Just wanted to know if anyone has had experience with this kind of pain. It's kind of hard to explain but here goes.
This started about a year or two ago. Used to happen only when I drove while I was holding on to the steering wheel after I have been driving a while. Now it's happening all of the time. It does come and go. But I usually have some pain in it every day.
It's my right arm. The pain starts in the shoulder joint and goes down the inside of my arm and as it goes towards my hand it moves to the outside of my arm to the right outer side of my hand and into my little finger. Little finger gets a little tingly. This next part is new, the outside of my arm and side of hand and little finger feel sensative if you rub it as if I had a sun burn but there is no burn.
Now that I am reading it over it sound very strange but maybe somebody has some idea of what it might be. I know you'll probably say go to the doctor and I probably will soon.
Thanks for your input.
Lonie
No, it is not strange. You have a pinched nerve, probably in your neck. Tingling and skin sensitivity is definately a sign of nerve damage.
A good chiropractor can help or you GP can send you to physical therapy.
Don't ignore it any longer. It can result in permnant damage.
God bless.
Sounds like a pinched nerve, up in the cervical (neck) vertebrae, which, depending upon how you turn you head, neck, shoulder, or arm, is causing these nerve sensations of pain and discomfort, sometimes called "nerve impingement". See a chiropractor.
They're right about the nerve, but it could be in your elbow, too. My aunt has had surgery to relocate the nerve in her elbow so it isn't irritated anymore. I've felt this, too, in my right arm down to my pinky. The pinky is the classic spot for it to affect when it's the nerve in your elbow. I got it when my daughter was tiny and nursing. It also flairs when I rest my elbow on rests or tables (ie in the car for extended periods). My aunt told me to try to keep my arms straight when I sleep (you can loosly wrap your elbow so it deters you from bending them, but there are special braces available through docs). Doing that and keeping your elbows off the table have helped me keep mine under control. I only get flair ups if I'm really active with my elbows (lots of crafts or yard work) or lazy about my posture. These are the first things my aunt's doctor had her do, but she had done too much damage to the nerve already and needed the surgery for relief.
Hope you find a solution!
It sounds like something a chiropractor could fix. Look for someone who does ART (Active Release Therapy). I've used it for carpel tunnel and had wonderful results. I'd try anything before surgery. It should be your last option. Check out www.activerelease.com. You can learn more about ART as well as find a physician near you who practices it.
Hi Yolanda,
sounds like you have a pinched nerve and you don't have to go another day with it. I go to this WONDERFUL chiropratic doctor in Hurst. His name is Dr. JimBob Haggerton. He and his wife work together. they are located in Hurst at 1813 Harwood Ct. phone is 817-428-9595. They have helped me with differnt things and have taken my dad off his RA medications by eating better and taking supplements that he was not getting on a daily basis. Dr. Haggerton is GREAT! Very knowledgeable and he is not one to "crack" your whole body just to do it. He takes assesments and a set of xrays. Sits down and talks with you and so forth. My son went to a skating party, he was 8, and kepting falling on his right side. Later he kept complaining that his shoulder blade kept hurting, so i took him and he fixed him right away!
Make sure, if you do go see him, that you let him know I sent you, Melissa Coronado. That way you are referred and he will pick up the tab for the xrays (which is about $300). I don't get anything from it. You will not be disappointed!
I agree with the others but would also include a good massage therapist to also help stimulate blood flow.
Google impingement syndrome. Although Chiropractic care works wonders if you have stretched the ligaments in your shoulder out it will cause the same thing. Been there done that.
I'm not a medical pro but I've had my share of issues. I had similar pain and it turned out to be ulnar neuropathy which basically was my ulnar nerve entrapped so I had to have surgery to repair. I'd definitely get it looked at especially after this length of suffering.....why do people do that? suffer for a year or two? Are you kidding me? go get it checked out soon, what may have been a simple issue is probably going to be a major one. good luck!
I have had this before, the exact same thing. And...I am going to basically repeat what others have said...I went to my chiropractor and it took care of it. Its worth it :)
Could be carpal tunnel syndrome. If the pain wakes you at night, and you have numbness in your pinky finger, those are good indictors of carpal tunnel. You have a nerve that is impinged somewhere, either due to cumulative injury or a trauma to the area. Women are more susceptible to CTS. Do this: take both of your hands, back facing back of each hand, fingers pointing toward the floor. Press together. If this illicits pain, you have another indicator of CTS. Go see an orthopedist for a definitive diagnosis.
