Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 3/19/2007

Question
I get a pain in the top of my left arm, this has been going on for months sometimes it doesn't hurt for ages, but lately it has been then it will go again possibly when i get stressed it comes on I've noticed this weekend, i thought it might have been a hormone thing when I'm premenstrual i seemed to notice it more. It hurts getting dressed sometimes things like that then it will be fine! any ideas I'm only 22, my mum suffers with arthritis has done since her twenties didn't know if that was a possibility, but no pain anywhere else to indicate that.

Thanks Kelly

Answer
Hi Kelly,

Thanks for your question. First, please understand that it is impossible to provide you with a diagnosis over the Internet, so I am answering your question in general terms.

Arm pain on one side is really not a symptom that would be consistent with a hormonal imbalance. Hormonal disturbances tend to be systemic, meaning that the entire body would be affected. For example, people with thyroid problems may often experience aches and pain throughout their body, rather than in one specific limb.

If a person experiences pain that is not localized to a joint (i.e., the shoulder, elbow, or wrist), "arthritis" (and there are many different kinds of arthritis) would also be unlikely.

One possible cause of arm pain might be a muscular problem, especially if the pain is worse with movement or physical activity and is not focused in a specific joint.

Another possibility might be a disc herniation in the neck causing inflammation that irritates a nerve root, or possibly may impinge a nerve root. I would be more concerned about the possibility of a disc herniation if someone is experiencing weakness of the arm, if someone also happens to have neck pain on the same side as the arm pain, or if someone has unusual sensations such as numbness or tingling in the arm or fingers.

Third, and while this might be a more remote possibility, if a person is experiencing left-sided arm pain or any kind of chest pain that is worse with stress, I would be concerned about a heart problem, and this would be a condition that warrants immediate evaluation by a medical physician.

In any case, I do recommend that you seek evaluation and treatment recommendations from a qualified health care professional such as a chiropractor or your primary medical physician.

I hope that this response was of some help to you.