Pain in neck and left arm

by Nathan Wei, MD, FACP, FACR

Nathan Wei is a nationally known board-certified rheumatologist and author of the Second Opinion Arthritis Treatment Kit. It's available exclusively at this website... not available in stores.

Click here: Second Opinion Arthritis Treatment Kit

The neck is made up of bones that sit on top of each other in a stack.

The pain you feel in your arm can be from a problem in your neck, much like leg pain can be from the low back. This type of pain is called referred pain. When there is injury or irritation in the tissues deep in the core or middle of the body, the brain is not able to determine exactly where the pain is coming from. Instead, the pain is felt further away from the actual source of the problem.

Another example is pain from a heart attack which may be felt in the jaw or down the left arm. In the same way, problems in the neck can "refer" pain down into the arm. Characteristics of referred pain include the following:

• The source of pain is usually deep and toward the center of the body.
• It is often felt as a vague, deep, burning, or aching pain.
• Intense pain radiates further.


Treatment for referred pain must address the source of pain. If your doctor determines that your arm pain is coming from your neck, you will need treatment for your neck-not your arm. Helping your neck problem should take away or reduce the pain in your arm.

Yoga poses sometimes will help with neck and left arm pain when it is due to musculoskeletal problems.

Note: Be gentle when working the neck area. It is important to move slowly and never "pull" or "crank" on the neck. Shoulders should remain down, moving away from the ears.

The ear to shoulder neck stretch
While standing, slowly press your right ear towards the right shoulder. Keep the face pointing forward. Hold for five breaths and switch sides.

Neck rotation with hand on jaw

Turn the face and chin towards the right shoulder. Use the hand for additional resistance. Hold for five breaths and switch sides.

The shoulder shrug
Inhale, shrug shoulders up towards the ears. Exhale bringing shoulder blades together and move shoulder blades down the back. This lifting and external rotation of the shoulder girdle will help with proper posture and shoulder rotation. Practice slowly for five repetitions.

The shoulder stretch while pressing the arm down

While pressing the right ear towards the right shoulder, inhale and engage the left arm, exhale and press the arm down towards the floor. This will create more resistance and intensity in the pose. Hold for five breaths and switch sides.

Trapezius stretch
Sitting on a mat, lean to the right side and let the right ear move towards the shoulder while slightly looking down towards the right hand. Inhale bringing the left arm up to shoulder height, exhale while pressing the arm away from the body. Hold for five breaths and switch sides.

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