Are You Sick?

Types of Arm Injuries

• Fractures are broken bones. Common fractures occur in the collarbone, elbow, forearm, wrist, and upper arm.
• Dislocations happen when a bone is pulled out of its joint socket. Dislocated shoulders are common sports injuries. They can also happen with falls. Elbow dislocations are less common, but cause concern since the blood flow to the lower arm can be affected.
• Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments.
• Strains are stretches and tears of muscles.
• Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can happen without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports (such as a sore shoulder).
• Muscle Bruise from a direct blow
• Bone Bruise from a direct blow
• Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scratch, scrape or bruise. All are common with arm injuries.

Pain Scale

• Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from your normal activities. Work, activities and sleep are not changed.
• Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
• Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.