upper arm pain

[Ihatepalps2]

Im a 51 yr old female. Have noticed over the past year a pain in my left upper arm that is getting worse. No, its NOT heart pain. This is pain related to movement of the arm. Its right about where you get a flu shot, only straight down the arm by about 2-3 inches On the OUTSIDE of my arm. Right where somebody would give you a punch on the arm. In THAT spot. It has gone from a mild ache if I move it just right, to a burning almost unbearable pain when I move it just right. For example, reaching my left (painful) arm over to touch my right hip--wow. Just tried it, and its a pain that makes me almost yell out loud. Lifting that arm up over my head is doable..but I can feel the burn, the pull, the pain in that spot. Ive searched online, and can find NOTHING about pain in this area. Its not shoulder pain. ANd all I read about is because its the left arm, it relates to heart attack, and this isnt that. Sometimes I will forget, and reach for something, or roll over in bed, thats a place where it really hurts, if I use it to change positions in bed, or if I lay directly on it, very very painful. Yes, I know Im going to have to go to the Dr...but I was trying to avoid a very costly MRI...
has anyone had this particular pain before? Oh, I do know that I have carpal tunnel in both hands, but Im thinking this isnt related..
Im afraid that Im going move wrong some time, and Im going to tear something in there..but I sure would like to know what this is.

[panda2526]

Save yourself the MRI money to start and get dr to check your iron levels first, in a ferritin, transferrin saturation, TIBC, and serum iron screen. This is not routine blood work, but is a simple blood test that shows how you are storing iron in your body. Early warning signs of iron overload have to do with joint, muscle pain, heart palpitations, irregular heart beat, burning and numbness in arms, hands, legs, nerve pain...

Good to rule it out as it is more common that people realize, and that drs are not aware either enough and informing us patients who have it.

[RockRose]

The fact that this is worsening over the course of a YEAR,  this isn't a small muscle strain that you can  just ignore and it will be fine.  

If you said you've had this for two weeks,  the obvious advise would be to rest it and wait it out and it will heal.

This won't.  I don't know what this is,  but it needs a doctor's attention.  I don't think you can find a better use of your money than to spend it on your health.

Best wishes.