Psychosomatic Causes of Arm Pain

Sometimes we say, “I’m lost without it,” highlighting the significance of our upper limbs. Indeed, whatever one’s life activities, the arms are essential. Their health is crucial for both daily life and work. So, why does such an important body part sometimes fail? The psychosomatics of arm diseases provide the answer.

Psychosomatic Meaning of the Upper Limbs

Arms are responsible for holding and performing tasks. Accordingly, arm diseases indicate anxieties about accomplishing something or fear of losing and letting go of something. Physical problems with limbs arise when a person feels emotionally “disarmed.”

Psychosomatics of the arm:

• Shoulder – gathering energy from the external world;
• Forearm – accumulation of energy;
• Elbow – symbol of power, ability to push forward, clear the way to success and wealth;
• Joints – freedom and smoothness of movement, flexibility and confidence in actions;
• Hand and fingers – action, execution, and completion of tasks.

The energy in the hand area redistributes in different directions according to each finger’s significance.

Another psychosomatic theory, related to traditional Chinese medicine, places points (projections) on the palms that correspond to all systems and organs of the human body. For instance, the last phalanx of the thumb corresponds to the brain.

There is also a psycho-pedagogical theory, giving this explanation to the upper limbs:

• Thumb – father;
• Index finger – mother;
• Ring finger – relationships with siblings and other relatives;
• Middle finger – self;
• Little fingers – relationships with the world, other people.

Arms are used to receive impressions and information from the outside world and to express our attitudes and feelings. Think about how we gesticulate during an emotional conversation, how we hug or push someone away. Arms are a means of communication, a bridge between a person’s inner world and the outer world.

A person’s inner state is even reflected in the nature of their movements:

• Smooth and graceful actions indicate self-confidence;
• Sharp and clumsy movements symbolize insecurity and nervousness.

However, the character of each hand’s movements should be considered. For example, weakness and clumsiness in the right hand indicate a lack of masculine qualities (courage, decisiveness, firmness, rationality) and self-doubt. Weakness in the left hand suggests an individual’s inability to express feelings, problems in showing love and tenderness, a lack of feminine qualities.

The hand is directly connected to a person’s thoughts. People with beautiful, clean thoughts and positive thinking also have beautiful hands. Additionally, the hand is connected to the past. Losing a hand signifies aggression you once exhibited. Congenital hand defects should be viewed more broadly: they indicate your aggression in a past life or paying for the sins of relatives (esoteric theory).

Interesting! Hand mobility is linked to brain activity. Exercises for fine motor skills improve memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility. Hence, it’s essential for the elderly and children to work with their hands, manipulating small objects. But it’s also beneficial for others.

Pain in the Left Hand

The left hand is associated with the ability to receive. Pain in the left hand indicates that a person struggles to accept help, doesn’t trust the world, and is unsure of what they need from it. To alleviate the pain, consider why you are afraid to accept help. What thoughts torment you? Gratitude or a sense of obligation and fear of being called selfish if you don’t help in return? Learn to value yourself and gratefully accept help.

Pain in the Right Hand

The right hand is associated with the ability to give. Pain in the right hand suggests difficulty in letting go of something. For healing, you should reduce your level of demands, stop expecting gratitude from others for your help. Or conversely, you should trust people more, learn to help. If your kindness is clearly being taken advantage of, learn to say “no.” You should enjoy helping others.

Hand Problems in Childhood

What a person does with their hands:

• Caresses,
• Holds,
• Hugs,
• Gives,
• Reaches out,
• Moves away,
• Hits,
• Takes,
• Pushes away,
• Closes,
• Protects.

In the psychosomatics of hand diseases, it’s believed that we protect our hearts with our hands. This interpretation also applies to children’s hand diseases. With one difference: children might suffer for their parents’ sins and bear the consequences of their actions towards the child. For example, a child’s health can be affected by parental criticism (a mother pointing her finger and commenting on how untidy their child is) or by parents’ prohibition of creativity (painting walls or stools is also a creative impulse).

Furthermore, children’s hand problems can arise from their parents’ divorce or discord in their relationships. Especially if the spouses start to “divide” and “pull” the children, pitting them against one of the parents.

Important! Parents should listen to their child, guide them. Creative energy can always be channeled in the right direction, and a child’s reluctance, for example, to practice ballet, should be accepted and another area for personal development and self-realization chosen. Unfortunately, parents often try to realize their dreams through their children, forgetting that a child is a unique individual with a completely different set of psychological properties.

Psychosomatics: Fingers of the Hand

In exploring the psychosomatics of the limbs, it’s important to consider not only the overall meaning of the hands but also the metaphysical significance of each finger. Let’s delve into the psychosomatics of the fingers.

Little Finger

The little finger reflects a person’s worldview and self-perception. Look at your finger, how do you see it? If it appears weak and small, that’s how you see yourself. If it seems cute and neat, that’s how you perceive yourself.