I have that also sometimes. Not to that extreme. I notice it because I am right handed. I am also a nurse and we still use paper charting (I know antiquated), I also grip the steering wheel with that are, and hold the cell phone with that arm more. I go to the chiropracter and get my back adjusted. I seems to stem with me, from some misalignment in my back and scapula, and my neck. Once everything is realigned, it goes away until I have bunched it up again from overuse. I also try to hug a pillow at night to keep from curling my right arm under my head.
I would go to the chiropractor and see if he can help. He sure did for me.
Good luck,
Laura
This is definitely nerve related. Most likely it's coming from your neck where the nerve roots of your ulnar nerve begin. This has to do with the pain distribution you mentioned that most likely it is the ulnar nerve. I would strongly encourage you to see a chiropractor in your area that will take x-rays and a comprehensive exam to pinpoint the problem. Although going to a medical doctor will give you some answers, with more expensive tests such as an MRI and such, they really don't have much more in their arsenal but drugs and surgery when it comes to a problem like this. This is a standard issue that most chiropractors see and can resolve without drugs or surgery. Physical therapy will relieve temporarily, but not get to the root of the problem. But, if you're able to get PT and chiropractic together you will have amazing results. If you live in the Plano region I could help you, or if you need a good referral I can help you with that as well. Just email me with any further questions to [email protected]. Hope this helps! God Bless!
If I was you, I would go see a neurologist. It may be nothing more than a pinched nerve, but a neurologist can tell you for sure. Someone mentioned that MRI's and other tests are expensive, but nothing is more important than your health. Good luck!
hi Yolandra!! i have the same thing! they think it's Ulnar Neuropathy, they are doing a nerve conduction test on my on June 2nd, so i should know more then
have you hurt yourself? or strained yourself? or do you lean on your elbow when you drive?
it's very weird and i thought i had an infection so i went to the doc 2 weeks ago,
they might give you steroids or anti inflammatory's, but i'm just trying to rest it and not carry heavy things and not put pressure on it,
also, they gave me a brace to wear at night so i'm not scrunching my arm up when i sleep
keep me posted!!
Nickie
Hi Yolanda,
I have had this also. One time it was a pinched nerve in my elbow the others, it was my neck. I highly recommend Dr. Mark Zuber a chiropractor in Plano. I have tried other chiropractors, but none have come close to being as good. He also gave me a prescription to get a new mattress and pillow which have made a tremendous difference. The Rx will save you from having to pay the sales tax.
Dr. Zuber's number is 972.733.0915.
Good luck to you!
Victoria
I agree. Sounds like a nerve pinched in your neck.
I've been to doctors who give pills for the condition, but I got actual relief from a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic care is usually less expensive than traditional medical care. A good chiropractor will refer you to a medical doctor if there is some other sort of pathology going on.
This sounds like something a neurologist should check out. Please make an appointment.
I've had 3 surgeries on my right elbow/wrist/hand. I tried a Chiropractor and a specialist Chiropractor-ART-Active Relesase Therapy (There's one in Fort Worth and one in Dallas). I saw a Dr. in Dallas and it provided temporary relief for my elbow-Ulnar Nerve Neuropathy. I fell on my elbow on concrete (one year after my carpal tunnel surgery). Note: I delayed having surgery,so I had pain for almost 1 year, I used alternative therapies, massage, Chiropractor hoping they would help. It damaged my ulnar nerve which runs down your arm over your elbow and into your pinkie and fourth finger. I suffered for long time with pain in my pinkie and fourth finger and elbow hurting. I was working in an office with heavy typing and filing and it was making my pain worse. My Dr. suggested leaving my job. It could be related to repetive use or overworking your arm. If you change diapers and lift babies/children a lot, this could be the problem over 16 years of repetitive motions. I developed DeQuervains after I had my Son and he was 3 months old. I had therapy and it helped some, however I kept having pain, so I had the surgery for it. It is inflammation of the nerve going into the thumb, very much carpal tunnel, except pain only with the thumb and gripping or lifting things. I couldn't grip anything heavy. It hurt to lift my child under his arms, so I was told to scoop up my child with two arms underneath his back/neck.
