Pain In Neck And Shoulder Radiating Down Arm

It would help if you had the pain in neck and shoulder radiating down arm check by a doctor. That would be wise as you have no idea if the symptoms you are feeling could be a threat to your well-being.

It would be unwise to guess what could be wrong as the cause could be several conditions. These could range from muscle fatigue to nerve damage, but it would be hard to tell without testing and proper diagnosis.

Due to the seriousness of issues like these, we always advocate that persons seek medical assistance before evaluating themselves. We recognize that not everyone has access to medical care and may need immediate help.

If you depend on information like this for the short term, you can follow the suggestions given. Always follow the instructions to avoid the wrong conclusions.

First, assess all of the symptoms you are experiencing. Compare them with the ones we share below. Once you have done so, the ones that don’t match up are unlikely candidates for your condition.

The next step is to compare the remaining ones and look at the treatments listed. Any remedies that are the same are usable to help with your issues.

Once you have access to a physician, you should plan a visit and tell them what you did. Here are the known conditions that cause pain in the neck and shoulder radiating down the arm.

Pain In Neck And Shoulder Radiating Down Arm – Likely Causes

Rotator Cuff Disease

Rotator cuff disease happens when the tissue in the cuff becomes inflamed due to damage. This disease occurs due to injury or the degeneration of the tendons.

Symptoms of rotator cuff disease are a pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm. Other signs are motion limitation and muscle weakness. 

You may experience a grating or cracking sound in the joint when you move your arms.

Treatment for this condition is an arm sling to give the injury time to heal. You can do some physical therapy exercises to regain motion.

Other treatment includes steroid injections and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dislocated Shoulder

A dislocated shoulder is another cause of pain in the neck and shoulder radiating down the arm. This injury happens when the arm pops out of the joint that holds it in place.

You will find such injuries occurring in contact sports and accidents. A sudden jerk or blow to the shoulder are common causes. 

Symptoms of a dislocated shoulder are shoulder immobility and pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm.

Other signs are a visibly deformed shoulder and intense pain in the joint. You may notice swelling and bruising.

Treatment for this condition is icing the affected area to reduce swelling and pain. Other remedies are wearing a sling to relieve pressure on the shoulder joint.

You can take anti-inflammatory drugs for the pain and inflammation if you wish and follow a physiotherapy given by your doctor.

Broken Collarbone

If you had a fall, any pain you feel in the arm, neck, and shoulder could be a broken collarbone. A blow to your shoulder could result in this injury, so be aware.

A broken collarbone symptom is a pain in the neck and shoulder radiating down the arm and swelling.

Other signs are a bulge in the shoulder, immobility in the arm, and a cracking sound when you try to move the arm.

Treatment for this condition is icing the area, wearing a sling, and special physical therapy.

Some cases may require surgery if the issue is severe. Bolts and rods help to keep the bone aligned.

Pain In Neck And Shoulder Radiating Down Arm – Other Causes

If you know that you had a fall, that could be the reason for the pain you feel. In such circumstances, you can use the available solutions and find your way to receive medical help. 

However, if you didn’t injure yourself, the problem will need addressing as it could get worse. 

You need to know about some other conditions before concluding what may be wrong; keep reading for more about the neck, shoulder, and arm pain you are feeling.

Upper Arm Fracture

An upper arm fracture could cause pain in the neck and shoulder radiating down the arm. This condition occurs when the humerus has small breaks or splinters that heal over time.

A fall or blow to the shoulder is the usual suspect of this condition. The breaks remain intact instead of getting loose.

An upper arm fracture symptoms are shoulder, neck, and arm pain. Other signs are swelling, bruising, and shoulder immobility.

You may experience deformity of the shoulder and a cracking sound in the humerus. Bleeding and loss of arm function are possible.

Treatment for this condition is surgery if the injury requires it or more straightforward methods to allow natural healing. Doctors may use a split to hold the arm and elbow in a position till the bone is knit entirely.

Calcific Tendinitis

Calcific tendinitis causes severe pain in the rotary cuff that affects the neck, arms, and shoulder.

The condition occurs when the rotary cuff has a build-up of calcium deposits. 

Symptoms of calcific tendinitis are motion reduction of the arm and severe pain in the rotary cuff. Other signs are stiffness and tenderness in the shoulder and arm.

Treatment of this condition is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and steroid injections. You can ice and massage the area to help relieve pain.

Another necessary remedy for all of the above medical issues is rest. Be sure to rest your arm and shoulder. You could make the injury worse by aggravating it.

Pain In Neck And Shoulder Radiating Down Arm – Other Possible Causes

Some other diseases could cause these symptoms but are less prevalent. These issues include torn rotator cuff, shoulder sprain, frozen shoulder, separated shoulder, and osteoarthritis. 

Other possible but less likely conditions are rheumatoid arthritis, cervical radiculopathy, brachial neuritis, and thoracic outlet syndrome. Many of these share some symptoms, with a few exceptions.

Check the pain in neck and shoulder radiating down arm. See a doctor for the best advice and continually monitor your condition.