What Causes Arm Pain?

Prolonged overuse or improper posture of the wrist or arm during work, daily activities, or exercise—and even compression of cervical nerve roots, the radial nerve, or the ulnar nerve—can all be underlying causes of arm pain.

If you experience tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arm—or notice reduced grip strength along with signs of impaired circulation, such as hand edema, vascular congestion, or swelling—you should consider the possibility of coracoid impingement syndrome. Patients with this condition often report increased pain when wearing heavy outerwear, lifting heavy objects, or carrying items with their less-dominant (or uncomfortable) hand. Pain may also worsen when wearing backpacks or single-shoulder bags. Additionally, muscular strain is another common cause of arm pain—for example, injuries to the upper-limb muscles and tendons sustained during routine physical activity can trigger sterile inflammation in these tissues, resulting in aching discomfort in the arm.

Patients may also exhibit tenderness and pain extending from the occiput to the acromion—corresponding anatomically to the upper trapezius muscle. In acute cases, even mild-to-moderate pressure applied directly over the coracoid process typically elicits arm pain. Intense tenderness localized to the coracoid process often radiates into the pectoralis minor region and extends further across the chest wall.