Medical expert of the article
New publications
Pain in the left arm
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
There can be many reasons for pain in the left arm. Painful sensations can spread throughout the arm or be concentrated in a specific place. Depending on the disease, the pain can be pulsating or monotonous, constant or periodic, shooting or piercing, dull or sharp, with or without a burning sensation, paroxysmal and leading to numbness.
[ 1 ]
Diseases that cause pain in the left arm
The most common causes of pain in the left hand can be any injuries: sprains, bruises, bone fractures, dislocations, etc. No less common is excessive tension of muscle fibers, which occurs, for example, as a result of prolonged physical labor in an uncomfortable position. In all these cases, the hand must be provided with complete rest, not to strain it too much and unnecessarily.
Another reason for pain in the left arm is physical deficiencies of the musculoskeletal system, problems with blood vessels, and the nervous system. The development of these ailments, if you ignore them or try to get rid of them on your own, at home, may well entail quite disastrous consequences, so if the pain does not disappear within a few days, you should immediately consult a doctor.
If the patient suspects physical injuries that have caused pain in the left arm, he should undergo an X-ray examination. If no connection between these factors is found, the condition of the cervical spine should be checked to confirm or refute the presence of a hernia or protrusion of the intervertebral disc.
The spontaneous occurrence of painful sensations in the hand without the fact of overexertion or various injuries can serve as a hint about the onset of arthritis or some kind of inflammation, because pain in the hand never appears just like that, in a healthy organ.
A bone fracture acquired some time ago and taken for an ordinary bruise, which did not immediately entail any particular painful consequences, can suddenly "appear", especially if the broken organ is subjected to excessive physical stress. The consequence of such a "hidden" defect will be pain in the left arm.
Physical trauma to any part of the left arm can radiate to various areas of this organ. Damaged tendons of the shoulder muscles can also provoke pain, accompanied by a burning and tingling sensation. The presence of fluid in the tissues will only aggravate the situation. Only a doctor can find the source of pain through diagnostic tests.
Myocardial infarction or heart attack are serious enough circumstances that can instantly cause pain in the left side of the body. The chest pain or pain in the left arm that occurs in this situation may be accompanied by such factors as cold sweat, shortness of breath, nausea, pale skin, unreasonable fear. These cases, just like swollen, poorly bendable joints, a changed shape of the arm, require immediate medical intervention.
Other causes of pain syndrome may include:
- neuralgic amyotrophy;
- brachial plexus rupture;
- shoulder-hand syndrome;
- scapulohumeral periarthritis;
- carpal tunnel syndrome;
- "tunnel syndrome" (sitting at a computer for a long time);
- left anterior scalene syndrome.
What to do if you have pain in your left arm?
Any pain in the left arm, even if it appears out of nowhere, is a sign of some unfavorable physical process occurring in the body. Only doctors - a neurologist, traumatologist, cardiologist - can determine the cause of painful sensations, so you should contact a medical institution as soon as possible to take tests and conduct diagnostic and other studies.