Highlights
- People with anxiety can experience left arm pain when stressed or during an anxiety attack.
- It is difficult to tell whether left arm pain is anxiety-induced or if it’s a heart attack symptom without tests, so avoid self-diagnosis.
- Always seek medical attention for pain in the left arm accompanied by other physical symptoms, because serious conditions, like heart attacks, are life-threatening.
Having pain in your left arm can be a terrifying experience. Often, the first thing that comes to mind is a heart attack, and this is exactly why a medical opinion is vital. However, there might be another trigger, and anxiety is one.
Let’s explore left arm pain in detail, discuss its causes, and what to do about it.
Can Anxiety Cause Left Arm Pain?
Anxiety can cause arm pain, and not only the left arm, but also the right. Firstly, it may be related to muscle tension or hyperventilation during panic attacks. Also, people with anxiety tend to have higher pain sensitivity.
Even so, never self-diagnose the cause of left arm pain because you might overlook something life-threatening. Rather, seek medical advice.
What Does Left Arm Pain From Anxiety Feel Like?
Left arm pain from anxiety might be described in different ways, like a sharp stab, tightness, ache, or discomfort. Other people might say:
- “My left arm feels weird.”
- “I have a burning sensation in my left arm.”
- “My left arm is tingling, has pins and needles, and feels numb.”
- “My left arm feels stiff or weak.”
Other common physical symptoms of anxiety that
- A dry mouth
- A fast, forceful heart rate
- Shortness of breath or a choking feeling
- Chest pain or pressure
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Being hot and sweaty or having chills
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Shakes or tremors
Next, we’ll look at other causes of left arm pain. However, remember that anxiety can also cause right arm pain, and can affect the entire arm, or just one area, for example, the hand or shoulder.
Other Possible Causes of Left Arm Pain
There are many reasons, other than anxiety, associated with arm pain. Some of the causes we’ll briefly discuss include problems with muscles, bones, nerves, tendons, and, of course, the heart. This is why it is essential to consult a medical doctor if you experience left arm pain.
Injuries
Any form of soft tissue damage or injury to the neck or arm, such as whiplash, sprains, strains, bruising, muscle tears, or fractures, can cause pain.
Tendon Conditions
Overused, inflamed tendons (tendonitis) can cause left shoulder and elbow pain.
Spine Conditions
Wear-and-tear arthritis and a herniated disk are two conditions that may cause a pinched nerve, resulting in left-sided arm pain.
Nerve Conditions
Shingles is a viral infection caused by a reactivation of chickenpox along a nerve. It can cause severe pain anywhere in the body, including the left arm. It is usually associated with a blistering rash in the same area where the pain is felt.
Conditions like diabetes, vitamin B12 deficiency, and carpal tunnel syndrome can also lead to pain in the arms and hands.
Heart Disease
Any heart condition that may decrease blood flow to your heart muscle can cause pain in your left arm. Importantly, this is a referred pain, which means you feel pain in one part of your body but the problem is elsewhere. The most well-known example of this is a heart attack.
Next, let’s look at how arm pain from anxiety might differ from a referred heart-related pain.
Anxiety Left Arm Pain vs. Heart Attack: How to Tell the Difference
Is it an emergency? | Not typically life-threatening, but needs evaluation | Medical emergency needing immediate intervention |
Are there triggers? | Stress, anxiety, or specific situations | Usually, no immediate trigger. It can occur at rest or during activity |
Pain | Arm pain during a panic attack or a heart attack feels like:
The physical symptoms of a panic attack and heart attack can overlap significantly, and only medical evaluation can reliably distinguish between them. | |
Are there timing differences? | Starts suddenly, often peaks within minutes | Develops gradually over minutes to hours |
Usually settles within 20-30 minutes | Persists and may worsen over time | |
What about other ways to tell them apart? Unfortunately, anxiety and
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- A fast or pounding heartbeat
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Light-headedness or dizziness
The bottom line is that the safest option is to immediately go to the emergency room or call 911 and let a medical doctor make the decision.
