Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your doctor.

Conditions

• Brace, cast, or splint use, which may increase the chances of damaging nerves or restricting blood flow
• History of a blood clot in the arm
• Pregnancy
• A problem or condition present since birth (congenital defect)
• Previous injury to the arm
• Previous surgery to the arm or to the lymph nodes in the armpit
• Surgery to remove the spleen

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Smoking or other tobacco use

Medicines

• Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medicines such as water pills, antipsychotic medicines, antinausea medicines, estrogens, birth control pills, or nifedipine
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy to the arm or to the lymph nodes above the arm

Diseases

• Arthritis
• Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), or von Willebrand's disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Inherited bone disease
• Kidney disease
• Lupus
• Lyme disease
• Malnutrition or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
• Multiple sclerosis
• Osteomyelitis
• Osteoporosis
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Septic bursitis
• Sickle cell disease