Ulnar Nerve Aggravation

[Tenacious Tones]

Hot and heavy in my cutting program and about two weeks ago noticed some numbness in my left pinky and ring fingers. I have been doing some heavy benching so I think I may have aggravated my ulnar nerve. I wake up with numbness and it surfaces randomly about twice a day. I have also noticed some "light" discomfort on the tip of my elbow. Is this something that will go away if I drop down to some light lifting and take an anti antiinflammatory for a while? I would hate for this to mess up my cutting. Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.

[Fresch]

As you wake up with it, might I suggest thoracic outlet syndrome or some of the RSI type conditions. Some entrapment in the neck or anterior chest areas.

[ben3133]

Does your ulnar nerve sublux (google for a diagram if you don't know what this means)? If so, lots of heavy benching (or any elbow extension work) can cause some irritation of the nerve at the elbow.

What position do you sleep in (front/back/side)? How is your arm positioned while you sleep?

[Tenacious Tones]

Originally Posted by ben3133

Does your ulnar nerve sublux (google for a diagram if you don't know what this means)? If so, lots of heavy benching (or any elbow extension work) can cause some irritation of the nerve at the elbow.

What position do you sleep in (front/back/side)? How is your arm positioned while you sleep?

I do get some popping in both elbows when I flex. If I straighten my "injured" elbow it pops most all the time. I sleep on my stomach with one arm under the pillow kind of propping my head up.

[Tenacious Tones]

Originally Posted by Fresch

As you wake up with it, might I suggest thoracic outlet syndrome or some of the RSI type conditions. Some entrapment in the neck or anterior chest areas.

I agree it might be this. My chest has been real tight and I seriously need to see the chiropractor. Neck and back snap crackles and pops all the time.

[ben3133]

Originally Posted by Tenacious Tones

I do get some popping in both elbows when I flex. If I straighten my "injured" elbow it pops most all the time. I sleep on my stomach with one arm under the pillow kind of propping my head up.

Because your ulnar nerve subluxes, when you are doing the heavy bench presses the nerve is being moved forcefully over the medial epicondyle of the humerus ("funny bone"). This stretch and snap can cause some inflammation (which would be consistent with the discomfort at your elbow). Also, the position that you sleep in will have the ulnar nerve subluxed (I assume your elbow is bent) and being compressed between your arm and the bed.

I would try easing off on the heavy bench presses for a week and taking some anti-inflammatory medication.

Originally Posted by Tenacious Tones

I agree it might be this. My chest has been real tight and I seriously need to see the chiropractor. Neck and back snap crackles and pops all the time.

Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adson%27s_sign or "the patient sits with the arms abducted 90 degrees from the thorax and the elbows flexed 90 degrees. The patient then opens and closes the hands for 3 minutes. Patients with TOS cannot continue this for 3 minutes because of reproduction of symptoms." (two different tests)
If you get a positive result, the problem may be a TOS.

[XXXL_Bryan]

you should be able to continue to work with it if you take some precautions and proactive work.
alternate ice and heat several times a day. moist heat tends to penetrate better than dry. I would also sonsider the simplicity of wrist based nerve compression (carpal tunnel) which usually effects the first three fingers, but there is no reason you couldnt have compression from the ulnar nerve outlet through the wrist. I would treat your elbow (heavy benches could certainly have strained a tricep insertion) and wrist with the therapy. if you have access to a prescription anti-inflamatory drug, great. if not, motrin or aleve as directed.

[_Dominik_]

Originally Posted by Tenacious Tones

Hot and heavy in my cutting program and about two weeks ago noticed some numbness in my left pinky and ring fingers. I have been doing some heavy benching so I think I may have aggravated my ulnar nerve. I wake up with numbness and it surfaces randomly about twice a day. I have also noticed some "light" discomfort on the tip of my elbow. Is this something that will go away if I drop down to some light lifting and take an anti antiinflammatory for a while? I would hate for this to mess up my cutting. Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.

I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago from heavy dips. Basically the way I was gripping the bars was putting pressure on the ulnar nerve as it passes through something called Guyon's canal in the hand, causing the last two fingers to go numb. It's something long-distance cyclists sometimes get from the handlebars compressing the nerve (and referred to as Ulnar Neuropathy, Guyon's Canal Syndrome, and Handlebar Palsy).

I did a little research and learned that if I ignored the symptoms and kept going I'd cause permanent nerve damage in my hand. The main advice for letting the nerve heal was rest so I put the dips on hold for a couple of months, adjusted my grip on presses, and gradually it returned to normal. Haven't had a problem since. At the time I also considered wearing padded gloves to reduce the pressure on the nerve but it never came to that.

