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Severe left arm pain
My mom is experiencing left arm pain since last 5days.pain starting from shoulder upto elbow.paim increasing when arm putting down
Small Brown color bruise is there on forearm No pain when lying down on bed and morning time.
Answers (52)
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This looks most likely like a shoulder muscle or tendon strain (rotator cuff/bursitis). Pain from shoulder to elbow that worsens when the arm hangs down and improves when lying down fits this. The small brown bruise is likely minor trauma and not serious.
Next Steps
⢠Rest the arm, avoid lifting ⢠Warm compress 2â3 times/day ⢠Paracetamol or Ibuprofen if needed ⢠If pain doesnât improve in 5â7 days or movement becomes restricted, get a shoulder X-ray/ultrasound
Health Tips
Seek care sooner if swelling, worsening bruise, numbness, or severe night pain develop.
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May I know your mothers age please
Bruises might be because of any trauma and the pain may be radiating from that itself.
Do take an ECG and do a CBC and PT INR to rule out cardiac or any bleeding manifestations as well
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In clinic consult is better as she needs to be examined
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Make sure ECG is done... If there's bruises ,take CBC and PT-INR
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It seems like a radiculopathic pain as pain is radiating to elbow from shoulder. The bruise may be due to some injury which went unnoticed. The pain may also be caused due to bad posture while sleeping, which results in muscle spasm.
Next Steps
Please remove the pillow while sleeping, apply diclofenac ointment n do slow massage twice a day.
Apply hot compression once daily.
Take Etoricoxib 90 mg once daily after dinner for 5days, Pantop dsr once daily for 5days before breakfast for 5 days.
Health Tips
Avoid lifting heavy weight.
Do some shoulder exercises such as rotating the shoulder clock wise and anti clockwise 5-7 times once a day.
Improve the posture while sitting n sleeping.
Take proper rest.
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Seems like Neck pain radiating into Lt arm called Cervical Radiculitis. Better to consult a pain management specialist.
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Detail further history
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kindly consult
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Due to Muscle spasm
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Please seek a formal consultation with a General Physician in your area. A physical examination is a must.
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Try muscle relaxant if no recovery, kindly connect for consultation.
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Left arm pain persisting for 4–5 days should not be ignored, especially in this age group. Although symptoms may be musculoskeletal (shoulder strain/rotator cuff injury), it is very important to rule out cardiac causes. Immediate evaluation should include ECG, cardiac enzymes (Troponin) if chest discomfort, breathlessness, sweating or nausea are present, and a 2D-Echo if required. An X-ray of the left shoulder and cervical spine are advised to check for arthritis, nerve compression or soft-tissue injury. The small brown bruise could be a minor hematoma from unnoticed trauma. Until evaluation, avoid heavy lifting, keep the arm supported, and use simple analgesics only under medical advice.
If pain is associated with chest pain, jaw pain, sweating, or dizziness → go to emergency immediately.
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please go for x-ray of left sholder joint
and also history of any hypertensive ...or on drug related to it. then go for ecg followed by 2d echo plz...
other wise take some musle relaxant
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Need all lab investigations, and visit physician
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Muscular spasm
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Musculoskeletal pain due to trauma
Rest
Nsaids
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It could be a musculoskeletal pain.give complete rest to arm .for more assessment kindly consult me on practo
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It seems to be the pain of musculoskeletal origin probably due to some unrealised trauma.
Next Steps
Tab Zerodol SP twice daily for 3-5 days should help alongwith avoiding working with that arm for few days.
Health Tips
Looking at the age, ECG should be done to rule out cardiac causes. She should also start Vitamin D and Calcium supplements if not taking already
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Can help you with the next course of action and treatment plan. Kindly consult via whatsapp at nine zero two nine six zero zero four seven zero.
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Consult online will guide you further
Need proper history and evaluation for further suggestions
Take tab imol plus for three days
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A series of further investigation and detailed history is required for evaluation.A picture could be more helpful.History of trauma ,allergy and drug history is required. You can consult me through practo.
Next Steps
Detailed analysis, imaging and investigation required
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Please consult me through practo or wattsap nine zero seven two two zero seven zero nine three
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It could be due to tendonitis of the shoulder,or lateral epicondylitis or cervical disc issue
.A clinical examination is essential to determine the exact cause.Consult a orthopedist in your area
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Get one ecg done in order to rule out cardiac and can proceed with xray if ecg is normal
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Based on the pattern of your mother’s symptoms, the pain location, the age group, and the fact that it worsens when the arm is lowered, I am considering three major diagnostic possibilities — each with a characteristic clinical pattern. Let me explain them clearly so we can pinpoint the exact cause.” before that
I have to ask few questions
Get in touch with me
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1. Get an Xray , if not conclusive then MRI can be done
2. Get an ECG done
Next Steps
1. take diclofenac 1-0-1 for three days
2. rest
Report with reports
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Do xry of hand
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Most probably a musculoskeletal issue.
Is there any history of injury?
If any history just give her a painkiller and take proper rest it will be fine in few days.
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Doesn’t look like heart problem
Next Steps
Safety wise get one ECG and BP checked
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It may be cellulitis
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Avoid fried and spicy food .
