what is arm / upper arm pain?
the most frequent cause of non-traumatic arm or upper arm discomfort involves a bulging intervertebral disc — similar to the mechanism described on our neck pain page.
joint degeneration from osteoarthritis, spondylosis or osteoporosis can also narrow the spaces where nerves exit the cervical spine, leading to nerve compression and referred arm pain.
what it feels like.
where the pain is
- often localised along the outer aspect of one arm
- may extend from the neck to the fingertips
- can occur in the arm independently of neck pain
- may be constant or intermittent
- frequently worsens at night
how it feels
- hot or burning sensation
- shooting
- aching
- tingling
- pins and needles
- difficult to characterise
triggers & relief.
makes it worse
- extended sitting periods
- driving
- neck rotation
- looking upward or downward
- reading, sewing or knitting
- carrying heavy bags
usually helps
- ice application
- heat therapy
- arm cradling
- neck or cervical roll support
- medication
- postural modification
- exercise
how we treat it.
we start every journey with a thorough assessment — the right diagnosis is the foundation of successful treatment. depending on what we find, we typically combine several of the following:
- joint mobilisation and manipulation
- soft-tissue massage and mobilisation
- neural mobilisation
- core stability and functional exercise rehabilitation
- postural and ergonomic guidance
- muscle energy techniques
- acupuncture and dry needling
- sports and functional fascial taping
faqs.
do i need a gp referral?
no — you can book directly with us. if you're using private medical insurance (aviva, vitality, wpa, axa and others) your insurer may require a referral; check your policy before booking.
how many sessions will i need?
most patients resolve acute issues in three to six sessions. chronic or complex cases can take longer. we'll give you an honest timeline at your first assessment.
what should i bring?
something you can move in — shorts and a t-shirt for lower-limb work, a vest for shoulders. we have changing rooms if you're coming straight from work.
how soon can i be seen?
we always strive to have same-day availability, and evening and saturday morning slots are available.
