I have the exact symptoms as marita40. But in my case when I use my arms to hold object high, the triceps ache. Also they seem to fatigue easily, when I go fishing my right arm triceps begins to ache from casting and my left arm triceps begins to ache from reeling in the line. This all started suddenly, woke up one morning with the pain. There was no accident, no strenious exercise. It's been four to five months now.

I have these exact symptoms! It hurts to put on a coat, and to reach up and behind me. The pain is in both upper arms, usually on the back side. I have been thinking I am crazy! Couldn't find anything about it. I will immediately look up Frozen Shoulder! Thank you all for posting!

Me again--the OP. two years later! I had to do a double take when I saw I was the orginal poster because I've completely forgotten about that extended period of arm pain. I was really worried at the time that it was the beginning of arthritis or something worse, but as I stated in my other post above it finally went away and has never returned.

Hi,
I found this by googling upper arm pain. I have the same thing. Came on suddenly. It's worse in the right shoulder. I can't move my arm around my back as much with my right arm, but can move it a little better around my back with my left arm. Hurts worse to raise my arms out to the sides. Can't lift anything that way & can't raise my arms very well up in the air without terrible pain. Even hurts to drive with the steering wheel.
I had a frozen shoulder in 2000 in my right shoulder & it felt the same, only I caused it by reaching to the back seat of my car to retrive something. Felt a bad pull at that time. Did shots, PT & had to stop after 2 weeks because it felt worse. It went away after 2 years.
This is the same pain, only in both upper arms & with no good reason.
I'm thinking it can be from the Crestor I was taking since it's in both arms and started at the same time. It's been known to cause muscle pain.(although it feels like it's in the tendons). Stopped taking it in January & am still in pain. Hope it gets better.

Just thought I'd mention I had something similar. I worried me for the better part of the year, but I couldn't justify a doctor's visit. Then, months later, it disappeared and hasn't returned. Never figured it out.

I posted a year or two ago also. At that time the muscle relaxants I was using allowed me to live a more or less normal life. They aren't working for me anymore.

Recently my pain has gotten much worse and it is very hard for me to recover from exercise. My Crestor was doubled about the time the pain became so much worse, so I am left wondering if that is the source of my increased pain. I am going to see what happens if I don't use it for a couple of days.

I too have upper right arm pain. It is by my triceps area. I have had it for about two months now. The pain is like a spasm when I reach for something sideways with my right arm or have to put on my bra and fasten it in the back. My other arm is normal. I have not had any injuries. I cannot figure out why the pain and limited range of motion is there. The pain is there mainly at night. It is a dull achiness. I have been using a menthal lotion on it at night. It seems to help long enough for me to go to sleep, but it is always there when I awaken. The menthal lotion is one that gives you a hot sensation and then a cold sensation. It is one of the strongest menthal lotions out. I think it is 7%.I also take an advil. The drawback to the lotion is the menthal smell! Yuck!! Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions on how to make it not hurt or what it is, please tell us! It is almost enough pain to wish that your arm was not there!

Here is a link that might be useful: That Home Site!

Hi there!!!

My left arm is really in pain. My shoulder hurts, my muscles feel like they are in knots -- and worst of all my left hand is swollen badly. We don't have insurance. I don't want a cortisone injection because I don't know how it will react with my siezure meds. (Besides which I have read about terrible side affects)

Is there anyone out there who can give me a suggestion on how or what I should do???

Thanking you all in advance.

laura3-"My left arm is really in pain. My shoulder hurts, my muscles feel like they are in knots -- and worst of all my left hand is swollen badly. We don't have insurance. I don't want a cortisone injection because I don't know how it will react with my siezure meds. (Besides which I have read about terrible side affects)

Is there anyone out there who can give me a suggestion on how or what I should do???"

First of all, could this have happened from a seizure, exercise, an accident or a repetitive (work related) action?

