Anatomical structure
Before proceeding to a detailed solution to the problem, it is important to understand why such a situation arises when the neck hurts, and at the same time it radiates to the arm. As we know from the school anatomy course, all systems of our body are closely interconnected. For example, diseases of the internal organs can manifest themselves as unpleasant sensations under the ribs. It’s the same with pain in the neck that radiates to the arm: the disease is localized in the upper part of the spine, and the arms, collarbones, ribs, and head can suffer from it.
Clinical case
A 45-year-old man, an entrepreneur, was admitted to our clinic.
The patient complained of pressing pain in the chest radiating to the left side of the neck and arm. The symptom appeared suddenly after a quarrel with a customer. According to the patient, he initially decided to endure the discomfort, but after 2 hours of increasing pain he called an ambulance. The team doctors recorded an ECG, which showed a pathological Q wave and ST segment elevation. A man was admitted to us with a preliminary diagnosis of “Acute coronary syndrome”.
We urgently sent the patient to the catheterization laboratory for angiography. After identifying a total blockage of the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery, a stent was installed in the patient at the site of occlusion with further prescription of drug therapy (beta blockers, antiplatelet agents, nitrates, statites) in adequate doses. Already on the second day, the man’s condition improved.
Causes of pain
Pain in the neck, radiating to the arm, in the vast majority of cases indicates problems in the musculoskeletal system, which speeds up diagnosis and the prescription of adequate treatment. However, even if you are completely sure of the probable disease, only a neurologist
.
Osteochondrosis
In a broad sense, osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine that leads to irreversible changes in the cartilage of the spinal column. As a result, mobility is impaired and the person cannot maintain normal physical activity. The disease, if ignored, leads to displacement and deformation of internal organs, ultimately causing disability. With osteochondrosis, a person’s neck hurts, radiating to the arm, back, and shoulder girdle. There is a feeling of numbness in the upper extremities, and headaches and heart pain may occur. The patient often feels lethargic and drowsy, even when there is no objective reason for this. Some experts believe that only a strictly defined pathological condition can be called osteochondrosis, which is much less common than we used to think. However, even in this case, pain is the main sign of a problem.
Intervertebral hernia
Neck pain that radiates to the arm is often a symptom of intervertebral hernias localized in the cervical spine. In medicine, a hernia is a rupture of the fibrous ring - the tissue that surrounds the disc nucleus, preventing it from falling out. The symptoms of a hernia are quite wide: a person not only feels intense pain, but may also experience problems with urination, bowel movements, and sexual function.
Presence of serious injuries
Some athletes - tennis players, volleyball players, weightlifters - often complain that their neck hurts, and at the same time it radiates to the right or left arm and shoulders. Depending on the nature of the pain syndrome (aching, sharp, intense, cyclical), this may mean the presence of either a sprain or a more serious injury, even a fracture. It should be noted that no one is immune from injury. At high risk are people who lack calcium in the body, which increases bone fragility: patients with osteoporosis, pregnant and lactating women, older people (especially women, which is associated with the washing out of calcifications after menopause).
Expert advice
Chest discomfort is a symptom that should not be ignored.
If your heart hurts and the left side of your neck, arm, or shoulder blade goes numb, then you should immediately call an ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, I always recommend the following simple steps to my patients:
- Rest. You need to take a lying position and try to calm down.
- Access to fresh air. It is necessary to open the windows and remove oppressive clothing.
- Taking Nitroglycerin. Dose – 1 tablet under the tongue.
In 50-60% of cases, such an algorithm of actions will improve a person’s well-being and conduct an initial diagnosis of myocardial infarction. As cardiac muscle necrosis progresses, the pain and numbness of the left arm will not go away while taking nitroglycerin.
Rare diseases
The diseases described above remain the most common causes of acute chest pain with arm numbness. However, in my practice, I have encountered patients who, with (almost) similar symptoms, did not suffer from IHD or VSD.
Rare cardiac pathologies:
- "Broken Heart Syndrome" (Takotsubo). The pathology is accompanied by a sharp decrease in myocardial function due to stress. The clinic resembles a heart attack, but fatal complications do not develop.
- Mechanical damage. In this case, the cause-and-effect relationship between the chest injury and its symptoms is clearly visible.
- Oncological pathology. Heart tumors are a rare occurrence. However, when tumors grow into the pericardium, a corresponding clinical picture may occur.