[MaskedManiac]

Ive Torn The Ulner In Both Elbows 3 Times And While They Healed Themselves After 3 Or 4 Months Of No Pain It Always Came Back.....i Had A Few Cortizone Shots In Each Thru The Years And Got A 6 Months Of Comfort........hope It Helps.

The
Maniac.

[TripleTee]

I don't know if it is related but before just going to the chiro and assuming all is well I would consult a Dr.

Im suffering from a herniated cervical disc. At first i felt numbness in my right hand thumb index and middle finger + similar irritation in the elbow as you are describing.

Today i would have been out of the gym for 2 years as I can no longer lift.

I would say consult a physician and ask him to rule out all possibilities... I'm sure your insurance will conver any necessary tests.

Be on the safe side you'll stay in the gym longer!
cheers

[Fresch]

Originally Posted by MaskedManiac

Ive Torn The Ulner In Both Elbows 3 Times And While They Healed Themselves After 3 Or 4 Months Of No Pain It Always Came Back.....i Had A Few Cortizone Shots In Each Thru The Years And Got A 6 Months Of Comfort........hope It Helps.

The
Maniac.

42 years old and you post messages with the first letter of each word capitalised?? Please lose that habit now.

[MaskedManiac]

Actually I Write In All Caps And The Board Does That Not Me......i Am Moving To Sydney In July...where Do You Work Out If You Work Out....im Pulling My Hair Out Trying To Find A Good Modern Gym.

The
Maniac.

[ben3133]

Why don't you try typing normally instead of in caps then?

[Tenacious Tones]

Originally Posted by _Dominik_

I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago from heavy dips. Basically the way I was gripping the bars was putting pressure on the ulnar nerve as it passes through something called Guyon's canal in the hand, causing the last two fingers to go numb. It's something long-distance cyclists sometimes get from the handlebars compressing the nerve (and referred to as Ulnar Neuropathy, Guyon's Canal Syndrome, and Handlebar Palsy).

I did a little research and learned that if I ignored the symptoms and kept going I'd cause permanent nerve damage in my hand. The main advice for letting the nerve heal was rest so I put the dips on hold for a couple of months, adjusted my grip on presses, and gradually it returned to normal. Haven't had a problem since. At the time I also considered wearing padded gloves to reduce the pressure on the nerve but it never came to that.

I's funny you mention this...I have power blocks in my home gym and I haven't been using my gloves. I have felt some definate pressure fom the handles as they aren't padded very well.

[Tenacious Tones]

Originally Posted by XXXL_Bryan

you should be able to continue to work with it if you take some precautions and proactive work.
alternate ice and heat several times a day. moist heat tends to penetrate better than dry. I would also sonsider the simplicity of wrist based nerve compression (carpal tunnel) which usually effects the first three fingers, but there is no reason you couldnt have compression from the ulnar nerve outlet through the wrist. I would treat your elbow (heavy benches could certainly have strained a tricep insertion) and wrist with the therapy. if you have access to a prescription anti-inflamatory drug, great. if not, motrin or aleve as directed.

I have some motrin 800 that I will begin taking. Thanks a lot!

[Tenacious Tones]

Originally Posted by TripleTee

I don't know if it is related but before just going to the chiro and assuming all is well I would consult a Dr.

Im suffering from a herniated cervical disc. At first i felt numbness in my right hand thumb index and middle finger + similar irritation in the elbow as you are describing.

Today i would have been out of the gym for 2 years as I can no longer lift.

I would say consult a physician and ask him to rule out all possibilities... I'm sure your insurance will conver any necessary tests.

Be on the safe side you'll stay in the gym longer!
cheers

What does a herniated disc feel like? I have two areas that pop and feel very tight...consitantly for the last year or so. One in my upper back in the spine and one in my neck.

[lexmm60]

Hey, I've noticed a lot of the same symptoms your listing in my elbow. When I go heavy on bench, dips, and certain shoulder and bicept exercises my elbow clicks and pops. I feel pretty numb and dull for most of my workout but its never a terrible pain or anything. It also comes around randomly throughout the day if I hold my arm in a bent position for a while. I've tried wearing a padded elbow support to cushion the nerve as it pops back and forth, but it has not been to much of a help. I know its a pain to back of on some of your lifts but what I found worked was to back of of Bis for a few weeks and ice my elbow and take anti-inflamatories after workouts. Hope this helps.

[MaskedManiac]

Sorry My Cap Typing Offends You Ben..........its What I Do.

The
Maniac.

[buffmanjohnson]

Originally Posted by Fresch

42 years old and you post messages with the first letter of each word capitalised?? Please lose that habit now.

i think he might be posting from his phone, that would explain the capitals at the beginning of each word

[Tenacious Tones]

Originally Posted by lexmm60

Hey, I've noticed a lot of the same symptoms your listing in my elbow. When I go heavy on bench, dips, and certain shoulder and bicept exercises my elbow clicks and pops. I feel pretty numb and dull for most of my workout but its never a terrible pain or anything. It also comes around randomly throughout the day if I hold my arm in a bent position for a while. I've tried wearing a padded elbow support to cushion the nerve as it pops back and forth, but it has not been to much of a help. I know its a pain to back of on some of your lifts but what I found worked was to back of of Bis for a few weeks and ice my elbow and take anti-inflamatories after workouts. Hope this helps.

