yet another question about pain in the arms

[one x sweet]

i've been very proactive with trying to heal the pain, tingling and heat in my forearms - using tips listed here and elsewhere, changing my body mechanics, lowering my table, martin grey's healthy forearms video, weekly acupuncture, self massage - but nothing is really helping. apparently i haven't yet found what i've been doing "wrong".

as of last week, i now have wrist, palm and thumb pain added to my flexor/extensor pain. wonderful.

last night i decided to rethink the way i stretch. perhaps i have been overstretching. i did some very gentle flexor and extensor stretches found in the Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome book. they were VERY gentle, just holding a position if i felt the lightest stretch reflex, letting it relax, then adding just enough change to the position to feel another small stretch, letting that relax, etc. until i was in a full stretch. at no time did my muscles feel any stress. it took a long time, but was very gentle and i felt wonderful when i was done. however - i fell asleep afterwards, on my back. i woke up a few hours later with wrist drop in both arms, more severe in my right (generally always a little more pain in right).

i don't really see how i could have impinged the radial nerve on both sides against the softness of just my bed. i've never had this happen before - ever. and i'm just curious if it could be tied to the new, seemingly harmless, stretching i did last night? does anyone have any thoughts/experiences about this?

also, my semester is almost over, thank goodness, and i have 3 weeks off. there are occupational massage therapists, right? does anyone have someone to recommend in nyc? i desperately need to have my arms treated with my issues specifically in mind.

thanks!

 

[witnessofJesus]

Without seeing you, my guess is that the problem is more in your neck & shoulders/pectorals than in your arms. The symptoms show up in your arms, but the cause isn't necessarily there.

I doubt the gentle stretches caused the worsening problem, but maybe the posture held during the stretching contributed.

 

[sammy k]

thanks RoS. i just had a conversation with my teacher and he mentioned the same thing. i never thought that was the problem b/c my extensor tendons are ropes, but he explained that was possible with the more proximal entrapment. learning new stuff every day!

he also said that it's possible that the new stretches released something and the nerve was reacting to increased circulation. hope so.

i'm feeling a bit more positive now because of your response. thank you. and also my morning coffee helped.

 

[dmg]

Have you considered checking in with a chiro to see whether there are some spinal issues that could be causing the nerve problems? The first sign of neck problems for me is pain in my wrist. My chiro also adjusts a small bone in my wrist that comes out of place and causes a lot of clicking and popping when it's out.

Angela

 

[Matt/16/Aus]

Perhaps trigger points are also aggravating your symptoms. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Claire Davies is really great.

Good luck, hope you find the cause of your pain and get some relief soon!

 

[Dr. Octagonapus]

thanks RoS. i just had a conversation with my teacher and he mentioned the same thing. i never thought that was the problem b/c my extensor tendons are ropes, but he explained that was possible with the more proximal entrapment. learning new stuff every day!

he also said that it's possible that the new stretches released something and the nerve was reacting to increased circulation. hope so.

i'm feeling a bit more positive now because of your response. thank you. and also my morning coffee helped.

yea. check for nerve impigement somewhere up the chain. That doesn't mean that there isn't a problem with compression closer to the wrist or elbow, but it helps to check all things involved. And, like RoS said, it is impossible to say without seeing you.

I would start to try and rule things out if I were you so that you can be specific with your treatment (also, doing this stuff will help you better treat others as you have an understanding of how to rule things out and you don't have to go in with the elephant gun and start shooting everything all the time).

Start with where you feel the pain/tingling or sensations.....back of the hand, palm of the hand, which fingers feel affected, what movements seem to make things worse/better, how is your sensation between the two hands (is it symetrical...you need someone to check these things for you).

Then, look at tests like tinels, or phalens to check for carpal tunnel issues, test for brachial nerve impingement....addson's test will let you know if scalenes are involved, wrights test helps you know if pec minor is in the mix, costal clavicular manueaver lets you know if their is impingement under the clavicle.

Look at your overal posture and tissue quality....what does the pronator terese feel like (if you are suspecting carpal tunnel/median nerve pain), flexor carpi radialis (if you are suspecting ulnar nerve pain), supinator (if you are suspecting radial nerve compression). How does the tissue around the carpal tunnle (transverse carpal ligament) feel? What about the mobility of the carpal bones? How about pec minor? How is your posture? Are you shoulders rounded forward? Maybe the scapula is tilted forward or winged and the pec minor is tight/tense? Rule it out by checking to see if it is biceps brachii or coracobrachiallis careting the posture or if it is infact a pec minor issue....

so many things to look at!

Just throwing things your way.

Patrick

 

[Barbara S]

AngEngland - thanks for the chiro tip. i've been thinking about finding one. my last chiropractic experience was not a good one, but it's foolish to continue to ignore it's possibilities b/c of one shady dealing!

GreenDragonfly - i learn about trigger points next semester. i've been waiting for it!!

PatrickW - my head hurts.
thanks for the info, i appreciate the time you took. i have a feeling that when i take soft tissue assessment, i'll start recognizing those test names, but as of now they are unfamiliar. when i received a shiatsu the other week, my practitioner spent some time putting my carpals back into place, but i know nothing about 'carpal mobility'. i shall learn!
i can't wait to start receiving treatment for this - i'm just starting to feel so broken!

 

[decentg]

Is Brooklyn near Astoria? I used to know 2 good DC's in Astoria. I can get on the horn, if it's wanted.

 

[Mrsjvb]

pueppi, i would love you forever and ever and send you some cookies as proof! yes, astoria is a hop, skip and a jump away and i would definitely appreciate some contacts!
thank you!!
-allyson

 

[Zidane]

Okay, snailshells, did you see a chiro? what is the word?
I agree with the earlier posts and would be interested in how your neck is doing.
Another great option is acupuncture, it always helps me " in a pinch"----sorry couldn't resist it

 

[???? ?? ????]

I just saw this and being as you are close to Manhattan, if you like I can send you the name/number of a man HIGHLY recommended, located near NYU.

He does Tui Na/acupuncture and other very traditional methods.

I would say that between 2 practioners in the office, I have been 99% pain free for over a year. And my pain was starting to scare me!

I will check to see if you want the contact info before sending it via email or pm.

 

[vobis]

I would also look into Myofascial Release - done by a John Barnes trained practitioner or someone along the same lines. Many restrictions in the arms come from either the neck or shoulders. On yourself, look for areas of tightness across the upper chest - and then use that very light pressure that you tried in the stretching and wait at least two minutes for the area to soften. Have you ever had arm pulls done?

One thing I teach clients to do to lower their shoulders is to scrunch everything up tight - fingers, hands, pull arms in close to the body, shoulders as high as you can get them - take up less space in the world!

Then gradually unfurl, think of lead weights pulling the tips of the shoulder blades down, uncurl the fingers and arms, think of your chest and ribs expanding, but without taking a big breath. Take up more space in the world. Take two minutes or more to do this if you can.

Your shoulders will be lower and much stress will be relieved.

Good luck!

Marion