What does dull pain mean

You may describe similar sensations as heavy or sore. Dull: Like aching pain, dull discomfort occurs at a low level over a long period of time. Dull pain, however, may intensify when you put pressure on the affected body part. Raw: Rawness usually affects the skin. If you have raw-feeling pain, your skin may seem extremely sore or tender. Stabbing: Like sharp pain, stabbing pain occurs suddenly and intensely.

However, stabbing pain may fade and reoccur many times. Stabbing pain is similar to drilling and boring pain. Throbbing : Throbbing pain consists of recurring achy pains. You may also experience pounding, beating, or pulsing pain. Fort Myers Office. Cape Coral Office. Address: Del Prado Blvd N. Usually, this blockage is a buildup of a fatty substance in the arteries.

According to the American Heart Association AHA , pain or discomfort in one or both of the arms is one possible warning sign of a heart attack. Other symptoms of a heart attack include:. Males and females may experience different heart attack symptoms. For instance, females are more likely to experience shortness of breath, jaw pain, back pain , nausea, or vomiting. However, the feeling of weight on the chest is common for both sexes. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder that attach the upper arm to the shoulder blade.

Although the rotator cuff is in the shoulder, it can cause pain that radiates down the arm, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons AAOS. There are several types of rotator cuff injuries, including:. Rotator cuff injuries can happen to anyone, but they are especially common in athletes who frequently raise their arms overhead, such as tennis players or swimmers.

They also affect people with jobs that involve repetitive lifting, such as construction work. The symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include pain and stiffness when lifting or lowering the arm, as well as pain that radiates from the front of the shoulder to the arm.

A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve becomes compressed. The pressure causes nerve signals to misfire, resulting in pain that can radiate down the arms. A slipped disk in the upper spine is a common cause of pinched nerves, according to the AAOS. A slipped disk occurs when a disk in the spine moves out of place or becomes swollen, putting pressure on the nerves nearby.

Carpal tunnel syndrome CTS also occurs due to nerve compression, but only when it affects the median nerve, which runs from the forearm to the palm of the hand. CTS causes numbness that starts in the fingers and can radiate up the arm.

This condition can sometimes also cause pain and make it difficult to grip objects. The symptoms may get worse with certain activities that require a person to bend their wrist, such as reading a book or driving.

If a person seeks emergency care for a possible heart attack, doctors will check their blood pressure and pulse first. They may then use tests to check whether the person is having a heart attack. The AHA note that the tests may include:. If doctors determine that the person is not having a heart attack, they may look at the arm for signs of injury.

Visceral pain is vague and often feels like a deep squeeze, pressure, or aching. Learn what breakthrough pain is and how you can manage it with proper medication, dosing, and other treatments. Dull pain is usually a bearable but long-term pain. A dull pain can be described as a steady aching pain.

During diagnosis, your doctor will ask you…. Pain in the breast and armpit can have many causes. It can be a way to make peace with your pain. Heated massagers are available in a variety of prices, sizes, and types. Use this list to narrow down what features you want. Here are 7 possible causes of pain under your fingernail nail when pressed, how you can treat these causes at home, and when to seek medical treatment. Weighted heating pads may provide relief from pain, muscle stiffness, and chronic pain.

We explore which weighted heating pads may be best for your…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. Acute pain. Chronic pain. Nociceptive pain. Neuropathic pain. Other tips for talking about pain. Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst on November 29, Read this next. Pain relief basics. Medically reviewed by Timothy J.