I am not a doctor but I know people with many health issues. One of my friends was diagnosed with DVT (deep vein thrombosis) last year. I do not want to scare you, but the fact that you mention a badly swollen hand WITHOUT mentioning how it became swollen makes me want to suggest that you read up about DVT to rule this possibility out. Doctors consider this a serious condition.

Here is an excerpt from one of the articles below: "When suffering from deep vein blood clots of the upper extremities, the patient will first notice a large degree of swelling with some pain and loss of range of motion in the arm affected. While the pain and swelling may come and go, often the deep vein thrombosis will not heal on its own and will require the assistance of medical attention."

Some hospitals (and physicians offices) will negotiate costs or offer reduced costs to people who are self-pay and ask about it.

Hope this helps. Please let us know how your doing.

Links that may be useful:

Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Arms

www.associatedcontent.com/article/180294/
deep_vein_thrombosis_of_the_arms.html

my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Blood_Clots/
hic_Deep_Vein_Thrombosis_DVT.aspx

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081123150253.htm

Hi there!!!

Just an up-date for you; I do not have DVT in my left arm but I do have it in my left leg (in short --- my left side is a mess and currently am non-functional on my left side for all intents and purposes).

I had had quite enough of a swollen left hand so I went to a specialist who seems to think that the swelling and such is due to nerve trauma in my arm.

Thank you very much for your help.

Hi I have pain in my left arm for more than 3 months.Visited the doctor,this monday had an injection.But my left upper arm still in excruciating pain when my back shoulder blade or elbow or hands were hit against and object.I wander is it normal to have this kind of pain for frozen shoulder.For example when my elbow was hit accidently against the coffee table,immediately my upper arm in pain,i felt like my skin was torn apart or someone has poured acid on my wounded skin.The pain usually last for 30 seconds.I am worry it might be more than a frozen shoulder.Please tell me am worrying too much.Am still waiting for physiotherapist to make an appointment.It has been 3 weeks still havent heard from them.So Should i get an arm support bandage to support my arm or should I just wait?

Pain sounds very similiar to what I had with frozen shoulder. You might want to try to google Active Isolated Stretching: The Mattes Method by Aaron Mattes. the excerises gave me more relief from the pain than did any of the PT excerises I was given to do. I did end up having manipulations done on each shoulder and now have 100% range of motion on both shoulders.

Maybe you can find a PT therapist who knows this method. It focuses on each part of the muscle stretching in isolation. Simply moving the position of the wrist changes the part you are stretching.

I still suffer with mine. They say its frozen shoulder, it's been about 10 months for me. Nothing has helped so far.

My niece makes a good herbal linament oil that I have used for many years for sore, achy muscles. It's called Hope's Peppermint Massage Oil.. You might give it a try. I think she sells it on Etsy and Ebay.

THANKS! You are all very helpful. For the past two days I have been affected by what seems to be this "Frozen Shoulder". Gets worse in the afternoon, and this morning's warm shower seemed to help a bit. Right now I am in a LOT of pain (and I have a high tolerance). Hard to concentrate on anything else. I'll do some of your homeopathy this weekend and THEN call the doc if I need to.

I had frozen shoulder in left arm over a year ago. I woke up and in pain. I did nothing that would cause it either. Now my right arm. Bicep hurts like heck when I lift my arm. It's been 4 months now and I've had 10 PT sessions. I have range of motion now but I'm still have deep pain. It feels like if you have a tooth ache but in the bicep and little in the upper shoulder. I go back to see the doctor in 2 weeks but I cannot sleep. It doesn't hurt to lay on it now either.

Rheumatiod arthritis is what simvastatin poisoning left me with for four years now, i have all of these symptoms you all speak of, which seem to be triggered by these cholesterol reducing meds. Upper arm pain can also be bursitis, caused by the rheumatoid like ,myalgia like disease, I have been to a reumatologist monthly for three years and there's no relief,only more pain.let's ask the makers of simvastatin or astra zeneca WHAT IS THE ANTIDOTE ????? They can make more money selling a cure for the syndromes they manifested.

Lera and others with frozen shoulder......
I've had mine a year now, its getting better I think, but I did find something that is helping.

