Neuralgia of the arm

Synonyms for arm nerve pain:

• Brachialgia

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What is arm nerve pain?

It's an irritation of one of the nerves in the arm.

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What is a nerve?

A nerve is a body structure responsible for transmitting information to our nervous system. Information travels through the nerve in the form of electricity. For example, nerves allow us to feel our skin when we touch a part of our body. They also allow us to send electricity to our muscles to contract them and move our limbs.

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What are the nerves in the arm?

There are many nerves in the arm. However, there are « three main nerves that are often responsible for the pain: »

• « The median nerve (the carpal tunnel nerve) »
• « The ulnar nerve (the nerve of the Guyon's canal) »
• The radial nerve »

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What are the causes of arm nerve pain?

Arm nerve pain occurs when a nerve is irritated in the arm or neck. If the nerve is irritated in the neck and there is also neck pain, it is called cervicobrachialgia (see the corresponding section).

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The cause of the irritation may be:

• Overstretching of the nerve
• Prolonged compression of the nerve
• Inflammation in the arm that irritates the nerve
• Poor movement mechanics that irritate the nerve

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Here are some classic examples that can cause arm nerve pain:

• Falling asleep on your arm and waking up with a numb arm
• Spending a long time on your cell phone and developing numbness in your hand
• Receiving a blow, bumping, or falling directly on a nerve (a classic example is when you bump the inside of your elbow and feel
  electrical shocks or numbness in your fingers).
• Having a sprain in the elbow or another joint and developing nerve irritation due to inflammation

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What are the symptoms of arm nerve pain?

Pain in the arm caused by nerves will often be described using unusual terms such as:

• Burning
• Tightness, heaviness, constriction
• A sensation of stretching, a tight cord, or an overstretched elastic band
• Wave sensation
• Sensation of swelling
• Hot or cold sensation
• Sensation of water running

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You may also experience numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or electric shocks in the arm and fingers.

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Finally, you may also have other symptoms in the arm such as:

• Feeling of loss of strength
• Feeling of a heavy or dead arm
• Change in sensation when touching the arm

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How is arm neuralgia diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made based on a review of your symptoms and a clinical examination.

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When should you consult a physiotherapist for arm neuralgia?

You should consult a physiotherapist if you have symptoms as described above or if your doctor has already ruled out any other cause that may be responsible for your pain.

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You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.

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What are the physiotherapy treatments for arm neuralgia?

Your physiotherapist will perform an evaluation to determine the cause of the neuralgia by assessing the following elements:

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• Your joint mobility
• The gliding of your nerves
• The quality of your movements
• Your strength and stability

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Based on the assessment results, your physiotherapist will:

• Will treat your nerves with manual therapy techniques specific to each nerve
• Will give you specific exercises for the nerves
• Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
• Will give you advice for your posture and movements.

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What to do at home for arm neuralgia?

Temporarily stop doing movements that cause too much pain, and then gradually start doing them again.

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Here are some tips to relieve the pain:

• Support your arm with a cushion under your armpit, an armrest, or by putting your hand in your pants pocket to elevate your shoulder.
• If you have pain at night or morning stiffness, make sure your neck is well supported while sleeping with a pillow that fills the hollow of your neck.
• Avoid sleeping with your arm behind your head or under the pillow. Keep your arm along your body or supported with a pillow.

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If you don't see any improvement after 10 days, you should consult a physiotherapist.

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