The causes of arm pain and swelling include exertion, frozen shoulder, cervical spondylosis, venous thrombosis, etc. The treatment mainly includes general treatment such as rest, drug treatment such as ibuprofen, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment such as acupuncture, and arthroscopy and other surgical treatments.
1. Exertion: caused by suddenly increasing the amount of exercise or labor, which can be relieved by general treatment such as resting, reducing shoulder activities, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments such as massage and hot compresses.
2. Frozen shoulder: Frozen shoulder will cause contracture of the joint capsule, which will involve the muscles of the upper arm and cause pain and soreness. The treatment of frozen shoulder is based on medication and persistent movement of the shoulder joint, commonly used drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and celecoxib, etc. A small number of patients with serious symptoms will take arthroscopy and other surgical therapies.
3. Cervical spondylosis: Cervical spondylosis will compress the vertebral artery, nerve roots, etc., stimulate the sympathetic nerve, resulting in arm pain, shoulder pain and numbness and other symptoms. Cervical spondylosis is usually treated with medication, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and surgery. Medications include anti-inflammatory drugs such as meloxicam and muscarinic agents such as epirubicin hydrochloride, while TCM includes acupuncture, tuina and other therapies. Anterior or posterior surgical treatments are suitable for patients who cannot be relieved by medication or TCM.
4. Venous thrombosis: thrombosis will lead to poor blood flow in the arm, and a large amount of blood stagnates in the distal part of the arm, causing localized soreness and swelling. This condition is usually treated with anticoagulants such as low molecular heparin and vasodilators such as prostaglandin E1 to dissolve the thrombus.
There are many other conditions that cause soreness and pain in the arm, and it is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible for regular treatment, which is conducive to early recovery. The above drugs need to be used under the guidance of a doctor, avoid self-medication.