A-Z Health Guide from WebMD: Symptoms

		Topic Overview
		Emergencies
		Check Your Symptoms
		Home Treatment
		Prevention
		Preparing For Your Appointment
		Related Information
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Minor arm problems, such as sore muscles, are common. Symptoms often develop from everyday wear and tear or overuse. Arm problems may be minor or serious and may include symptoms such as pain, swelling, cramps, numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in temperature or color.

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Older adults have a higher risk of arm problems because they lose muscle mass as they age. Children may have arm problems for the same reasons as adults or for reasons specific to children. Problems are often caused by overactivity or the rapid growth of bone and muscle that occurs in children.

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Arm problems commonly occur during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, and work or projects around the home. Arm problems can also be caused by injuries. If you think your arm problem is related to an injury, see the topic Arm Injuries.

Common arm problems that are not related to a specific injury include the following:

• Overuse or repetitive-motion injuries occur when you "overdo" an activity or repeat the same activity. The repeated activity may stress joints or other tissues, leading to irritation and inflammation. This is called an overuse injury, even though no obvious injury occurred. For example, overuse of the biceps tendon can cause shoulder pain. Overuse injuries include bursitis or tendinitis. Carpal tunnel syndrome is another example of an overuse injury.
• Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are common with arthritis. Osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease) is the most common type of arthritis. Less common types include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
• Swelling of the arms can be caused by hormone changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy or with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
• Swelling may also occur after surgery to remove the lymph nodes under the arm following a diagnosis of breast cancer or melanoma.
• Arm problems can occur as symptoms of other more serious problems, such as heart attack, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or stroke.

Most minor arm problems will usually get better on their own, and home treatment may be all that is needed to relieve symptoms and promote healing.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a health professional.

Arm Problems, Noninjury: Topic Overview

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