The little finger also represents secrets, mysteries, something sacred and intimate. Remember how in childhood we played “make peace, don’t fight” by linking little fingers. If a person constantly lies, it affects the little finger. A fracture of the little finger can occur if someone has been hiding something for a long time, and then the truth comes out. If a person constantly encounters lies and deception, the little finger can also be affected.

Ring Finger

The ring finger is associated with romantic and family relationships. Its health reflects all the difficulties, conflicts, quarrels, resentments, and betrayals between lovers. If a person overlooks obvious things in a marriage or consciously turns a blind eye to infidelity, cruelty, misunderstanding, it also impacts the state of the ring finger.

Middle Finger

The middle finger represents intimate life, sexuality, and freedom. A lack or excess of sex, dissatisfaction with its quality, non-acceptance of one’s sexuality – all these affect the health of the middle finger.

Index Finger

The index finger is associated with silence and everything related to it. Recall how we put it to our lips when asking someone to be quiet. This finger also represents the direction of activities. If a person is unsure of where to go and what to do, problems with the index finger won’t be far behind. The third meaning of the finger is criticism and self-criticism. If a person blames themselves or is blamed by others, it affects the health of the finger.

Interesting! Fractures of the limbs occur in the recovery phase after a conflict. Consequently, a fracture of the index finger may occur after a person finally determines their life direction.

Thumb

The thumb represents pressure and resistance. The interpretation of the disease can vary. A person may be pressuring someone, or they may be under pressure. They could be too rigid in their beliefs or too submissive. Or they might be pressuring themselves. The second metaphysical meaning of the thumb is approval and condemnation.

Psychosomatic Specialists on Arm Pain

The hand is the most sensitive and mobile part of the body. Common diseases of the hands include pain, fracture, arthritis, dislocation, rheumatism, eczema.

Louise Hay

Louise Hay believes that hands symbolize the ability to hold on to life experiences. Diseases can be associated with:

• Holding and grasping something;
• Managing one’s life;
• Caress and other tactile interactions. Healing affirmation: “I decide to treat my past with ease, joy, and love.”

V. Zhikarentsev on Hand Problems

According to V. Zhikarentsev’s theory, hands symbolize the ability to endure life’s difficulties. Problems with hands indicate that a person cannot accept their experiences. Healing affirmation: “I easily, lovingly, and joyfully endure and accept the experience of life I’m living.”

Liz Bourbo on Psychosomatics of Hand Diseases

Liz Bourbo believes that hand pain indicates a lack of love. Love for oneself or for what one is doing. To identify the specific cause, understand what exactly you can no longer do. Look for the problem in that area.

Pain in the left hand suggests that a person doesn’t allow themselves to receive, while pain in the right hand indicates that a person doesn’t permit themselves to give. Either way, the person forbids themselves to do what they want. They don’t listen to themselves and don’t understand what they really need.

How to Get Rid of Pain

Think about what you would like to do with your hands and what you don’t allow yourself to do. Why? What emotions and feelings are associated with it? It’s important to rid yourself of fears, anxieties, and others’ opinions. Allow yourself to do what you want.

For a precise treatment plan, analyze the situation in detail. Why does the hand hurt:

• Pain during bending indicates that you have taken something not yours or something you didn’t want to take. Think about what it could be.
• Pain is the body’s cry. Remember when the pain first appeared, think about what it could be related to. What don’t you want to talk about or what are you so tired of that your body screams in pain: fear, work, disbelief in yourself, contradiction between desires and duties?
• Numbness is a refusal to speak. Hands go numb from resentment, preventing a person from doing usual things. Recall when the symptom first appeared. Who or what are you resentful about? Or maybe you’re forbidding yourself something, and your body is resenting it? What are you forbidding and why? Because of fear? Find it and get rid of the anxiety.
• Elbow problems indicate an inability to defend one’s rights.
• Forearm pain – doubts and worries related to transitioning something personal to public, giving public reports, etc.
• Wrist discomfort – difficulties in self-expression, adapting to situations, managing one’s affairs.

If discomfort occurs in a particular position of the hand, consider which activities and actions involve the hand in that position. The problem lies in that area. Either you forbid yourself to do what you want, or you force yourself to do what contradicts your inner self. To identify the exact cause, analyze what you do and participate in. Does everything in life correspond to your desires, needs, abilities?

Diseases of the hands indicate a desire to touch someone but being unable to do so. Why? Perhaps the problem lies in childhood trauma (parental cruelty, emotional coldness, and denial of the child), or maybe it’s simple indecision, but even that has deep roots. In any case, it’s necessary to consult a psychologist. The specialist will help identify the moment the problem started and its psychological precursors.

Important! Arthrosis, fractures, dislocations, and other hand problems require medical attention. Only after receiving first aid and prescribed treatment can you calmly think about the psychosomatic causes of the ailment at home. But it’s even better to consult a psychotherapist.