Dull Ache in Left Arm Between Shoulder and Elbow: 9 Possible Causes

Looking for information on what causes a dull ache in left arm between shoulder and elbow? In this article, you will find the nine possible causes for dull arm pain in the left side.

Arm pain is not a disease in itself, but a symptom that can be due to various diseases and injuries in the area of ​​bones and joints as well as muscles and tendons.

Pain in the left arm does not necessarily mean a person is experiencing a heart attack. The best thing to do is not to jump to conclusions, there are numerous reasons a person can have pain in the left arm. Although it may be bad at times, it is often caused by an underlying symptom of something else.

While a heart attack is possible and associated with left arm pain, regular or chronic pain in the arm is an indication that something else is wrong. Most arm pain is a result of an injury radiating from somewhere else in the body. The following is a brief summary of the leading causes of pain in the left arm:

Contents

Carpal tunnel syndrome

This is a progressive condition that can cause severe discomfort in the arm. This condition is due to a pinched nerve in the wrist and is often caused by repetitive motion of the wrist or arm.

ReadHow To Know If You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Bursitis

This condition is due to the bursae sac in the joints to break down and fail to provide a cushion to the joints. When the shoulder and elbow are affected, this can cause severe discomfort in the left arm.

Herniated Disk

This refers to the vertebrae, and when the rubbery cushions or disks are compromised, this can lead to nerve damage that can cause discomfort in the arms as well as the legs.

Read: What Does A Slipped Disk Feel Like?

Rotator Cuff

If the muscles and tendons in the upper arm and shoulder become injured, this can cause severe discomfort when the arm is in motion.

Read: What Does Rotator Cuff Pain Feel Like?

Tendinitis

An inflammation or irritation involving the tendons can lead to tenderness surrounding the joint. This is very common in the shoulders, elbows, heels, and wrists.

Tennis Elbow

The discomfort of tennis elbow is due to the tendons of the forearm becoming overworked, usually from repetitive motion, such as tennis as the name suggests. This can be very prominent in the forearm and wrist.

Broken or Sprained Arm

Sprains or breaks are usually caused by an injury or fall, and often times are not noticeable at first. A hairline fracture or simple sprain can cause discomfort without being obvious.

Arthritis

This can cause discomfort due to the bones and muscles becoming weakened.

Poor Circulation

If a person has poor circulation, the restricted blood flow prevents the body from functioning normally and can stimulate discomfort in the arm.

Any type of discomfort in the left arm should be properly diagnosed by a doctor to rule out any serious conditions including a heart attack.

in case you see the following symptoms you must see a doctor immediately:

  •  If you have trouble breathing
  • Dizziness when standing up and walking

Featured image source: lower abdominal pain treatment

Dull Ache in Left Arm Between Shoulder and Elbow: 9 Possible Causes, Last Updated: 12/3/2018

3 thoughts on “Dull Ache in Left Arm Between Shoulder and Elbow: 9 Possible Causes

  • October 25, 2020 at 6:13 pm
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    I have this type of dull ache between my left shoulder and elbow, Elbow never hurts. But I have had bursitis in shoulder from time to time. Had a miniscus tear in shoulder, no surgery, only the wire thing stuck in and he also tried to clean some of the upper arm area. said I had a lot of arthritis on bone. This was about 8 years ago. At that time I did not have this arm/bone pain. Some days the ache is worse than other days. Is there any exercise that can help this?

    Reply
    • December 8, 2020 at 5:14 pm
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      Hi holly, exercises for this type of injury could be limitless due to no contractile tissue (muscles) being injured. I would recommend resistance band activities which involve shoulder rotation to reduce the chances of weakened muscles.

      Reply
  • April 27, 2022 at 10:16 am
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    Having left arm pain something I will come to right arm but most expecially left arm

    Reply

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