Severe pain or numbness that radiates from your shoulder to your elbow or fingers is a common problem in many people today. Although some people dismiss it as just muscle pain, it can be caused by anything from nerve problems in the spine to symptoms of heart disease. Here are the main causes of this type of pain:
Cervical Radiculopathy: The most important cause of this pain is problems with the spine in the neck. When the vertebrae in the neck wear out (Cervical Spondylosis) and the disc in between them protrudes, there is severe pressure on the main nerves that go to the arms (Cervical Nerves). This results in pain and numbness that feels like an electric shock from the shoulder to the fingers.
Rotator Cuff Injury: The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder joint together. Tears in these muscles, such as sudden lifting of heavy objects, falls, or sports such as cricket and badminton, can cause severe pain in the shoulder. This pain often radiates down to the elbow.
Frozen Shoulder / Adhesive Capsulitis: This is a condition in which the tissues around the shoulder joint become thickened and swollen. It is more common in diabetic patients. This causes severe pain in the shoulder and stiffness in the shoulder joint, making it difficult to lift the arm back or upward.
Brachial Plexus Injury: The brachial plexus is a large network of nerves that runs from the neck through the shoulder to the arms. When these nerves are pinched due to falls or accidents, the hands can experience severe pain and weakness.
Heart Attack Symptoms (Needs Urgent Attention): In some cases, especially if the pain is in the left arm, it can be a sign of a heart attack. Angina, which occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced, can radiate to the left shoulder, left arm, and jaw.