Pain in the forearm

Pain in the forearm and nearby structures (elbow or wrist) can be extremely troublesome. Pain in the forearm can be caused by several different factors, but some of the most common are overload, trauma (accident or fall), nerve irritation, muscular failure, myalgias and mechanical dysfunction.

Pain in the forearm is a musculoskeletal disorder that affects a larger proportion of the population over a lifetime. Pain in the forearm can also be caused by problems with neck or shoulder, so-called referred pain. Any tendon injuries or the like can in most cases be investigated by a musculoskeletal expert (chiropractor / manual therapist), and further confirmed by a diagnostic ultrasound or MRI where this is necessary.

Also read: - Tennis elbow / lateral epicondylitis can cause forearm and elbow pain

What can I do even for muscle and joint pain?

1. General exercise, specific exercise, stretching and activity are recommended, but stay within the pain limit. Two walks a day of 20-40 minutes make good for the whole body and sore muscles.

2. Trigger point / massage balls we strongly recommend - they come in different sizes so you can hit well even on all parts of the body. There is no better self help than this! We recommend the following (click the image below) - which is a complete set of 5 trigger point / massage balls in different sizes:

3. Training: Specific training with training tricks of various opponents (such as this complete set of 6 knits of different resistance) can help you train strength and function. Knit training often involves more specific training, which in turn can lead to more effective injury prevention and pain reduction.

4. Pain Relief - Cooling: Biofreeze is a natural product that can relieve pain by cooling the area gently. Cooling is especially recommended when the pain is very severe. When they have calmed down then heat treatment is recommended - it is therefore advisable to have both cooling and heating available.

5. Pain Relief - Heating: Warming up tight muscles can increase blood circulation and reduce pain. We recommend the following reusable hot / cold gasket (click here to read more about it) - which can be used both for cooling (can be frozen) and for heating (can be heated in the microwave).

Recommended products for pain relief for muscle and joint pain

Biofreeze (Cold / cryotherapy)

Also read: 8 Exercises against Tennis Elbow

Causes of forearm pain:

Scalenius syndrome, neck prolapse, TOS syndrome, brachial plexopathy, fracture of the arm, fracture of the hand or wrist, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), medial epicondylitis (golf elbow), tendonitis, muscle tension, myalgia, nerve irritation, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, active myomas (with accompanying reference pattern), as well as joint locks in the extremities - here you see a more comprehensive list of possible reasons why you have pain in the forearm:

Possible causes and diagnoses of forearm pain

Brachial plexus damage

Burn Injury

Fracture

Diabetes

Poor blood circulation / impaired arterial function

Fraktur

Golf elbow / medial epicondylitis (may cause pain in the inner, medial part of the forearm and occasionally down towards the wrist as well as the little finger)

Influenza (may cause pain in muscles and joints throughout the body - including forearm)

Karpaltunnelsyndrom (squeezing of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel)

muscle injury

muscle Pull

Myalgia / trigger points (muscles locally and distally may refer to pain in the forearm)

nerve Irritation

Nerve damage

Peripheral neuropathy

Prolapse in the neck (Prolapse in level C5, C6, C7 or T1 can refer nerve pain to the subamen and the hand depending on which nerve root is in the pinch)

Forearm tendinosis (tendon injury)

Forearm tendinitis (tendonitis)

Tennis elbow / lateral epicondylite (can cause pain in the outer part of the forearm and occasionally down the wrist)

TOS compartment syndrome (for tight conditions in the neck pit / scalenius port around the brachial plexus can cause nerve irritation and nerve pain in the arm)

Also read: 8 Good Exercises for Tennis Elbow

Try these too: Exercises against carpal tunnel syndrome and forearm pain (YouTube video - opens in new window)

Muscles and forearm muscles

The anatomy of the arm

Arm anatomy - Photo Wikimedia

The forearm consists of the ulna, radius, carpal bone of the hand (carpus), metacarpus and fingers (phalanges). In the illustration above you can also see important anatomical landmarks.

Treatment of pain in the forearm

Depending on your diagnosis, treatment will vary, but some commonly used therapies are:

Muscle work (massage or trigger point therapy), joint mobilization / joint manipulation, Shockwave Therapy, dry needle / dry needle, laser treatment, specific exercise exercises, ergonomic counseling, heat or cold treatment, electrotherapy / TENS and stretching.

Also read: Pressure wave therapy - something for your forearm?

Time classification of pain in the forearm

Pain in the forearm can be divided into acute, subacute and chronic pain. Acute forearm pain means that the person has had pain in the forearms for less than three weeks, subacute is the period from three weeks to three months and the pain that has a duration of more than three months is classified as chronic.