I bought some 2 & 3 Lb hand weights. I am working my arms with them. In less then 2 days I was able to bring the weights higher & higher. I believe this is the answer, doing the wall exercises never did much for me but I sure can tell a difference with the weights.
Just lift them from the side trying to go over your head and see for yourself if it does any good for you.
If you don't have a weights gets some filled water bottles & use them.

Hey...
I Like this very interesting facts...

Hello, I have had this weird pain for about 4 months now, Doctor said it may be fibromyalgia. I started on cymbalta which helps but the pain in worse at night. I use an awesome cream that works wonders not only to fall asleep but to stay asleep. And I use it through the day as well. Its an all natural cream that soaks in doesn't leave smell or grease.I liked it so much I became a distributor. Try it you'll love it and a little goes a long way. www.mysisel.com/usa6141048

i have this currently now for the last 4 months, xrays revealed arthritis in the c5-c7 area of neck and also scoliosis, my arms are sore right down to my hands and at ti,es my hands especial the right one will have pins and needles, i say get an x-ray done to reveal the extent of your pain

My right arm pain bothered me for two years. It wakes me up at 3 or 4 o'clock every morning. I couldn't handle a fishing pole. Visited many doctors, massage and accuponcture twice a week, 24hours fitness twice a week, none this these helps. Last year, one of my friends (47) told me he had the same problem and completely cured by a chinese doctor in China. Finally I decided to go there this past March, the result is amazing! Just in half an hour, 4 niddles and 4 bondages, the doctor fixed my two-year long arm pain. The next day I can swing a fishing pole. The problem is that you have to travel to China to have a forced vacation. joeyue@hotmail.com

I amd 72 and my upper arm pains seem to have started since i was put on epilim for two noctunal fits i had I really think it is arthritis as I had a scan for osteoporosis some years ago tink the evercise migh be about the best thing for people

iam 54 year old female about 4 weeks ago i started to get this pain in the muscles of myleft upper arm i went to the doctors and said it was tendinitis and gave me flexril which did not work the pain keeps getting worse especially when i try to sleep on it or try to reach behind me i see stars now i noticed i get pain in my shoulder and neck bone but the pain is not as bad as it is in the upper arm went back to the doctor and he gave me a cortazone shot which did nothing my question can tendinitis effect the upper arm without really affecting the shoulder that bad

I have had pain in what appears to be my right shoulder joint for a long time now. The pain is also in the muscle whereby it feels as though the muscle is mushy--sooo painful. Haven't been to a Dr. because you tell them your arm hurts, and, by the way, now it's both; what will he/she do but start testing and testing. Well what? Shot, pain pills make me sick or allergy, exercise--good or bad results. What is the best thing to do since pain cannot be measured--not really--come on--0 to 10. I have high tolerance for pain, but this pain has brought me to my knees. I used to take cholesterol meds, and I realized they were crippling me in my knees, especially. I quit about 7 or 8 kinds. Finally cardiologist said please take
Crestor every other day. So I agreed, but now I take it occasionally. Has it damaged my arms??? I have nothing to ease this pain. Ice helps somewhat better than anything while it's on. Frozen shoulder, I doubt it. I had heard there is a test for Fibromyalgia, I think lab test.

I began having serious pain in my upper arms during a time I was working long hours at work, mostly at my computer. It was so painful I would have a hard time sleeping on my side at night. Holding a 2 pound weight with my arm at my side, I could not lift my arm away from my body any higher than about 45 degrees.

Then, I had a work assignment that took me out of my office and away from my computer for three weeks, and the upper arm pain all but disappeared. When I went back to work in my office, the pain rapidly reappeared. I talked to our Human Resources department. They checked my office chair which had been replaced not long before the pain started and said that my armrests were way too high, so they lowered them. Within another two weeks, my arm pain was gone entirely and never returned.

Don't know why my right upper arm didn't hurt, but lowering those armrests fixed the pain almost immediately.

