Upper Extremity Pain

Upper extremity pain that affects your arms, shoulders, and elbows can indicate an underlying health problem like arthritis. At the Mint Medical Center in Oakland, California, anti-aging and pain management specialist's Dr. Muhammad Mansour, MS, ND, Angela Lin, NP, and the team specialize in diagnosing and treating upper extremity pain with an integrative and minimally invasive approach. If you have upper extremity pain, call the office today to request an appointment or book one online.

What is upper extremity pain?

Upper extremity pain is discomfort or inflammation that affects your shoulders, arms, elbows, and/or hands. Everyone experiences upper extremity pain occasionally, but if your symptoms continue or affect your quality of life, it’s necessary to seek treatment.

What causes upper extremity pain?

At the Mint Medical Center, the team treats various causes of upper extremity pain, including:

• Arthritis
• Acromioclavicular instability (unstable collarbone where it connects with the shoulder)
• Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder syndrome)
• Rotator cuff tears
• Labral tears
• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Tendinosis
• Shoulder dislocations
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Neuropathy
• Trigger finger
• Golfer’s elbow
• Tennis elbow
• Trapped nerves
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Ligament and tendon tears

You might also have upper extremity pain because of general wear-and-tear. That’s especially true if you regularly use hand tools or perform repetitive motions while working or exercising.

When should I see a specialist about upper extremity pain?

Make an appointment with the Mint Medical Center team if you have upper extremity pain and it doesn’t improve with ice, rest, or taking over-the-counter pain medicine. That’s especially true if your symptoms worsen or keep you from going to work.

How is upper extremity pain diagnosed?

Your Mint Medical Center provider reviews your medical charts and asks about your symptoms, including when the pain started, where it is, and if activities like exercising worsen it.

Your provider examines your arm, shoulder, elbow, or hand, checking for bruising, swelling, or redness. They move the limb from side to side to assess its range of motion and gently press on it to identify sensitive areas. Your provider also orders diagnostic imaging, like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, to look at your bones, joints, and surrounding soft tissues.

How is upper extremity pain treated?

The Mint Medical Center team uses integrative and minimally invasive treatments to relieve upper extremity pain. They work with you to develop a custom approach based on your specific needs. That can include:

• Ultrasound-guided injections
• IV (intravenous) therapy
• Peptide therapy
• Shockwave or extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT)
• Physical therapy
• Nerve blocks
• Prolotherapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Cellular therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Trigger point injections
• Massage
• Ketamine therapy

The team’s goal is to stop the pain, improve mobility, and encourage your body’s natural healing process.

Call the Mint Medical Center today to receive treatment for upper extremity pain, or click the online booking feature to make your appointment.