What Are the Causes of Left Arm Swelling and Pain?

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When one arm experiences pain and swelling, the cause usually stems from injury or illness on that side of the body. Pain specific to the left arm, however, may mean a heart attack.

Injury

A broken bone or torn tissue in an arm may cause pain, swelling, tingling, deformity or an inability to move the affected limb.

Kienbock's Disease

The WhatPain website states that Kienbock's disease can cause left arm pain and swelling. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons describes this illness as a progressive deterioration of bones in the wrist.

Lymphedema

In lymphedema, lymph fluid can collect in one arm, causing swelling and discomfort. According to breastcancer.org, this condition often occurs in women who have had lymph nodes removed during breast cancer surgery.

Treatment

Arm pain and swelling may respond to anti-inflammatory pain relievers, corticosteroids, diuretics, physical therapy or nerve stimulation, though a severe injury may also require surgical repair.

Warning

WhatPain warns that left arm pain accompanied by chest pain or breathlessness instead of swelling may signal a heart attack. Any possible heart attack requires immediate medical attention.

Source:

WhatPain: Left Arm Pain

Breastcancer.org: How Arm Lymphedema Happens

AAOS: Kienbock's Disease

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What Are the Causes of Left Arm Swelling and Pain?

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