Upper arm pain. HALP!

[Azkarin2]

Definitely Boneitis.

My only regret... not finding the cure for Boneitis!

http://members.cox.net/futurama/Show/s04ep09.jpg

[Devia]

A hot nurse?

That's the basic idea, yeah.

[Kiro]

Man you guys suck, now I really am considering going to get my arm checked out. Now I get to pay another $1,000+ medical bill out of pocket, fucking AWESOME.

FUCK IT I'M NOT GOING.

[Mansin]

Lymphoma looks gnarly. Oh well. Stickin' with weed and bengay +1. People always assume the worst. BITCHES KEEPIN' HOSPITALS IN BUSINESS WITH YO' FEAR. I'm gonna ask my Mom to take a look at it since she used to be a massuese / physical therapist 'cause now I'm scurred. ;~;

Are you waking up sweaty?
Do you feel unusually winded/fatigued?

[Sol-Blackguy]

You probably pulled it by doing something minor. I've pulled my lower back just by reaching for something on a high shelf without even knowing about ti. It sucks, it hurts and you're not going to get any better until you can relax without it hurting. Try some Tylenol PM and some heat and see if it gets any better.

[Kiro]

See here's the thing, this pain only started when I started working out again, that's why I think I pulled/ripped a muscle. The pain is literally IN my arm. Not on my armpit or side or anything.

I don't wake up sweaty or winded/fatigued or any of that stuff. My arm only hurts in certain positions or when I apply above average pressure/weight to it (doing push-ups, lifting weights, constant arm movements during swimming, pushing heavy doors, or reaching for something high up that makes me stretch).

You assmonkeys are freaking me out for no reason. ; ;

[ZarakiKujata]

'Cept Miz 'cause he's a doctor

Reminds me of that chappelle show sketch where he pretends the internet is a mall and Miz is the doctor selling the penis enlargement salve

[Seraph]

See here's the thing, this pain only started when I started working out again, that's why I think I pulled/ripped a muscle. The pain is literally IN my arm. Not on my armpit or side or anything.

I don't wake up sweaty or winded/fatigued or any of that stuff. My arm only hurts in certain positions or when I apply above average pressure/weight to it (doing push-ups, lifting weights, constant arm movements during swimming, pushing heavy doors, or reaching for something high up that makes me stretch).

You assmonkeys are freaking me out for no reason. ; ;

Seriously, if it causes you pain for longer than 2 weeks, go see a doctor.

Most of the minor muscle related injuries will clear up in approximately that time frame, or at least show very noticeable improvement. In the meantime, dont use your arm for any major activity, and try to ice it if it gets sore again. If the pain stays noticeable, pop some pain pills. Don't overuse them though, so you can maintain an accurate measurement of the pain level over time.

[Kiro]

Pain has lessened since it first started for sure. I haven't taken any pain pills or anything like that, although weed kinda counts. ._.;

I doubt if I ripped a muscle it'd be quick to heal. When it first started I couldn't do ANY push-ups. I can do a few now, but for obvious reasons I haven't kept up with my regular workout schedule so I don't know what it's at now. But I guess I'll take the advice I asked for (derf) and ice it when I get home.

[Sol-Blackguy]

See here's the thing, this pain only started when I started working out again, that's why I think I pulled/ripped a muscle. The pain is literally IN my arm. Not on my armpit or side or anything.

I don't wake up sweaty or winded/fatigued or any of that stuff. My arm only hurts in certain positions or when I apply above average pressure/weight to it (doing push-ups, lifting weights, constant arm movements during swimming, pushing heavy doors, or reaching for something high up that makes me stretch).

You assmonkeys are freaking me out for no reason. ; ;

Yeah, you probably strained or pulled something. How long has it been since you last worked out? Going back to the exact routine after getting out of shape is going to mess you up. The mind is willing but the flesh is weak.
Get some rest and see if it gets any better, and take it slow next time. If it gets any worse, bite the bullet and see a doctor because that shit can be serious. Also, stay away from Web Md, my niece got scared when it said she had the clap and went to the hospital to find out she just had a UTI.

[Kaludneisucks]

Halp me fitness guru-type BG folks. :<

This is entertaining to me. Stretch. Breathe. Leave it alone. It'll be fine or you will die, Either way it'll be fine.

[Kiro]

This is entertaining to me. Stretch. Breathe. Leave it alone. It'll be fine or you will die, Either way it'll be fine.

This is all I needed to read.

[MarkM.]

