How to narrow down causes of Arm pain

The most common cause of arm pain is muscle overuse, followed by neurological disorders, disorders of the muscle tendons, ligaments, joints, blood vessels and bones.

Muscle Pain

Muscle overuse due to hard work or training can cause pain in any part of the arm. The pain is relieved by few days of rest.

Muscle contusion presents with bruise and local tenderness that may need few weeks to disappear.

Nerve Pain 

Herniated disc in the neck can cause pain in the neck, shoulder and outer side of the upper arm and tingling in the forearm and fingers. The pain is often relieved by placing a hand of the affected arm on top of the head.

A pinched ulnar nerve in the elbow can cause cubital syndrome with pain and tingling down the inside of the forearm and in the pinky and ring finger. A common cause is repeating leaning on the elbows, for example, during studying.

Carpal tunnel syndrome due to compression of the median nerve in the wrist presents with pain in the wrist and tingling or numbness in the first three fingers. Symptoms are often aggravated at night due to bending the wrists. Causes include overuse of the wrists (computer or assembly work), diabetes mellitus, wrist injury, hypothyroidism, etc.

Guyon's canal syndrome due to compression of the ulnar nerve in the wrist presents with pain in the wrist and tingling or numbness in the pinky and ring finger. The syndrome is common in cyclists who repeatedly lean on the pinky sides of the hands.

Thoracic outlet syndrome due to compression of the bunch of the nerves passing near the clavicle called brachial plexus, presents with pain in the arm that is aggravated by lifting an arm above the shoulder level.

Muscle Tendon Pain

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) presents with pain on the outer side of the elbow and forearm. It is caused by elbow overuse, for example, in tennis players.

Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) presents with pain on the inner side of the elbow and forearm. It is caused by repeated gripping, for example in golfers.

Rotator cuff tendonitis refers to damage of the muscles around the shoulder joint. It presents with pain in the shoulder and outer side of the upper arm. It mainly occurs due to repeated overhead activities in sports, such as golf, lifting and swimming, and in painters.

Shoulder Capsule Pain

Shoulder capsule refers to a bunch of ligaments around the shoulder join that connect the shoulder blade and upper arm bone.

Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) presents with chronic pain in the shoulder and upper arm from an uncertain cause.

Joint Pain

Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus can cause pain and swelling, mainly in the finger joints, but also in the wrists, elbows or shoulder joints. 

Vascular Pain

Raynaud's disease refers to cramps in the finger arteries triggered by stress or cold. Symptoms include sudden pain or numbness in the fingers and a change of finger color from white, blue, red to normal.