Sharp Sudden Pain in Upper Arm: Non-Cardiac Cause

Find out what can likely cause a sudden sharp pain in the upper arm that’s not related to your heart.

If you’ve been experiencing episodes of a sudden and sharp pain located in your upper arm, this may very possibly be a condition called long head biceps tendonopathy.

This is when the tendon of the long head of the biceps is torn; it may or may not cause pain.

If you have LHB tendonopathy, you may also have a shoulder problem, namely, a rotator cuff tear.

A torn rotator cuff, as well, can cause a sudden sharp pain in the upper arm.

However, these aren’t the only musculoskeletal causes of a sudden sharp pain in the upper arm; hence, a thorough examination, which includes radiographic imaging, will be necessary for precise diagnosis.

The treatment for long head biceps tendonopathy may be surgical or nonsurgical, says Shane Nho, MD, a Chicago-based orthopedic surgeon.

His report appears in the Nov. 2010 Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Statistics & Trends

-There’s no big difference in patient satisfaction or function between the two main surgical options, which are biceps tenotomy and tenodesis.

-The complication rate from surgery is less than 1 percent.

-Both surgeries can be performed via arthroscopy.

-The JAAOS report urges the pursuit of nonsurgical treatment at first, as this may suffice for ending the upper arm sudden pain and other related issues.

-Younger, active patients should undergo the biceps tenodesis if surgery is warranted.

Conservative Treatment for Long Head Biceps Tendonopathy

Rest, avoiding and/or modifying the offending activity, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy.

If these don’t work, then corticosteroid injections may be done, though these may put a patient at risk for tendon rupture, depending on site of injection.

Besides sudden sharp upper arm pain, long head biceps tendonopathy can also cause the following symptoms:

-Audible snapping or popping in the elbow or shoulder

-Biceps cramping resulting from strenuous use

-Bruising from the middle of upper arm down towards elbow

-Tenderness, pain and/or weakness at elbow or shoulder

-Difficulty turning palm up or down

-Funny bulge above the elbow (from flaccid muscle)

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.  

 

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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick

Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101104101653.htm