitis.MedlinePlus.Thoracic outlet syndrome.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About other conditions related to heart disease.National Health Service.Bursitis.MedlinePlus.Heart attack.National Health Service.Elbow and arm pain.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Arm injuries and disorders.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.MedlinePlus.Fractures.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve).OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: Frequently asked questions.National Health Service.Sprains and strains.MedlinePlus.Tendinitis.MedlinePlus.Thoracic outlet syndrome.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About other conditions related to heart disease.National Health Service.Bursitis.MedlinePlus.Heart attack.National Health Service.Elbow and arm pain.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Arm injuries and disorders.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.MedlinePlus.Fractures.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve).OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: Frequently asked questions.National Health Service.Sprains and strains.MedlinePlus.Tendinitis.MedlinePlus.Thoracic outlet syndrome.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About other conditions related to heart disease.National Health Service.Bursitis.MedlinePlus.Heart attack.National Health Service.Elbow and arm pain.
MedlinePlus.Arm injuries and disorders.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
MedlinePlus.Fractures.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.
OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve).
OrthoInfo - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: Frequently asked questions.
National Health Service.Sprains and strains.
MedlinePlus.Tendinitis.
MedlinePlus.Thoracic outlet syndrome.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About other conditions related to heart disease.
National Health Service.Bursitis.
MedlinePlus.Heart attack.
National Health Service.Elbow and arm pain.
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