Sneezing is typically only a minor inconvenience rather than a significant medical condition. It can indicate that you need to sneeze or have a cold or allergies. However, sneezing can frequently hurt some people’s arms. It may be necessary to visit an Atlanta neurologist if this is the case, particularly if you also experience arm discomfort at other times, to make sure there isn’t a spinal injury present.
It is always preferable to get assistance from a specialist who can provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, as the reason might be anything from a pinched nerve to a primary cardiac problem. Let’s find out Why does my arm hurt when I sneeze?
What Makes My Arms Hurt When I Sneeze?
Sneezing is the body’s natural reaction when the nose tries to eliminate anything unfamiliar. Usually, it’s a reaction mechanism to irritation. This can be used to treat and prevent respiratory or brain infections.
A sneeze is referred to medically as a “sternutation.” It simply takes a few seconds; after that, you can return to your regular routines. Sneezing, however, can occasionally result in arm pain that worsens and finally takes away arm function. If you are feeling this kind of discomfort, a chiropractor can determine what’s wrong.
What Causes Arm Pain After Sneezing?
Pinched Nerves
Pinching a nerve can result in tingling, discomfort, and numbness, among other symptoms. A strong explosion of a sneeze, for example, might compress a nerve more, resulting in brief discomfort following the sneeze.
Strains in Muscles
When a muscle is ripped or strained, it can result in a muscular strain, also called a pulled muscle. Overexertion during exercise, as well as twisting or lifting motions, can cause muscle strains.
A muscular strain might also result from sneezing; this could happen if the upper back muscles tighten during the sneeze. The pain in your arms might, therefore, result from a strained muscle, which could go down your arm from your back.
Sprains of Muscles
Another possible cause of arm pain when sneezing is a sprain of the muscles. A fall can cause a ligament that holds a joint together to break or become damaged. Usually, sprains affect the elbows, shoulders, or wrists. Sneezing may make a sprain hurt much more.
Dislocated Vertebrae
The vertebrae, or vertically stacked bones, make up the human spine. A dislocation occurs when a vertebra moves out of position. When a bone falls out of its joint and becomes dislocated, it is no longer in its proper place.
Displaced vertebrae can affect neighboring nerves and result in pain and suffering all across the body. The tension that a sneeze causes in the spine aggravates the nearby nerves. When there are nerves leading to the arms, sneezing may cause discomfort.
Herniated Disks
Your vertebrae are separated from one another by spongy discs. Inside, spinal discs are pliable. A herniated disc can result from a spinal disc rupture. The jelly-like substance inside the spinal disc pushes outside of it when you have a herniated disc, pressing pressure on the surrounding nerves. The jelly-like substance presses harder on the nerve when you sneeze, causing discomfort.
Stress Fractures of the Arms
Hairline fractures, sometimes termed stress fractures, are microscopic fissures that can occur in the arm bones due to repetitive action. Although the action that first caused the stress fracture usually causes the pain, a strong sneeze can also produce stress fracture discomfort. Although they usually heal independently, stress fractures occasionally must be surgically repaired.
Is It Common for Sneezing to Cause Pain in Your Body?
Although it is usually irritating, sneezing is not a reason for alarm. Your body employs sneezing to defend against viruses, allergies, and particles from other sources, such as air pollution.
On the other hand, discomfort from sneezing may indicate an underlying issue, such as a pinched nerve or spinal damage. This is the reason it’s crucial to visit a doctor whenever sneezing causes you discomfort.
How to manage sneezing pain?
The best course of action is to address the underlying issue to prevent sneezing from aggravating arm discomfort. Concentrating on the bones and nerves of the spine is crucial to stop sneezing from creating more issues. First, a doctor will rule out any significant illnesses or problems that might be the source of your symptoms.
Problem regions, such as pinched nerves or herniated discs, can be identified using diagnostic scans, such as MRIs or even X-rays. These images will aid treatment planning. Physical therapy and chiropractic adjustments can be used to treat most instances.
Workouts could be suggested as part of a continuous therapy plan when strain or inflammation is a problem. It’s critical to treat the underlying reasons non-invasively to prevent more discomfort.
Conclusion: Why does my arm hurt when I sneeze?
Sneezing is a normal nose reaction to foreign objects, such as viruses, allergies, and air pollution. Sneezing can cause arm discomfort for certain people. It is not a normal reaction and usually indicates an underlying condition, including a pinched nerve, spinal problems, or damage to the arm.
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