I have had this pain now for over 6 months. It started in the right arm in the middle of the forarm and ran down the top of the arm to the thumb and index finger. This is not in the shoulder area. It is now starting in the left arm in the same place. I have seen several Drs. and have had several test done and they can not find anything. The Neuro. said it was just another step in the firbro.

My pain is worse at night and I am loosing strength in the right hand. I have droped several things because the hand just gives away.

I have been using DMSO on my arms at night and it does help with the pain some.

I am so tired of be stuck, shocked, and probed, and still they can't stop the pain or tell me what this is. I hope it will go away just as it came. just out of the clear blue.

Many years ago I took Lipitor to lower cholesterol. It almost crippled me in my joints, mostly knees. I didn't take any other statin until a cardiologist pushed me to take Crestor about a year ago. Approximately two weeks into taking Crestor, my upper arm muscles became very tender and I started having muscle spasms all over my body. I stopped the meds immediately, but here I am a year plus later and I am still miserable with the upper arms situation. Now my left hand is also going numb. A neurologist has done testing, but no diagnosis has been made. I hope at some time to discover from reading these posts that someone has discovered why we have so much pain in our upper arms.

What we are all feeling is inflammation. Inflammation caused by consuming GLUTEN. We have over many years become intolerant of gluten. So much so that our bodies have an immunologic reaction that begins in our guts. STAY AWAY FROM GLUTEN. I promise you will begin to feel better. I have a positive ANA because of years of ignoring my body telling me with little aches, rashes, hair loss, depression, brain fog, aches and pains, profuse fatigue, etc. Finally when I couldn't figure out why I was having all these symptoms as a seemingly healthy active women my Dr finally did some blood work...my body had been so overwhelmed with gluten sensitivities that I had forced my immune system to react and create a wild fire of inflammation. Your doctors will only give you pain meds for the symptoms but removing all gluten from your life is the only way to fix what we have done to ourselves.This discussion is both simple and very complicated. Only people who are committed to healing themselves will seek answers to this problem. There is tons of information to confirm this...I hope this helps good luck to you all...

Wow, reading all these comments has given me some consolation...I'm not alone. About eight years ago, I began having a dull ache in my right leg/arm...but I thought it was just because I always sat/leaned on my right side every night while reading the bible. So, I switched over to the left and the pain dissipated for a few years. But about two years ago, I began to feel a more intense dull ache but this time it was on the left side of my leg and arm. It was mostly felt when seated and leaning forward. A doctor told me it could be degenerative disc disease. I was happy that it was not a symptom of a stroke! :) But about two months ago, it progressed into something more severe...much the way the other posts here have described. There is a striking pain in the upper arm leading down the triceps if I lift it outward, upward or even backward behind my back. If it gets bumped, I am in excruciating pain. I'm going to check out what "Frozen Shoulder" is. I'm 48 and have signs of perimenopause. So, hopefully, this is just a temporary and related situation. Thank you to all who have taken the time to share their situations and especially to the lady who first began this posting. The advice has been so encouraging....am going to take Jo's advice and check into the effects of Gluten and possibly remove this from my diet and see what happens. It's good to know we are not alone in these things. God bless all here and Lord heal you all completely and quickly.

several months ago, had a pneumonia shot in one arm and a flu shot in the other. the pneumonia arm had me up all night, the upper arm. several nights in fact. now the pain jumps from one arm to another, usually waking me sometime during the night. stopped yoga, but keep very active because it hurts worse relaxing. very frustrating. chiropractor adjustments made no difference. i don't take pain medication, and am just trying to adapt; am also looking into different vitamins. and will read these posts and take suggestions from all of you with the same issues! thanks

Thank you for all the information. You wouldnt believe this but my husband got his upper arm pain months ago in his right arm and it's just as described he cant put his hand into his shirt without severe pain and at nights it's worst.I on the other hand just got this pain about a month ago in my left arm, I am grateful it's not my right arm, out of the blue I did nothing to strain or damage but the pain is the same as his I cant put my arms to scratch my back or hook my bra without pain and it's getting worst. I am going to the doctor after I try some things that others told me about. My husband went to doctor did an Xray and still couldnt be told what his problem is.So I will let you all know if I get any good results. God blessings to you all.

