i love to ride my bike, and had a trip planned to ride some of the great pyrenean mountains. six weeks of treatment and i was back on the bike.
richard townsendnewcastle great park
clinician · davephysiotherapy
upper limb · plain-english guide
arm / upper arm pain
non-traumatic arm pain is most often caused by a bulging disc irritating the nerve roots in the neck.
evidence-basedhcpc registeredseen in 3 daysone-to-one
first session45 minutes
typical recovery3 – 6 sessions
from£72
seen within3 days
accredited & insurer-ready
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
can you treat it at home?
most cases of arm / upper arm pain respond to a combination of self-management and targeted physiotherapy. here's how to tell which camp you're in.
try at home first
mild & new.
- less than 2 weeks old
- no radiating pain or numbness
- eases with gentle movement
- no sleep disruption
book an assessment
persistent or limiting.
- lasted 2+ weeks with no change
- shooting pain or pins & needles
- stopping you sleeping or working
- recurring flare-ups
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
when to see a gp instead.
physiotherapy is safe and effective for the vast majority of cases — but these signs mean you should contact your gp, 111, or a&e first.
patients who had arm / upper arm pain.
a few words from patients we've treated for arm / upper arm pain.
darren was quick and efficient at identifying my problem and actively working to solve it. great north run 2011.
laura robb
clinician · darrensports injury
i didn't think the great north run 2011 was going to happen for me. a few weeks with darren and it did.
paul rickeard
clinician · darrensports injury
faqs.
no — you can book directly with us. if you're using private medical insurance (bupa, aviva, vitality, wpa, axa) your insurer may require a referral; check your policy before booking.
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.
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.
most patients are seen within three working days. evening and saturday-morning slots are available but book up quickly.
ready to sort it?
book a 45-minute assessment online, or call 0191 217 1929 and our reception team will match you to the right clinician.
treatments for arm / upper arm pain
what we'll often recommend.
most arm / upper arm pain plans combine one or more of the following evidence-based treatments.
most booked45 min
01
physiotherapy
hands-on assessment and treatment for pain, injury, and long-term conditions. 45-minute initial consultation.
from£72
book30–60 min
05
sports massage
deep-tissue work to improve circulation, reduce doms, and keep you training without niggles.
from£55
book45–60 min
06
acupuncture
aacp-certified practitioners using acupuncture alongside physiotherapy for pain, tension, and recovery.
from£97
bookrelated guides
keep learning.
conditions we see most often alongside arm / upper arm pain.