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What Would Cause Pain In Your Arms?

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Posted on Tue, 12 Jun 2018
Question: Pain in both upper arms (woke at 0200 hrs). BP149/82Left 147/82Right, SP/02 95%/pulse 80, oral temp 96.8, no slurred speech, grips bilateral equal, petal push equal, restless, thirsty (drank cup water). 200cc urine produced since bedtime (normal color). Recent admission for dehydration with kidney level of 3800, reduced to 2400 discharged 48 hrs ago. Pain went away in about 1/2 hr.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
could be a lot of things.

Detailed Answer:
ok, so the bp is at a level that if it were always there it should be treated. There is the question of how someone gets dehydrated.

Cannot say in your particular case without seeing you, BUT statistically, by far the most common cause of dehydration is being on a diuretic. This also lowers certain salts out of the body, most notably potassium. The loss of potassium typically causes a CRAMP like pain in central muscles (arms, thighs) and in calves and forearms. It is rapidly treatable with orange juice.

Pain in distribution of place and time would imply causes. All over or multiple spots imply an overall condition and not a local muscle problem. Likewise, Pain that goes in waves is not so likely to be a local muscle problem.

Poking things and seeing what pain it causes is a usual way to tell what is going on. If the muscle is sore, then it isn't a joint (and it isn't heart). But the muscle could be sore either from a muscle problem (pulled muscle) or an over all problem (electrolytes).

Hope this is a helpful framework.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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What Would Cause Pain In Your Arms?

Brief Answer: could be a lot of things. Detailed Answer: ok, so the bp is at a level that if it were always there it should be treated. There is the question of how someone gets dehydrated. Cannot say in your particular case without seeing you, BUT statistically, by far the most common cause of dehydration is being on a diuretic. This also lowers certain salts out of the body, most notably potassium. The loss of potassium typically causes a CRAMP like pain in central muscles (arms, thighs) and in calves and forearms. It is rapidly treatable with orange juice. Pain in distribution of place and time would imply causes. All over or multiple spots imply an overall condition and not a local muscle problem. Likewise, Pain that goes in waves is not so likely to be a local muscle problem. Poking things and seeing what pain it causes is a usual way to tell what is going on. If the muscle is sore, then it isn't a joint (and it isn't heart). But the muscle could be sore either from a muscle problem (pulled muscle) or an over all problem (electrolytes). Hope this is a helpful framework.