Find out what can likely cause a sudden sharp pain in the upper arm that’s not related to your heart.
If you’ve been experiencing episodes of a sudden and sharp pain located in your upper arm, this may very possibly be a condition called long head biceps tendonopathy.
This is when the tendon of the long head of the biceps is torn; it may or may not cause pain.
If you have LHB tendonopathy, you may also have a shoulder problem, namely, a rotator cuff tear.
A torn rotator cuff, as well, can cause a sudden sharp pain in the upper arm.
However, these aren’t the only musculoskeletal causes of a sudden sharp pain in the upper arm; hence, a thorough examination, which includes radiographic imaging, will be necessary for precise diagnosis.
The treatment for long head biceps tendonopathy may be surgical or nonsurgical, says Shane Nho, MD, a Chicago-based orthopedic surgeon.
His report appears in the Nov. 2010 Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Statistics & Trends
-There’s no big difference in patient satisfaction or function between the two main surgical options, which are biceps tenotomy and tenodesis.
-The complication rate from surgery is less than 1 percent.
-Both surgeries can be performed via arthroscopy.
-The JAAOS report urges the pursuit of nonsurgical treatment at first, as this may suffice for ending the upper arm sudden pain and other related issues.
-Younger, active patients should undergo the biceps tenodesis if surgery is warranted.
Conservative Treatment for Long Head Biceps Tendonopathy
Rest, avoiding and/or modifying the offending activity, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy.
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If these don’t work, then corticosteroid injections may be done, though these may put a patient at risk for tendon rupture, depending on site of injection.
Besides sudden sharp upper arm pain, long head biceps tendonopathy can also cause the following symptoms:
-Audible snapping or popping in the elbow or shoulder
-Biceps cramping resulting from strenuous use
-Bruising from the middle of upper arm down towards elbow
-Tenderness, pain and/or weakness at elbow or shoulder
-Difficulty turning palm up or down
-Funny bulge above the elbow (from flaccid muscle)
