How to Diagnose Arm Pain

It is important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis if you are suffering from arm pain. Arm pain can be caused by many conditions such as arthritis, overuse, herniated or compressed disc, tendonitis, bursitis or even angina. You should make an appointment to see your doctor to get a medical evaluation of your arm pain. Your doctor will give you an examination and he may also send you for tests. Medical testing may include X-rays and medical imaging studies to rule out orthopedic conditions as well as tests to rule out cardiac conditions. A cardiac condition may be suspected if your pain radiates from your chest and shoulder area down your left arm.

Things You'll Need

• Medical evaluation

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Instructions

• 1

  Visit your doctor. You will need need a comprehensive medical examination to diagnosis arm pain. There are many conditions that cause it, so specific testing must be done to get a definitive diagnosis. Your doctor will need to visually inspect your arm to look for any deformities and check your arm for limitation in range of motion. Make sure to adequately describe your pain and tell your doctor if you are experiencing any numbness or tingling along with the pain.

• 2

  Suggest an X-ray or medical imaging. These can give your doctor a picture of what may be causing your arm pain and give him a better idea on how to treat your pain.

• 3

  Inquire about cardiac testing. Your arm pain may be related to a cardiac condition. If you experience severe pain going down your left arm, you could be suffering from angina. Your doctor may suggest a stress test in where your will be asked to walk on a treadmill while a cardiologist monitors your heart function. You can also ask your doctor about getting an electrocardiogram, which is a test that can diagnosis certain cardiac abnormalities.

• 4

  Ask for blood testing. It is possible to have an infection in a bone or joint in your arm. A complete blood count will show an elevation in the white blood cells if you have an infection in your joints or bones. A blood test is especially important, if in addition to your arm pain, you are experiencing fever, chills, fatigue and body aches.

• 5

  Inspect your arm. You may have injured your arm and not even knew it. Look closely at your arm to check for bruising or swelling. You might have accidentally twisted it in your sleep or bumped into something. Check your arm for signs of redness or local irritation. You could have gotten bit by an insect. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your doctor.