What causes shoulder pain and arm numbness?
Disease description:
I have recently been experiencing severe shoulder pain, and my arm often feels numb. The symptoms become particularly noticeable after prolonged periods of working at a desk. Sometimes, I even wake up at night due to the pain. I'm very concerned—what could be causing this?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Shoulder pain accompanied by arm numbness is a common combination of symptoms that may be caused by various factors. The following are some common causes:
1. Improper sleeping posture: This may lead to arm compression, affecting blood circulation, and resulting in pain and numbness.
2. Exposure to cold: This may cause neck muscle spasms, producing pain that can radiate to the shoulder and result in arm numbness.
3. Cervical spondylosis: Herniated cervical discs or cervical joint disorders are among the most common causes. In such cases, compression of the nerve roots can cause shoulder pain radiating down the arm, along with numbness.
4. Periarthritis of the shoulder (frozen shoulder): Inflammation of the muscles, tendons, or bursae around the shoulder may also lead to shoulder pain, sometimes extending into the arm.
5. Neuropathy: Conditions such as diabetic neuropathy can cause pain, tingling, or numbness in the extremities.
6. Periarthritis of the shoulder: Shoulder pain caused by soft tissue inflammation may reduce movement of the affected arm, leading to arm numbness.
7. Rotator cuff injury: This may be caused by indirect trauma or chronic injury, presenting as localized pain, weakness, and numbness.