Yea that sounds pretty similar. I will give it a try. Thanks.

[TripleTee]

Originally Posted by Tenacious Tones

What does a herniated disc feel like? I have two areas that pop and feel very tight...consitantly for the last year or so. One in my upper back in the spine and one in my neck.

Well I can't really define what a herniated disc feels like!
It's painful and irritating at the same time.
You constantly feel that there is something pushing on a nerve; and you have the tendency to want to crack it as you do with your fingers... except it never cracks! And that is more irritating.

At first it was also accompanied by numbing in the three 1st fingers as I previously mentioned and irritation in the elbow as well? as if the joints are compressing a nerve.

The very first symptoms were indeed snaps and pops that I always explained as trapped air bubbles in my nerves!!! Go figure. Today I wish I had known the possibilities and sought them out with a physician.

I also had constant tension in specific area right below the trapezium and at the edge of the scapula bone (right side); which in fact was my body?s way of protecting itself and relieving pressure from the spine.
I still stick firm by my advice of you getting the opinion of a doc to be on the safe side.

I have just been prescribed Ibuprofen as an anti inflammatory... I hope that gets me back on track and lifting heavy again!

Cheers and good luck

[Tenacious Tones]

The motrin is working and things seem to be getting better. I will go to a doc anyways to get things tested and maybe a chiro for my back as well Thanks for the helpful suggestions!

[TripleTee]

Yeah Motrin is not bad ... brufen is doing the trick for me. 2 days in i feel much better.

I am going to see another Dr. to be on the safe side and i will book myself a physio therapy as well as pelatis session.

hope that helps.

get well quick!

[schu_62]

Hey, I am actually recovering for the same injury right now. My elbow would pop doing almost anything with weight extending the arm, especially bench, military press, shoulder press, and skull crushers. This is not actually the first time it has happened to me, about a year ago same thing happened and i talked to a family friend who is a physical therapist and he said for me to take a month off, icing it and taking alot of ibueprophin. When I started lifting again i felt a slight pop but nothing bad, then after football season it came back, and it got to a point where it was unbearable to do skull crushers and my arm would feel like i hit my funny bone for a couple days after lifting so I went to the dr. He told me the same thing about the ulnar nerve entrapment stuff and said he'd put in for a specialist and consider surgery but it would rule me out for my senior year of football so that was ruled out and I started therapy. I got to therapy and found out that I also hyperextended that elbow since it was unstable with the nerve problem and they started doing an inontopherisis (no clue how to spell it) which is a slight steady shock that puts cortisone into the elbow to get the inflammation down while I did the band exercises which were pretty weak needing more weight but they consisted of wrist curls, reverse wrist curls, and curls and after about the 5th or 6th treatment it started to feel soo much better. Now I dont have the funny bone tingling pain and I started lifting again this week light, with little not no pop and when it does it's only slight and no pain or tingling after lifting. So i'd say try for some therapy and give it 6 or 7 appointments before you notice a help but it will be much better after. Just get in therapy before you have to get surgery, I was told i could be out for 12 months so its worth while approach although many have not done it. Sorry for being longwinded, just trying to find a way to help

[schu_62]

also the dr. prescribed me a very high dose of vitamin b-12 he said its good for nerves? to take twice a day with 800mg motrin. Also another thing you might not have noticed if your pinky finger and ring finger are tingling, try and touch your thumb and pinky. When starting PT I couldn't even come close to touching them, my pinky would almost move away, now i can barely touch, which is much better.

[MusclesBoyToy]

Very interesting. I recently found the same thing, and can get the tingling/numbness to recurr by merely resting my forearm on my thigh or on a table's edge at a restaurant. I've also found that when sitting and I turn my head to look to the upper left my whole arm feels the numbness. My last two visits to the chirpractor were not as good as previous ones, as I'd ended up going back because of neck pains (minor), and to have my left shoulder adjusted as well. I'll be returning to the chirpractor to see if another adjustment sets the nerves right. Also, my trainer at the gym found that I was using incorrect form for shoulder presses on a machine - my grip was too wide, resulting in wrist pain and shoulder issues on the left side. I think it's all related.

[ben3133]

^^

You should go to a doctor, not a chiropractor as you should be checked for a thoracic outlet syndrome.

[Tenacious Tones]

Thanks everyone. My problem has corrected itself. I took a couple of months lifting less aggressively. It must have only needed some rest.