Pain has lessened since it first started for sure. I haven't taken any pain pills or anything like that, although weed kinda counts. ._.;

I doubt if I ripped a muscle it'd be quick to heal. When it first started I couldn't do ANY push-ups. I can do a few now, but for obvious reasons I haven't kept up with my regular workout schedule so I don't know what it's at now. But I guess I'll take the advice I asked for (derf) and ice it when I get home.

ice for the first 48-72 hours then heat afterwords. take some ibuprofen for the pain, don't take more than 2400mg in a 24 hour time period. that's 12 over the counter advil (or generic). in addition to that, if the pain persist, go see a doctor. find a free clinic and have your arm checked out if the pain does not subside in about a week.

[Tymon]

FUCK YOU GUYS AND YOUR HORROR STORIES!


Edit: Tymon, your avatar makes me question everything you post. Sorry.

Don't worry, that's the point.

I was/am being serious about that post though, lymph node inflammation is no joke.

[arus2001]

Hey, I was gonna make my own thread, but seeing as how there's already one thread about arm pain I'll just post here:

Has anyone ever had a hand cramp that was so awful you couldn't hold your hand out straight? When it happened, my hand was forced into a claw shape for a couple of minutes, and it took all my effort to straighten it out. And if I didn't hold it straight, it automatically clamped back up into the claw shape again. Eventually it went away, playing piano for a little while helped immensely, but it was really freaky.

The weird part? It was painful, but the pain in my hand and my arm wasn't so bad. The worst, sharpest pain was right in the nook of my elbow. It was intense, and shot all the way up my arm into my hand. I wonder if somehow I pulled a muscle that travels all the way up into the hand or something?

I do have a desk job where I use a mouse a lot, and I play piano as well. Plus there are all the videogames, especially the DS - that little guy definitely has a negative effect on my hands when I play it for too long. But I've definitely never had my hand force itself into a painful claw shape, and the mysterious pain in the nook of my elbow (it was BAD) is even stranger.

So yeah. What's going on, BG? If it happens again I'll ask a doctor, but so far, it's only been the once.

Kinda sounds like Tennis Elbow, but the "claw pain" usually comes more from trying to grip/lift stuff. But yeah, easily possible to mess up something in your arm that fucks up the hand. Once pulled something in my left forearm that practically paralyzed my thumb for a couple days.

[archibaldcrane]

A friend of mine woke up with claw foot once. Went to the doctor, got muscle relaxers, did nothing, finally he numbed it and stretched it back to flat foot, and then put a cast on it to finally fix it. Kid had claw foot for like 3 days. Been fine since. Freaky.

[kuronosan]

Hey, I was gonna make my own thread, but seeing as how there's already one thread about arm pain I'll just post here:

Has anyone ever had a hand cramp that was so awful you couldn't hold your hand out straight? When it happened, my hand was forced into a claw shape for a couple of minutes, and it took all my effort to straighten it out. And if I didn't hold it straight, it automatically clamped back up into the claw shape again. Eventually it went away, playing piano for a little while helped immensely, but it was really freaky.

The weird part? It was painful, but the pain in my hand and my arm wasn't so bad. The worst, sharpest pain was right in the nook of my elbow. It was intense, and shot all the way up my arm into my hand. I wonder if somehow I pulled a muscle that travels all the way up into the hand or something?

I do have a desk job where I use a mouse a lot, and I play piano as well. Plus there are all the videogames, especially the DS - that little guy definitely has a negative effect on my hands when I play it for too long. But I've definitely never had my hand force itself into a painful claw shape, and the mysterious pain in the nook of my elbow (it was BAD) is even stranger.

So yeah. What's going on, BG? If it happens again I'll ask a doctor, but so far, it's only been the once.

Sounds like Carpal Tunnel.

To the OP: Go consult a doctor. You've either pulled a deltoid-group muscle or something related OR you have a serious infection.

If some of you guys are going to be asking medical questions, be as specific as possible about your symptoms - i.e. when you first noticed them, how long you've had them for, under what conditions those symptoms manifest.

It helps so much more.

And for God's sake do NOT go to webmd for everything.

edit: Hang on I just reread what you said Yuri. You said you had sharp pains in the 'nook' of your elbow? You might have pulled the radial or ulnar muscles depending on when it's happening and what side. If it's closer to your thumb side (away from your body, hands up) it's the radial side of your extensors and/or flexors. If your hand is cramping up I don't have an explanation for that. It can either fibromyalgia or carpal tunnel as well depending on the extent and duration of the symptoms.

Get yourself checked if it persists.

