When we experience even a mild pain and tingling in left arm, the first thing that come to our mind is, maybe it is the initial symptoms of heart attack, although there are several other possible causes behind pain and tingling in left arm. You can get such pain regularly or it can happen all of a sudden. If you get it quite frequently, then you can rule out the possibility of a heart attack and look out for other causes that can lead to such a condition.
What are the Causes of Left Arm Pain and Tingling?
Left arm pain and tingling when caused due to heart attack is accompanied other symptoms, like, numbness, squeezing in the chest, muscle cramps, sweating, breathlessness, etc. This is a serious health condition and needs medical attention immediately. Another serious health problem that can cause left arm pain and tingling is stroke. To know more read stroke symptoms.
When one or more disks in the neck is not in alignment with others, it puts extra pressure on the spinal nerves. This condition of pinched nerve in the shoulder or neck may result in frequent left arm pain and tingling. If there is inflammation in the nerves of the arm due to carpal tunnel syndrome (or pressure on the nerve of a wrist) or tennis elbow, then also one may experience similar kind of pain.
If there is a problem of bad circulation, then left arm pain and tingling may occur as sufficient amount of blood does not reach the arms. Mental stress can cause left arm pain tingling too. This is because different chemicals are released by our body as a result of stress which prompts the heart to pump blood faster which results in pain and tingling in the left arm. Other possible causes of left arm pain and tingling are awkward movement of arms, underactive thyroid, side effects of medicines, multiple sclerosis, etc. You can also read:
Possible Causes for Tingling in Left Arm
Left Arm Pain in Women
How to Diagnose Left Arm Pain Tingling?
First of all, check whether your lying or sitting posture is giving any pressure on your left arm or shoulder. Due to this kind of pressure, you may get a “dead arm” sensation which will be relieved once you change your posture. If you observe that the pain is increasing and other symptoms of heart attack are showing up, then there is a chance of heart attack, so call for emergency medical help without any delay.
For other symptoms also you should consult the doctor who will diagnose the exact cause of left arm pain. A sense of coldness in your arm is mostly diagnosed as bad circulation. This problem is not as serious as heart attack but it requires proper medical treatment. If you have started any new medicines and you are getting this pain after the intake of these medicines, then it could be the side effects of those medicines. Doctors will also inquire if you have a medical history of excessive stress and panic attacks in the past.
How is the Treatment for Left Arm Pain Tingling Done?
If it is an emergency medical condition like heart attack or stroke, the patient needs hospitalization. In all other cases, measures can be taken to provide relief to the pain. After diagnosing the cause of the pain, doctors prescribe pain killers, like, aspirin or ibuprofen. In some cases, steroid injections are given.
For any cause other than that of heart attack and stroke, doctors would mostly advise you to keep your left arm at rest so that the pressure on the muscles and nerves of the arm are relieved from the stress. Those activities, like, writing, typing, swimming, etc. and sports like tennis or bowling that put pressure on the arms need to be stopped. If you have to stop the movement of your left arm completely, then the doctor will suggest you to use a splint.
There could be swelling in the arm due to tennis elbow or carpal syndrome. In that case cold compression by wrapping up ice in a cloth often helps. Application of ice for 10-20 minutes daily can help in bringing down the inflammation. If the pain is caused due to any injury of the muscles, then hot compression with the help of a heating pad is recommended.
Left arm pain and tingling is a warning sign of a potential illness. Therefore, you need to be proactive in identification of the causes and get the treatment done as soon as possible so that the problem does not get aggravated. However, no need to panic as all the health problems related to left arm pain and tingling can be cured.
