Recent Blog Articles
Easy ways to shop for healthful, cost-conscious foods
Prostate cancer in transgender women
Why eat lower on the seafood chain?
Can long COVID affect the gut?
When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?
Safe, joyful movement for people of all weights
Slowing down racing thoughts
Are women turning to cannabis for menopause symptom relief?
3 ways to create community and counter loneliness
Helping children make friends: What parents can do
Pain
Take arms against perplexing pain
- By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Shoulder, elbow, or wrist pain can show up even without an injury. Why?
Brushing your hair, turning a steering wheel, or lifting a bag of groceries are simple tasks that feel a lot harder when your shoulder, elbow, or wrist hurts. But when this pain seemingly strikes from nowhere — without injury from a mishap or accident — confusion may join discomfort.
For doctors, however, the scenario is often not at all mysterious. Our arms are constantly in use, so they’re vulnerable to a variety of short-term or chronic problems that produce pain, says Dr. Tamara Rozental, chief of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
You might also be interested in…
Pain Relief Without Drugs or Surgery
Pain relief takes many forms. This Special Health Report, Pain Relief Without Drugs or Surgery, looks beyond the standard approaches of drugs and surgery and explores alternate pain-relief strategies, from acupuncture and mind-body therapies to spinal manipulation, physical and occupational therapies, herbal remedies, mindfulness meditation, and music therapy among others. The report also provides specific treatments for 10 common pain conditions.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!