If your having the pain all the time, this is serious and you will need therapy or possibly surgery. If it is nerve damage, in my opinion the Chiropractor won't be as effective. This is just from my personal experience of having a Chiropractor 2 times for my carpal tunnel and Ulnar Neuropathy. They deal with the bones and alignment and doing adjustments. It may help your neck and give you some relief from pain temporarily. I had constant pain starting at my elbow and going into my pinkie and fourth finger and numbness in the last two fingers/ and trouble sleeping. I saw about 4-5 days of relief with little pain from the Chiropractic Specialist in Dallas. Then, when I would work I would put pressure on the nerves/elbow and then the pain would be back. You might see relief if you change jobs and stop doing things that are repetitive. I know this hard to hear, I had trouble with leaving my job. However, it was the best thing that I did for me and my arm/hand pain.
I was in really bad shape I had to wear a brace (with the Dequervain's) cause I was very weak and needed support since I was lifting my baby. I had the Ulnar Neuropathy surgery on my elbow in 2003 before we had our Son.
I would highly recommend going to a Hand Orthopedic Specialist. I highly recommend Dr. Luiz Toledo on Bryant Irvin Rd, he's in Fort Worth; he's been written up in Time magazines for the way he does his carpal tunnel surgeries. He loves working on the hand/arms. He is ranked as one of the top 10 Dr.'s in Fort Worth. I've seen other people come in to Dr. Toledo from having hand surgery from another Dr. previously. They are still having pain and need to get relief, so their surgery Dr. refers them to Dr. Toledo to help give them relief or fix the problem in a different way. He has other hand specialist Dr.'s referring clients to him, when they feel they can't do the surgery. His office is always packed and I was recommended by a friend who had carpal tunnel surgery with him. What he will do is request for a Nerve Conduction Test done on your arm. This will determine how bad your nerve damage is (mild, severe). I've had two of these! After he gets the results, he can either recommend Occupational Therapy with a hand therapist and see if that helps you or recommend surgery. You can also decide if you want to go out on your own and try the Chiropractor Specialist or Acupuncture (I tried this also!)
I'll be glad to share more if you want to email me. I've learned a lot as a result of all my pain. There are elbow pads if you rest your elbow a lot on your chair. They do help with the pain. My suggestion would be to take care of the problem as soon as possible and not delay. I would get either a family member or help with your daycare, so you can go during the week. Delaying it made it worse for me and my Dr. finally recommended for me not to do heavy typing or any type of repetitive movements. Once I got out of the office environment, I got better as long as I don't over-do it on any task. I do have to watch placing my elbow on hard surfaces or on arm chairs for long periods of time. If I do this, my elbow starts to hurt, however the pain doesn't travel it stays right there at my elbow. I've learned whenever my pain is traveling down my arm/elbow, fingers, it is nerve damage. It is very difficult to undo the damage that is due to either an injury/fall or repetitive tasks over a long period of time has caused your pain. I used Ibuprofin 800 mg and that helped tremendously (prescription). You can also take a couple of 200 mg of Ibuprofin and see if that helps. I would recommend taking an anti-imflammatory over the counter or prescription. Muscle relaxers always knocked me out, so I quit taking them.
Sorry this was long, I hope you get relief from your pain. I've been there and it is very frustrating not knowing what to do to get relief. Unfortunately, I know lots of things to do for relief for hand/arm pain by personal experience. On the other hand, I like sharing this info cause it can help others and their pain. Resting with heat and then ice also helped me a lot.
My husband and sister and my best friend have this same thing. It's a nerve in your neck that is pinched. Just so you know, definately get the epidural if this is recommended to you, it has worked wonders for my sis and my friend. It's scary at first but is virtually painless and so many people wait to get it out of fear but once they get it, they kick themselves for not getting it sooner. Let me know what your doc says... plus make sure you go to doc now, because it usually doesn't get better on it's own, my sister's got extremely bad and ended up on a morphine patch for weeks. She had to go thru the withdrawals and everything,, I'm not trying to scare you, just have seen so many go thru this. If you catch it early enough, you can manage it usually. Hope this helps