Does your arm hurt all the time? Let's talk about arm pain.

Have you ever felt so much pain in your arm that you can't even lift it when you wake up in the morning? Or do you have arm pain that lasts for days after lifting something heavy? Arm pain is a common problem for many people. Sometimes it can be a minor thing, but sometimes it can be a symptom of a serious illness. So today, let's talk about arm pain, its causes, and what we need to know about it.

What exactly is this pain in the hand?

Simply put, hand pain is any pain, discomfort, or stiffness that occurs anywhere from your shoulder to your wrist. This pain can involve the muscles, tendons, cartilage, nerves, or bones in your hand.

Think about it, sometimes the pain isn't caused by a problem in the arm itself. Pain from a problem elsewhere in the body, for example, in the heart, can travel down the arm. We call this 'referred pain'. That means the problem is in one place, but the pain is felt in another place.

What are the main causes of hand pain?

Because our hands have so many parts, there can be more than one cause of pain. Some of them are caused by everyday activities or sports accidents. Let's take a look at the main causes.

1. Physical Injuries

This is the most common cause. Hand injuries can occur from things like falling while playing cricket or slipping while running after a bus.

• Broken Bones: If you experience sudden, severe pain, swelling, bruising, and numbness in your arm after an accident, it is possible that you have a broken bone. If this happens, it is important to see a doctor immediately for treatment to help your arm heal quickly.

• Strain or Sprain: An accident can cause damage to the muscles (strain) or ligaments (sprain). Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and muscle tearing. These can usually be treated with home remedies, but if the pain is severe, it's best to see a doctor.

• Rotator Cuff Injury: This is a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder. It helps to move and stabilize the shoulder. As you age or in people who do repetitive overhead work (such as painting), this area can become damaged. Symptoms include weakness and numbness in the arm.

• Hyperextension of the elbow: People who play sports like gymnastics, yoga, and weightlifting put excessive pressure on their elbows. This can cause the tendons and ligaments around the elbow to tear, causing pain and swelling.

• Herniated Disc: The cushion-like parts between the vertebrae in our spine are called discs. If one of these discs in the neck bulges out, it can press on a nerve and cause inflammation, numbness, and pain that radiates down the arm.

2. Heart Problems

• Angina: This condition, caused by reduced blood supply to the heart, can cause shoulder pain.

• Heart Attack: A heart attack can cause pain in one or both arms. This pain usually starts suddenly .

In addition to arm pain, these symptoms may also be seen during a heart attack:

• Chest tightness, tightness, or pressure
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Feeling cold and sweating

If you or someone you know suddenly develops these symptoms, don't delay. Call 1990 immediately and get an ambulance. Avoid driving yourself to the hospital, as you may lose consciousness on the way.

3. Autoimmune Diseases

In these diseases, our own immune system attacks our own body cells. Diseases like `Rheumatoid arthritis` and `Lupus` can cause pain in the neck, hands, elbows, and wrists.

4. Other common causes

• Tendinitis: Infection of the tendons. "Tennis elbow" is a good example of this.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: People who use their wrists in the same way (e.g., those who work at a computer) can experience damage to the main nerve in the hand, causing numbness, pain, and weakness.
• Frozen Shoulder: The tissues around the shoulder joint become stiff and stiff, making it impossible to move the shoulder. This is a very painful condition.
• Pinched Nerve: Pinched nerve can cause pain and numbness in the arm due to compression of a nerve by the bones or tissues of the neck or shoulder.
• Bursitis: An infection of the small fluid-filled sacs (bursae) in the joints. This condition is most common in the elbow and shoulder.
• Osteoarthritis: Arthritic condition caused by wear and tear of the joints.

How do you distinguish between an emergency and normal pain?

When you experience arm pain, it's natural to be scared and unsure whether it's a heart attack or a simple sprain. This chart will help you figure it out.

When should I see a doctor?

Not all hand pain requires a trip to the hospital. However, there are some cases where we definitely need to be concerned.

Your doctor will refer you for X-rays or other tests if necessary.

Are there any treatments that can be done at home?

Many minor hand injuries can be treated at home. The RICE method is very helpful for this.

• R - Rest: Rest the painful arm. Avoid heavy lifting and activities that strain the arm.
• I - Ice: Apply ice to the area of ​​pain and swelling for 15-20 minutes. Do this several times a day.
• C - Compression: Gently wrap the painful area with an elastic bandage to reduce swelling.
• E - Elevation: Keep your arm elevated above the level of your heart on a pillow. This will reduce swelling.

In addition to these, you can take painkillers as prescribed by your doctor. You can also restore the function of your hand by doing exercises recommended by a physiotherapist.

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