Does this describe your child's symptoms?

Definition

• Pain in the arms (shoulder to fingers)

• Includes shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger joints

• The pain is not due to a known injury

• Minor muscle strain and overuse injury are covered in this topic

Causes

• Arm pains are unusual

• Main Causes: Strained muscles from overuse injury (e.g., excessive throwing or swimming)

• Brief pains (1 to 15 minutes) are usually due to muscle spasms. These usually occur in the hand and follow prolonged writing or typing.

• Continuous acute pains (hours to 7 days) are usually due to overstrenuous activities or forgotten muscle injuries during the preceding day. These are most common in the shoulder area.

• Mild muscle aches also occur with many viral illnesses.

• Serious Causes: fractures, arthritis (joint infection) and neuritis (nerve infection)

If not, see these topics

• Follows injury, see ARM INJURY

When to Call Your Doctor

Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If

• Not moving or too weak to stand

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick

• Can't use arm normally

• Fever is present

• Can't move a joint normally

• Swollen joint

• Bright red area on skin

• Muscle weakness (loss of strength)

• Numbness (loss of sensation) present over 1 hour

• Severe pain or cries when arm touched or moved

• You think your child needs to be seen urgently

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If

• You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns

• Cause of arm pain is uncertain

• Arm pain present over 7 days

• Arm pains or muscle cramps are a recurrent chronic problem

Parent Care at Home If

• Caused by strained muscles from excessive use

• Cause is obvious and harmless (e.g.,sliver that's removed, a recent shot)

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR OVERUSE INJURY (STRAINED MUSCLES)