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Pain
Take arms against perplexing pain
- By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Shoulder, elbow, or wrist pain can show up even without an injury. Why?
Brushing your hair, turning a steering wheel, or lifting a bag of groceries are simple tasks that feel a lot harder when your shoulder, elbow, or wrist hurts. But when this pain seemingly strikes from nowhere — without injury from a mishap or accident — confusion may join discomfort.
For doctors, however, the scenario is often not at all mysterious. Our arms are constantly in use, so they’re vulnerable to a variety of short-term or chronic problems that produce pain, says Dr. Tamara Rozental, chief of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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