Diagnostic methods
Without being a specialist, you cannot independently diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment for yourself. This could lead to the situation worsening to the point where nothing can be done. It is much better to consult a good doctor even when the first symptoms appear. Such specialists work at the St. Petersburg clinic “Energo”. Our doctors have extensive experience in solving problems with the musculoskeletal system and know what treatment to prescribe based on the current situation. The specialist will first examine you visually, collect anamnesis and conduct a palpation examination. This will allow you to find out the exact location of the pain and rule out a number of diseases. Then a referral will be given for tests and more informative studies, the most accurate of which is considered to be MRI
. However, if there is a fracture, a regular x-ray will be sufficient.
Why do my shoulders hurt?
Our shoulder joint is vulnerable.
It does not withstand abuse for long and responds with pain and dysfunction. The causes of pain in the shoulder joint are varied - heavy physical work, intense training in the gym, viral diseases. The shoulder may hurt due to a bruise, dislocation or fracture. Constant pain in the left or right shoulder is a reason to consult a doctor. This will prevent the development of the disease and prevent it from becoming chronic. Shoulder joint pain is at risk for people who:
- slouch, do not watch their posture;
- move little during the day;
- perform heavy physical work;
- play sports professionally.
Treatment for neck pain radiating to the arm
It is important to remember that only a highly qualified doctor ( neurologist)
,
surgeon
,
therapist
). Therefore, you cannot self-medicate, even if you are confident in its effectiveness. Despite the relief that traditional medicine often brings, we should not forget that they only mask the problem, but in no way eliminate its true cause. Experienced doctors at the Energo clinic in St. Petersburg, having learned the results of your tests, having conducted a thorough manual and visual examination, having received research results, will tell you why your neck hurts and radiates to your arm, and will tell you how to treat the disease, depending on its etiology. So, if you have osteochondrosis, you will most likely be prescribed painkillers and medications that are aimed at maintaining healthy bone tissue. Physiotherapy and sanatorium-resort treatment (mud baths, therapeutic massage) help achieve good results. Among the achievements of alternative medicine, acupuncture helps many.
The nature of the sensations is half the diagnosis
The nature of the pain from the elbow to the hand can be different: aching, pulling, burning, stabbing.
It can occur at rest, during exercise, or when performing certain movements. It can be one-time occurrence, regularly recurring and continuous. Sometimes painful sensations are accompanied by dysfunction of the joints of the hand or fingers. In order to establish a diagnosis, the doctor needs to know all these features: their combinations allow, in some cases, to accurately establish the diagnosis without additional expensive studies.
Prevention
To avoid neck problems, you need to lead an active lifestyle. If you work in an office, be sure to take a break every hour and a half. Lack of physical activity provokes not only neck pain, but also diseases of other organs. Therefore, try to walk at least 30 minutes a day, go to the gym if possible, or do exercises at home. As for nutrition, it is recommended to consume foods rich in calcium, and then diseases of the musculoskeletal system will bypass you. Eat more vegetables and fruits, be sure to include milk and fermented milk products in your diet: hard cheeses, kefir, Greek yogurt. If necessary, take dietary supplements - they will help achieve optimal daily calcium intake - but only after consulting with your doctor.
Forearms hurt when exercising
Pain that appears in the muscles of the forearm when performing various movements can be associated with both impaired innervation and vascular pathologies. Insufficient blood supply leads to ischemic necrotic changes in the area of some myocytes. This causes acute pain.
Pain in the forearm when moving the arm, associated with impaired innervation, is also accompanied by severe muscle weakness. These patients often develop seizures and involuntary movements. For example, the hand can completely spontaneously unclench and something that was held there (mug, spoon, comb, etc.) falls out of it.
If your forearms hurt during exercise, then you need to check not only the large joints of the upper extremities, but also the main blood vessels. Angiography and duplex scanning will help identify a number of pathologies in the early stages. The most important thing is to seek medical help in time and not wait for everything to go away on its own. Remember that pain is not a disease, but only its clinical sign. For treatment, it is important to establish an accurate diagnosis and eliminate the cause of the disease.
When is urgent medical attention needed?
The smartest thing to do in such a situation is to make an appointment with a doctor. Even if the symptom is caused by banal physical stress, it is better to play it safe and get diagnosed by a rheumatologist or cardiologist. Often diseases such as arthritis occur in a latent form for a long time, and they are detected during a preventive examination. However, in some cases you cannot wait a day or a minute, since delay can cost a person his life. We are talking about attacks of heart attack and stroke, when the left arm goes numb and severe pain appears. If you see a victim suspected of having either of the two attacks, call an ambulance. Before doctors arrive, it is necessary to ensure that the patient remains calm and in the most comfortable position.
After the doctors have provided first aid, the patient is sent to intensive care. The clinic conducts laboratory tests and instrumental studies to clarify the diagnosis. As a rule, the full picture becomes clear after evaluating the results of blood tests, as well as CT, MRI, ECG and ultrasound.