I have had upper rt arm pain for several weeks now..it seems that it's connected to fibroid problem since I've had other fibro symptoms..Following a prayer this morning, I found some great info on healing this type of arm pain. Supplement with 200-400mcg selenium (at 600mcg it becomes toxic), lots of B6 and B12. My sister also took Garden of Life FYI Iltra and her pain was gone practically gone within a week. It contains selenium also,so be mindful of the 600mcg toxicity. I'll pray for you all,too!

As my name implies, I play Sr. Softball in a 55 and 65 age group. Lately, I have been getting pain in my upper arm when I hit the ball ( right handed hitter). When I use a golf swing to hit the ball, I experience much less pain .

I've had upper arm pain in both arms on-and-off for years. It started pre-menopausal. I found that heat helped so have used hot-water bottles and Ibuprofen...helps temporarily only. I do get repreves in the summer heat but, just in the past 2 weeks, the rains and storms have started again and so has the pain. I almost feel that it is barimetrically related. My grandmother used to say she could tell when a storm was coming by how her joints felt. Mine isn't in my joints but in the muscle and almost feels like there's poor bloodflow. So my husband and I have just retired and we're going to spend our winters in Arizona (for medicinal purposes...as they say). It's dry and warm...just what I need.

Hello everyone my name is Michelle ,i am 50 and live in Australia and for the past 6 months i have been in terrible pain from frozen shoulder as well ,i get upper left arm muscle cramping and cant do things like lift my arm to high ,do up or undo my bra and sometimes getting a shirt on is a nightmare ,so painful.have been checked for any other abnormalities (such as cancer and such ,nothing thankfully) i have been to several doctors who tell me its all muscular and to take pain killers and rub a heat cream onto my left upper arm and shoulder where the pain is ,it gives me a little relief and at night i am woken with the pain.

Hi, I have this same kind of arm pain in both arms for 11 months now and my doctors think I am crazy. My observation is it seems like a lot of posters on this discussion are women of menopausal/perimenopausal age. Perhaps I can get some feedback on this. Let me know if this is you or if you don't fit this description. Firstly, I too am a women 45 years old, perimenopausal.

ps my pain is an intense shooting stabbing pain if i stretch to reach something above my head or to scratch my back or if I am startled and my reflexes make me 'jump'. Pain is also a dull ache or a throbbing pain at rest or going to sleep.

I had this problem so bad in both arms that I couldn't sleep and had to lay with my arms straight out. Finally I realized it was due to me using my cell phone. For hours I would lay in bed with my arms bent at the elbows playing a game on my phone, texting, etc.... Once I stop the pain gradually started going away. I'm happy to report that I had my first night's sleep with out the muscle pain!!!!!

has anyone on here considered they might have bursitis?

i have known somewhere that upper arm can be a symptom of heart problem.

Hello all--I'm the OP and I'm surprised to see that this thread from 2007 is still active! Obviously, this upper arm pain is an issue with many people. Anyway--as I reported a few year's ago--the arm pain I had resolved itself over a long period of time (perhaps 8 months or so) and it went completely away. 6 years later, and I have had no upper arm pain at all since that time. No clue what it was, but funny to look back and remember! Hope all the posters to this thread find such relief.

Hi, I'm 39 and just found out I need my gallbladder removed. Also, at the same time, I'm having bad pain in both upper arms...when I raise them, put on a sweatshirt and sleeping is hell. Could my pain be related to my gallstone inflammation or could this most likely be arthritis as I have back problems as well?

I am going to throw something out about arm pain since we are now in 2015. There is a pain that comes from holding an iPad maybe in bed but it hits the crease in your elbow. Many people get it from holding it because they can be rather heavy so it can happen on both arms. It is painful and will also hurt when you type as the fingers are connected to the arms. Look it up. It is very true.