[Kaeko]

(I'm not a doctor, just a med student so no promises of accuracy here. Also, I don't think anyone can truly diagnose you via the internet so nothing anyone ends up telling you here can really substitute what a doctor that sees you in person says)

OP:

If you're worried about Lymph Node related stuff, there is indeed a large group of lymph nodes on the right axilla area (your armpit basically). If you have some type of systemic disease (like someone mentioned Lymphoma), you can often feel these lymph nodes in your armpit - they are normally too small to feel, but when you have diseases like that or infections, they often swell. You can check this yourself (though obviously not as well as a doctor could) by placing your 2nd and 3rd fingers under your armpit and lifting up to feel for these nodes. Commonly done in physicals. They are not on the surface and you have to feel rather deeply sometimes. I was taught you place a reasonable amount of pressure upwards to the point where you can lift the arm. Still, this isn't an all-encompassing exam obviously.

(EDIT - actually this might be very painful for you to try and you may not even do it right... just be careful that you don't end up messing it up worse)

As others have mentioned, though I don't know what sort of background they have, the area you pointed to in your picture is in that deltoid area. Any number of things can cause that sort of pain, especially since you weren't too specific on it. Couple questions you can ask yourself or answer are (these are just basic questions any physician would ask you if you walked in)...

(you already sort of addressed a few of these in OP)

When did it start?
Where did you first notice it, what were you doing?
How would you gauge the pain from a 1-10 scale? Alternatively, you can answer the question does it affect you in your daily life like work, recreation, etc.?
Describe the pain - does it radiate to other areas or is it localized? Is it continuous or does it sort of 'pulse' every so often?
What makes it feel better, what makes it feel worse?
Do you suffer from weight loss, nausea, fever, rashes, redness/swelling?
How often did you exercise usually prior to this?
Any past complications in this area?

Generally speaking, if you've had this for awhile - I'd say over a week, definitely by after 2, you want to see someone. Depending on your financial situation, this can really suck $$ wise though. I really couldn't begin to tell you what's wrong unless provide more. Best case, it's just a strain and it'll go away. Bad case your tore something. Worst case it's something systemic. Not sure how much you work out, but if you don't often or for that particular muscle group, it's very easy to hurt yourself (for instance on weights).

If you answer some of those questions here or via PM I can maybe at least guide you or narrow down the possibilities.

******************

To Yuri-G:

Simple version is there are 3 main nerves that course down your arm that can be involved in the movement of your hand. Injury to 1 ofthese nerves cause very characteristic hand ailments such as "Claw Hand", "Waiter's Tip", or "Ape Hand" (you can google these for pictures of them to maybe see if you have something similar). You mentioned 2 very key things in your description:

1) Your hand curls up on its own and it's painful to straighten them

Does this mean you have to physically pull your fingers to straighten them or can you control them to do so still, but it's just very painful? Also, which fingers are curling up on you in rest position?

Look up "APE HAND" and "ULNAR CLAW" on wikipedia or google images and see if the picture of it describes what you have. Most notably, try to ID which fingers you are having trouble straightening. Is it the first 3 (thumb, index, middle), the last 2 (ring, pinkie), or all.

2) Pain in the "Nook of the elbow"

The weird part? It was painful, but the pain in my hand and my arm wasn't so bad. The worst, sharpest pain was right in the nook of my elbow. It was intense, and shot all the way up my arm into my hand. I wonder if somehow I pulled a muscle that travels all the way up into the hand or something?

You need to say which side of the elbow it was on. Thumb side or Pinkie side? The ULNAR NERVE crosses the elbow on the side closer to your body when you position your palms this way. The RADIAL NERVE crosses the side away from your body. The MEDIAN NERVE crosses the joint area slightly more to the side closer to your body.

Either way, it is a nerve causing your troubles imo. I personally disagree with the other poster that mentioned a muscle injury around your elbow because you said it radiated from the elbow towards the hand. Muscle injuries don't do this as far as I know even though there are muscles that start in the elbow and go all the way to the tip of your finger. The fact that it shoots up from the elbow and into your hand is essentially the textbook case of peripheral nerve injuries. Also, something like Fibromyalgia is systemic, affecting a whole lot more than your hand - it would be extremely hard to even suggest this unless you had a slew of other symptoms ranging from massive fatigue to bowel issues. He might be much more knowledgeable than me on this though. Also, can try answer the basic questions I gave for the OP and see if any helpful info comes from that. I'd say just because I'm fairly sure you have a nerve related injury, you need to see a doctor.

(Restating the fact I'm a med student, which is at least half a decade from being a real doctor - also this is the internet, not a clinic or an ample substitute for clinic)

[Silenka]

I get claw foot a lot, usually when I wake up or am lying down. One tendon or something in there fucks up and causes severe...it's not PAIN really...more like extreme tension, it makes me want to scream a little. Dunno how to fix it but it doesn't bother me that much.

[Elvis]

In all seriousness, I think you should use this opportunity to amputate your arm and attach a chainsaw for the impending Zombie apocalypse due to Obama+WW3+Economic crisis+Jonas Brothers+Nocturnal Hispanic Islamic terrorists