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Arm Injury

Is this your symptom?

Injuries to the arm (shoulder to hand)
Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament
Excluded: muscle pain caused by too much exercise or work (overuse). Covered in Arm Pain care guide.

Types of Arm Injuries

Fractures. Fractures are broken bones. Common fractures occur in the collarbone, elbow, forearm, wrist, and upper arm.
Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of its joint socket. Dislocated shoulders are common sports injuries and also due to falls. Elbow dislocations are less common, but cause concern since the blood flow to the forearm can be affected.
Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments.
Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles.
Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports (such as a sore shoulder).
Muscle bruise from a direct blow
Bone bruise from a direct blow
Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scratch, scrape or bruise. All are common with arm injuries.

Pain Scale

Mild: you feel pain, but it does not keep you from your normal activities. Work, chores and sleep are not changed.
Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Arm Injury

When to Call for Arm Injury
Call 911 Now Arm has been crushed or has many broken bones Major bleeding that can't be stopped Bone or object is sticking through the skin You think you have a life-threatening emergency Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Severe pain Cut over knuckle of hand You have a wound and No past tetanus shots Can't move the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand or fingers normally Severe swelling Collarbone is painful and can't raise arm over head You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Very large bruise or swelling Increasing redness, pain or swelling around a wound Pain not starting to get better after 3 days You have a cast that : is too tight or too loose feels uncomfortable has gotten wet Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Pain lasts more than 2 weeks Injury limits work, sports, or school You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow Minor arm injury

Call 911 Now

Arm has been crushed or has many broken bones
Major bleeding that can't be stopped
Bone or object is sticking through the skin
You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Severe pain
Cut over knuckle of hand
You have a wound and No past tetanus shots
Can't move the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand or fingers normally
Severe swelling
Collarbone is painful and can't raise arm over head
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Very large bruise or swelling
Increasing redness, pain or swelling around a wound
Pain not starting to get better after 3 days
You have a cast that :
- is too tight or too loose
- feels uncomfortable
- has gotten wet
Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
Injury limits work, sports, or school
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow
Minor arm injury

Care Advice for Minor Arm Injuries

What You Should Know About Minor Arm Injuries:
- During activities, muscles and bones get bruised.
- Muscles get stretched.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Pain Medicine:
- To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works better for this type of pain.
- Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
- If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.
Small Cut or Scrape Treatment:
- Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
- Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water, maybe in the shower.
- Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
- Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover with a bandage. Change daily.
Cold Pack for Pain:
- For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
- Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
- Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
- Reason: helps with the pain and helps stop any bleeding.
- Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice pack. Do not put ice directly onto the skin.
Remove Tight Clothing:
- Remove any jewelry or tight clothing from the limb. They could become too tight if the arm swells.
Use Heat Pack After 48 Hours:
- If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
- Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
- Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
- Reason: increase blood flow and improve healing
- Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Do not put it directly on the skin.
Rest the Arm.
- Rest the injured area as much as possible for 48 hours, but keep the fingers moving gently if you can.
- Keep the arm and hand raised on a pillow beside you or held across your chest to help limit swelling.
What to Expect:
- Pain and swelling usually peak on day 2 or 3.
- Swelling should be gone in 7 days.
- Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Pain is not better after 3 days
- Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
- You think you need to be seen
- Your symptoms get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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