I see that no one has mentioned carrying a purse(probably heavy) with a strap over your shoulder, some switch sides often as they can feel it getting heavy. I always had it on my right shoulder, no more & even after about 5 yrs of not doing it some movements make my shoulder ache. Last Christmas I was cleaning house & lifting things when my left arm went limp, I do mean limp. I couldn't hold a pencil. Hurt no matter how I moved it with my right arm. Ended up sitting for several days with arm on pillow on my lap to make it tolerable. Nights were a nightmare. I had a little pillow smaller than a sofa pillow & put my arm on that at night & used heating pad(before bed), then later Ben Gay, &Tylenol to finally get some sleep. Each time it would get somewhat better & I could get my hair up in ponytail(I'm in my early 70's) & think I was getting better when I would reach up or back & it would start in again & I'd be sitting doing nothing but going through pile of magazines to see if anything I wanted to cut out before I got rid of them. I was really forced to do almost nothing as it would just hang there, sharp pain which I am pretty sure means it's a pinched nerve but if adjusted it on pillow pain would go away. Gradually it has gotten much better but have to be very careful & now I tend to get warning if reaching will start getting pain so I have to stop. Never taken a statin drug, long past menopause so I attribute it to overworked use as was caretaker for both parents & now that they are gone trying to get my house & yard in order. So if you can't sleep grab a pillow to see if it might help by raising arm or laying arm across it, try different pillows from small to larger. Use heating pad for 30 minutes or so at a time. Try different creams or Capsaicin .1% cream but it will burn like crazy & don't get it in your eyes(flush them with lot of water if you do) & be careful what you do & lot of times it will get better on it's own. As for bras fasten the back closure when you have it around in front & then get it around to back & put arms through & up. LOL Hope everyone gets some relief!

All these years after the first comment I want to make my own. I read this string of comments earlier tonight after suffering all the restriction of movements etc for about 4 months.... I was to the point of not being able to bend my arm more than about 15 degrees.. not raising my arm, managing a bra one handed etc. So tonight I decided to concentrate on what I was feeling. I found a stretch and can already now reach behind my back with my thumb level with my bra. I did the doorway stretch BUT.... I stood with the front of my left shoulder against the door frame and my arm bend at the elbow, close to my body with my hand on the door frame . My arm was so tight I could not get my elbow anywhere near the wall in this position. I DID NOT try and push my shoulder forward or move the rotator cuff area. What I did was tried to push my rib cage down leftwards as I tilted my head back and to the right. I discovered an extreme tightness down the left side of my neck, passed the front of my left armpit and what felt like down the rib cage near the side of my left breast . I held the stretch and repeated it a number of times. I then manipulated the position ( no idea how) until I felt the same kind of stretch down the back side of my neck, back of left armpit and down into the side of my back rib cage. For future readers I hope this may help someone and for now... I'm going to go back to some more stretching and might cancel my first physio appointment tomorrow. My upper arm is still tight both front and back but Ill work on that after I get a bit more backward movement .

I have for the past two months been in so much pain in both my arms. I have tried everything, but last week all the information I have been reading/listening and all the steps I have been taking helped me find what I think is the solution for me: Progesterone Cream. It worked immediately. My pain was decreased and my body feels better and better everyday. Stretching does help as well. Try it, it helped me.

Update: What also helped is working with a small ball. I would lay on my back and roll over the ball. It seemed to break whatever was tight up and now I can move my arms without pain.

I should have come back here. I got cured in the oddest way, probably summer of 2016. I had a rose climber that had died & the top part was in a Y shape, well it looked so easy to just grab it & pull it loose as it seemed about to break off at the bottom, just one quick twist should do it, well, it was nasty & hand came flying off the 1 part of Y & hit me in forehead & about 1 inch drew blood, but it had jerked my arm that had all the pain or sometimes limp & it was little sore for few days but has never happened again. It must have been out of place & the accident put it back in place. Sometimes life is strange!