A burning sensation in the left arm demands attention due to its wide range of potential origins, from minor musculoskeletal strain to life-threatening cardiac events. This pain, often described as searing, tingling, or prickling, frequently signals irritation or damage along a nerve pathway. Understanding the precise context of the pain—including its duration, location, and accompanying symptoms—is the first step in determining the underlying cause. This information is not a substitute for a professional medical evaluation, as some causes require immediate intervention.
The Most Serious Cause: Cardiac Concerns
The most urgent concern is referred pain originating from the heart, particularly during a heart attack. This phenomenon occurs because sensory nerve fibers from the heart share pathways in the spinal cord (T1 through T5 dermatomes) with nerves from the shoulder and arm. The brain interprets the distress signal as coming from the arm or shoulder, which is the more common location, rather than the internal organ itself.
This referred discomfort is rarely an isolated burning sensation; it is commonly accompanied by a distinct set of symptoms. Patients often describe the feeling as crushing pressure, tightness, or a dull ache in the center of the chest that may spread to the left arm, jaw, neck, or back. Other signs of a cardiac event include shortness of breath, cold sweat, lightheadedness, or sudden nausea. Since the pain results from a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle, burning or pressure that does not improve with rest should be treated as a medical emergency.
Causes Originating in the Spine and Nerves
Burning pain that is sustained or recurrent often points toward a neuropathic origin, meaning the sensation is generated by a damaged or compressed nerve. This pain can be traced along the path of the affected nerve, frequently originating in the neck or shoulder region. Nerve compression in the spine leads to cervical radiculopathy, commonly known as a “pinched nerve” in the neck.
Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a spinal nerve root is irritated by a herniated disc or by bony growths called osteophytes. This compression causes sharp or burning pain that radiates from the neck and shoulder down the arm and into the hand. The location of the burning, tingling, and numbness often corresponds to the specific cervical nerve root affected, most commonly C7 and C8.
Peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes can also generate a burning sensation in the arm. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the most common entrapment neuropathy, involves compression of the median nerve at the wrist. While symptoms primarily include numbness and tingling in the thumb and first three fingers, burning pain can radiate upward toward the shoulder. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome involves the compression of nerves and blood vessels between the collarbone and the first rib. This results in a burning or pins-and-needles sensation that starts in the shoulder or neck and spreads down the arm, sometimes causing fatigue and discoloration.
Localized Tissue Inflammation and Strain
When the burning sensation is localized, triggered by specific movements, and lacks nerve-related symptoms like numbness or tingling, the cause is likely inflammation in the arm’s soft tissues. The inflammatory response sensitizes pain receptors in the area of injury. This intense local signaling is perceived as deep, radiating heat or burning discomfort.
Tendinitis, or inflammation of a tendon, is a common culprit, often affecting the biceps or rotator cuff tendons around the shoulder. This overuse injury involves repetitive strain causing microscopic tears and subsequent inflammation, leading to localized burning that worsens with movement. Similarly, bursitis, the inflammation of fluid-filled sacs cushioning joints, causes sharp, burning pain when the joint is moved or pressed. Lactic acid buildup is not responsible for chronic burning pain; the discomfort results directly from the localized inflammatory process within the damaged tissue.
Systemic and Skin-Related Causes
A distinct set of conditions cause burning pain through generalized nerve damage or localized skin irritation. Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, can lead to peripheral neuropathy, where high blood sugar levels damage small nerves. This damage often begins in the feet but can progress to the hands and arms, manifesting as chronic numbness, tingling, and a persistent, symmetrical burning sensation. A deficiency in Vitamin B12, which is essential for nerve health, can also contribute to painful peripheral neuropathy.
An infectious cause of intense, localized burning is Shingles (Herpes Zoster), a reactivation of the chickenpox virus dormant in nerve roots. The virus travels along a single nerve pathway to the skin, causing characteristic burning, itching, or tingling pain that can precede a blistering rash by several days. This pain is typically confined to one side of the body, such as a stripe down the arm or torso. Environmental factors, such as severe sunburn, can also cause a direct burning sensation by irritating the skin’s sensory nerve endings.
Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
A burning sensation in the left arm must be evaluated urgently if accompanied by specific symptoms suggesting a severe, potentially life-threatening event. Seek emergency medical help immediately if the pain begins suddenly and is described as crushing, squeezing, or heavy pressure, especially if the sensation lasts for more than a few minutes.
The following symptoms warrant an emergency call:
- Pain or discomfort that spreads to the jaw, back, neck, or stomach.
- Sudden onset of severe shortness of breath, with or without chest pain.
- Unexplained cold sweats, lightheadedness, or fainting.
- Sudden, severe nausea and vomiting.
- New occurrence of significant weakness or paralysis in the arm, or a loss of consciousness.
In these situations, the focus shifts from finding the specific cause to stabilizing the body and preventing permanent damage.