Water intake more
Do connect and
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Most likely causes (based on pattern):
1) Shoulder tendinitis / rotator cuff strain – Pain increases when arm hangs down, better in morning/lying down.
2) Minor muscle strain – Especially with a bruise on forearm.
3) Biceps tendinitis – Pain from shoulder to elbow.
Red flags NOT suggested here: No numbness, no chest pain, no weakness → heart-related pain unlikely.
What to do
Rest the arm, avoid lifting.
Warm compress 2–3 times/day.
Topical gel: Diclofenac gel 3–4 times/day.
Oral pain relief: Paracetamol if needed.
Check neck—sometimes cervical spondylosis causes similar pain.
When to worry
If numbness/tingling, increasing weakness, or severe swelling appears.
If pain persists >7–10 days → get shoulder X-ray or USG shoulder.
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Doesn't look like a cardiac issue . But more musculoskeletal or nerve related injury.Kindly consult for further evaluation and treatment.
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Get an ECG due to her age first. Needs physical examination at your local doctor and may need X rays and or blood work including CBP+Clotting+CK
All the best.
J G S R (online) clinic
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Details needed.. connect on practo
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Need more details, you can contact any time directly for consultation. Whatsapp number : Nine seven seven four five one five six eight one.
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The pattern of your mother’s pain suggests a musculoskeletal or nerve-related cause, not a heart problem. Pain that starts from the shoulder and goes down to the elbow, becomes worse when the arm is hanging down, and improves when lying in bed or in the morning is typical of shoulder muscle strain, cervical nerve irritation, or mild tendon inflammation. The small brown bruise on the forearm is likely from a minor unnoticed injury and is not dangerous unless it becomes larger or painful.
Because the pain is position-dependent and not associated with chest discomfort, breathlessness, sweating, or weakness, it does not fit the pattern of cardiac pain. Most likely causes include:
Rotator cuff strain
Shoulder tendonitis
Cervical radiculitis (pinched nerve in the neck)
Simple muscle overuse or sleeping in an awkward position
Next Steps
Apply a warm compress to the shoulder 2–3 times a day.
Use a topical gel (diclofenac gel) gently over the painful area.
A short course of a mild pain-reliever like paracetamol if needed.
Avoid lifting weight or overhead activities for a few days.
Gentle shoulder and neck stretching can help reduce stiffness.
Health Tips
Kindly seek a doctor’s examination
If pain increases rather than improves after 3–5 days
there is swelling, redness, or spreading bruising
If the hand becomes numb or weak, pain becomes severe. Good luck!
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Does the bruise blanch on pressure? Is it painful? Is she on some blood thinning drug like aspirin?
Answer to these questions would be useful to help her to heal.
For pain , give her tab zerodol sp one every 8 hours for 4 days
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Ultracet p two times a day after food
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Dr. Fathima Simiya K
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Malappuram
It’s important to get your mother checked in person because left arm pain lasting several days can sometimes be related to the shoulder, a nerve issue, or rarely the heart
Since the pain increases when she lowers her arm, it may be a muscle or tendon problem, but the small bruise also needs to be examined.
Next Steps
I would advise doing an ECG and a basic blood test to be safe, and consult a doctor
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Dr. Sajid Ali
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Kanpur
Have CBC and ECG
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Dr. Sarika Rautwar
General Physician
8 yrs exp
Aurangabad
kindly connect
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Dr. Shahbaz Khan
General Physician
4 yrs exp
Delhi
Get an ECG done just to rule out cardiac problem
Most likely this is muscle sprain
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Dr. Shamira Bhaiji
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Bharuch
It can be due to minor muscle trauma. Give rest to arm. For more assessment kindly consult me on practo.
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Dr. Pawan Kumar Tiwari
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Varanasi
Give complete rest to the arm – do not lift anything heavy.
Make a simple arm sling: tie the arm with a dupatta/scarf around the neck so the arm stays supported near the chest. This alone will reduce the pain a lot.
Ice pack: Wrap ice in a cloth and apply on the shoulder and upper arm for 15–20 minutes, 3–4 times a day.
Pain medicine (only if she has taken them before and has no allergy/stomach ulcer/kidney problem):
→ Tablet Combiflam or Zerodol-P or Flexon – 1 tablet twice a day after food for 2–3 days.
Do NOT do hot water bag or massage with oil right now.
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Dr. Kunal Meena
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Indore
Hello the pain in left hand either can be a muscular pain or in some cases radiating pain from heart but as you say pain increasing on movement of the arm then it is highly suggestive towards muscular pain
Next Steps
To rule out heart involvement get an ecg done
Health Tips
Kindly take FLEXON MR twice a day
Rabepep 20
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Dr. Aparna Narayanaswamy
General Practitioner
1 yrs exp
Kottayam
Might be something related to muscular but better to take consultation, considering the age.kindly directly consult on Practo
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Dr. Shaikh Huzaif
General Physician
20 yrs exp
Mumbai
Please consult
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Dr. Laxmi Koppishetty
General Practitioner
8 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Could be due to various reasons, need physical examination
Next Steps
kindly consult
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Needs to be evaluated
Do consult
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Dr. Syed Jawwad Hashmi
General Physician
10 yrs exp
Aurangabad
Rule out cardiac condition and consult physically
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
May be due to claudication... consult for further evaluation
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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