As mentioned, pain in the forearms can be due to tendon injuries, shoulder problems, neck prolapse, muscular tension, joint dysfunction and / or irritation of nearby nerves. A chiropractor or other expert in musculoskeletal, nerve and nerve disorders can diagnose your ailment and give you a thorough explanation of what can be done in the form of treatment and what you can do on your own.

Make sure that you do not walk with pain in the forearms for a long time, rather contact a musculoskeletal expert and get diagnosed the cause of the pain. The sooner you get something done about the problem, the easier it will be to get out of the vicious circle. First, a mechanical examination will be performed where the clinician looks at the movement pattern of the arm or any lack thereof. Muscle strength is also studied here, as well as specific tests that give the clinician an indication of what gives the person pain in the forearm. In the case of long-term ailments, an diagnostic imaging may be necessary.

A chiropractor or manual therapist has the right of referral to such examinations in the form of X-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound. Conservative treatment in the form of muscle work, joint mobilization and rehabilitation training is always worth trying for such ailments, before considering more invasive procedures such as an injection or surgery. The treatment you receive will vary depending on what was found during the clinical trial.

Hand. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Clinically proven effect on the relief of hand pain in carpal tunnel syndrome (KTS).

An RCT research study (Davis et al 1998) showed that manual treatment had a good symptom-relieving effect. Good improvement in nerve function, sensory sensation in the fingers and general comfort were reported. The methods chiropractors use to treat KTS include chiropractic adjustments of the wrist and elbow joints, muscle work / trigger point work, dry-needling (needle treatment), ultrasound treatment and / or wrist supports. Treatment varies depending on the clinician and your presentation.

What does a chiropractor do?

Muscle, joint and nerve pain: These are things that a chiropractor can help prevent and treat. Chiropractic treatment is mainly about restoring movement and joint function that can be impaired by mechanical pain. This is done by so-called joint correction or manipulation techniques, as well as joint mobilization, stretching techniques, and muscular work (such as trigger point therapy and deep soft tissue work) on the involved muscles. With increased function and less pain, it may be easier for individuals to engage in physical activity, which in turn will have a positive effect on both energy, quality of life and health.

The chiropractor is the primary contact on par with your GP. Therefore, you do not need any referral and will receive a diagnosis from the chiropractor. X-rays or MRI examinations will be reviewed and referred to by the chiropractor if needed.

Exercises, training and ergonomic considerations.

An expert in muscle and skeletal disorders can, based on your diagnosis, inform you about the ergonomic considerations you need to take to prevent further damage, thus ensuring the fastest possible healing time. After the acute part of the pain is over, you will also in most cases be assigned home exercises that also help to reduce the chance of relapse, this is a very important one. In the case of chronic ailments, it is necessary to go through the motor movements you do in everyday life, so as to be able to weed out the cause of your pain occurring time and again.

Prevention.

• • • Do stretching exercises on the shoulders, hands and fingers before starting work and repeat this throughout the work day.
    • Map everyday life. Find the things that cause you pain and make changes to their performance.
    • Make the workplace ergonomic. Get a raise and lower desk, a better chair and wrist rest. Make sure your hands are not bent backwards for most of the day, for example if you have a computer keyboard that is not in the correct position in relation to your working position.
    • We recommend that you buy the following: Gel-filled wrist rest, gel-filled mouse pad og ergonomic keyboard (can be customized).

NEXT PAGE: Pressure wave therapy - a good treatment for your forearm pain?

Click on the image above to proceed to the next page.

Also read:

- Eccentric training of tennis elbow / lateral epicondylitis

- Headache?

- Pain in the neck?

References:

1. Davis PT, Hulbert JR, Kassak KM, Meyer JJ. Comparative efficacy of conservative medical and chiropractic treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998;21(5):317-326.
2. Punnett, L. et al. A Conceptual Framework for Integrating Workplace Health Promotion and Occupational Ergonomics Programs. Public Health Rep. , 2009; 124 (Suppl 1): 16–25.

Frequently asked questions (ask one too!):

Q: Woman, 29 years old, working in office. Have chronic muscle pain in the forearm, wondering what muscles it might be?

There are a number of muscles that can cause muscle pain in the forearm - and most often it is a combination of these, and not just a single muscle. Both muscles around the shoulder blade and neck can refer pain down into the forearm - such as the musculus scalenius, pectoralis and subscapularis. However, it can also be caused by more local muscles, such as the musculus anconeus, the extensor carpi ulnaris musculus, the extensor carpi radialis longus, the extensor carpi radialis brevis, the supinatorus or the brachioradialis. Due to your work in the office, it could possibly be due to repetitive work for the computer, which can also provide a basis for tennis elbow / lateral epicondylite and mouse arm issues.

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