Pain or Numbness Down the Arm
The Trigger Points that cause Arm Pain
Arm Pain Causes
Pain and/or tingling sensations that travel down the arm can be caused by three primary disorders:
The Muscles and Trigger Points that Cause Arm Pain:
Trigger points in the following muscles will typically produce pain that radiates down the arm.
Pain and/or tingling sensations that travel down the arm can be caused by three primary disorders:
- An injury to a spinal disc in the neck: (This is a serious injury that typically produces unrelenting, unbearable pain that rarely ceases. If you have experienced recent trauma, and have these symptoms, you should see you doctor immediately.)
- Compression of nerves in the neck or shoulder regions by the Scalene or Pectoralis Minor muscle groups.
- Trigger Point referred pain or numbness.
The Muscles and Trigger Points that Cause Arm Pain:
Trigger points in the following muscles will typically produce pain that radiates down the arm.
- Infraspinatus
- Scalenes
- Pectoralis Minor
The
Infraspinatus
muscle is found on the back of the shoulder blade.
It contracts to externally rotate the arm in the
shoulder joint. Trigger points in this muscle
produce pain in the shoulder joint that radiates
down the front and side of the arm. People with
active Infraspinatus trigger points are unable to
reach behind their back.
The
Scalene
muscle group is found deep in the lower neck. It
flexes the neck to the side and helps to lift the
rib cage when you inhale sharply. Trigger point
induced tension in this muscle may entrap several
nerves as they exit the neck region. This
entrapment is likely to produce pain, numbness and
tingling sensations down the arm. Because the
Scalene muscle group functions to aid breathing,
its trigger points can cause arm pain while
coughing.
The
Pectoralis Minor
muscle lies deep in the armpit regions. It
contracts to move and rotate the shoulder blade.
Trigger points in this muscle may cause the muscle
to entrap nerves and blood vessels in the shoulder
region. This entrapment typically causes numbness
and tingling sensations to travel down the inside
of the arm.
Important:
The following content is provided for information
purposes only. A proper diagnosis of any condition
requires a physical examination by a licensed
doctor.