Why Anxiety Causes Arm Pain
Muscle Tension
Anxiety makes people fearful, which triggers the fight-or-flight response. The brain prepares your body to escape danger, making your muscles tense and ready to react: leg muscles to run, and arm and shoulder muscles to hit or block. Over time, this can lead to muscle pain, stiffness, and cramps.
Heightened Pain Sensitivity
An ache or pain that might not bother everyone
- The same neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine are involved in regulating mood and pain.
- Areas of the brain that are affected by anxiety also process pain signals.
- Anxiety causes people to be on high alert for anything out of the ordinary because of the stress response. They become hyperaware of not only things around them, but also sensations in their bodies.
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can cause sudden pain and tension in the arms. One reason for that is hyperventilation — a rapid and deep breathing that happens during a panic or anxiety attack. Because the lungs are working faster, they
How to Get Rid of Left Arm Pain From Anxiety
Once you have consulted with a healthcare professional and they’ve determined that anxiety is the most likely cause of your symptoms, they’ll guide you on what to do next. Also, there are a few more things you can try.
Immediate Relief
The at-home remedies and stress management techniques all aim to alleviate muscle tension and decrease stress levels by calming the fight-or-flight response.
- Deep breathing exercises: Try the 4-4-4-4 method: breathe in for 4 seconds, pause for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, and pause again for 4 seconds; repeat this cycle 4 times.
- Progressive muscle relaxation: Start relaxation from the bottom of your body and move up one muscle group at a time, from your toes to your calves to your thighs, consciously relaxing each as you go, ending with your face.
- Mindfulness meditation to refocus attention: Gently focus on your breathing or sensations in another part of your body, rather than the pain.
- Distraction methods: Name all the red objects in the room, or count backward from 1000.
- Gentle stretching: Reduce muscle tension with gentle neck, shoulder, and arm movements and stretches.
- Warm compressors for muscle pain relief: Apply a heating pad to the arm or have a warm bath to improve blood circulation and bring oxygen to the muscles to relieve pain.
Long-term Relief
- Regular exercise: 20 minutes of yoga or another physical activity three times weekly, at 60% to 90% of maximal heart rate, helps relieve anxiety.
- Balanced diet: Ask your doctor about including
anxiety-reducing elements[7] , such as omega-3, B vitamins, probiotics, magnesium, and zinc, in your diet; also, avoid caffeine, which spikes anxiety. - Good sleep hygiene:
Quality sleep[8] is essential for reducing anxiety, because a rested brain copes better. So, get into a consistent sleep routine and sleep in a quiet, dark, and cool environment. - Professional help: Talk therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy) and/or anti-anxiety medications can be recommended to support the effects of your self-help strategy.
When to See a Doctor
Do not try to self-diagnose left arm pain; this can’t be repeated often enough.
You must see a doctor immediately if you are experiencing pain in your left arm and any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- A fast or pounding heartbeat
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Light-headedness or dizziness
If, based on a medical assessment, anxiety appears to be the cause of your left arm pain, you should seek medical care again in any of the following cases:
- Self-help or healthy lifestyle changes are not working to decrease your anxiety.
- You have severe pain or significant discomfort that interferes with your daily life.
Also, it’s important to consult a mental health professional. You can get online anxiety treatment at MEDvidi, where a healthcare provider can confirm the diagnosis and recommend a personalized treatment plan. Book your appointment today to get help in 24 hours..
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anxiety cause nerve pain in the arms?
Yes, anxiety can cause nerve pain in the arms. Reasons this happens are nerve compression by tense neck muscles, hyperventilation during a panic attack, and an increase in stress hormones that leads to higher nerve sensitivity.
What does it mean when a woman has a tingling sensation in her left arm?
How long does anxiety arm pain last?
Anxiety-related arm pain can last from a few minutes (if triggered by panic or fear) to many months (in generalised anxiety disorder).
Can anxiety arm pain come and go?
Yes, anxiety-related arm pain might come and go, or become intense and then ease, as stress levels fluctuate.
How do I know if my arm pain is from anxiety?
You shouldn’t self-diagnose whether your arm pain is anxiety-related; instead, see a doctor to exclude serious medical causes.
