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Message
Pinched nerve in my upper back
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:07 am
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:07 am
It's causing numbness in my left arm and two of my fingers. If I squeeze my shoulders back, the numbness immediately stops. How serious is this? Do I need to stop anything? Visit a doctor? I've been running Garage Gym Warrior for a few weeks and I'm squatting 3 times a week. This gives me no pain or numbness.
5
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:32 am to bamaguy17
quote:
Pinched nerve in my upper back
quote:
Visit a doctor
Back and nerve is something I don't mess with, have seen too many end up being something you can't just push through as additional damage is incurred.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:47 am to AwesomeSauce
It feels like a crick in my neck. I said upper back but sort of between my spine and trap. I have no idea how I hurt it
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:57 am to bamaguy17
Go to a doctor and do PT for this
Posted on 4/19/24 at 10:27 am to bamaguy17
Yeah man, I'd check it out to be safe. I had hip tightness I decided to 'work through' that left me with sciatica, PT, and limited mobility last year. If it's anywhere close to the spine or a joint get it checked out. Wish I would have gotten mine checked out before the muscle got so inflamed that I couldn't move. Best case it's just some inflammation and getting it checked out is a nothing burger. Worst case you don't get it checked out and a spinal nerve gets pinched and you have a longer pause than you'd like and experience pain and weakness that I don't wish on anyone. Get it checked out. It could be nothing, or could be a warning sign that it's about to be something major. Don't just ignore something in a joint or near the spine.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 12:04 pm to bamaguy17
quote:Sounds like a bulging cervical disc. Get used to thinking about the concept of "referred pain" - whereby the actual point of injury is not necessarily where it hurts/numbs.
It feels like a crick in my neck. I said upper back but sort of between my spine and trap.
I'm not sure what to tell you to do about it, but definitely take it seriously and understand it's likely an upper spinal issue, regardless of where it hurts. Also, sustained numbness is bad - can lead to permanent nerve damage.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 6:25 pm to bamaguy17
if you have radiculopathy into your arm, it is either coming from your cervical spine or somewhere in the arm. the fact that you can squeeze you shoulder blades together and eliminate symptoms means it's possibly postural related. go to a PT. the fact that you can eliminate the symptoms with one simple movement means this is possibly fixable with PT. if the PT can't help, they'll send you the doctor.
This post was edited on 4/20/24 at 7:48 am
Posted on 4/19/24 at 6:48 pm to bamaguy17
Get it checked out by a reputable chiropractor first (not a drop in $20/visit type place). They know bones and may save you thousands.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 8:30 pm to bamaguy17
quote:
It's causing numbness in my left arm
I'm in the same boat. If I completely straighten my neck then within a few seconds my left arm starts going numb. As long as I keep my head a little forward then it stops.
I believe I'm headed for PT. I've laid off lifting for 5 months now and it's not gotten any better.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 4:16 pm to Maytheporkbewithyou
So, I went to PT over this. The therapist is convinced that my problems is right where I had been holding the bar doing back squats.
I've got to do about 6 weeks of PT. He also told me back squats are probably out, but I'm going to look at using a safety squat bar or some other option.
He told.me I should be able to start doing some basics like pushups, lunges, Goblet squats now and maybe some lifting again in a few more weeks.
I've got to do about 6 weeks of PT. He also told me back squats are probably out, but I'm going to look at using a safety squat bar or some other option.
He told.me I should be able to start doing some basics like pushups, lunges, Goblet squats now and maybe some lifting again in a few more weeks.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 4:23 pm to Maytheporkbewithyou
I went to a non surgical spine md today. Basically said it’s probably a pinched nerve. Recommended PT and and MRI. Pretty much said to hold off on squats and deadlifts until the MRI, which is tomorrow morning
Posted on 4/25/24 at 4:27 pm to bamaguy17
I’m really pretty down about this. I had struggled with motivation a couple months ago and I’ve really started hitting my stride. My squat was taking off again. Now age seems to be hitting me all at once.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 4:38 pm to Big Scrub TX
quote:
Sounds like a bulging cervical disc. Get used to thinking about the concept of "referred pain" - whereby the actual point of injury is not necessarily where it hurts/numbs.
Exactly what I experienced about 4 years ago. I felt it in my left hand usually, and sometimes it would travel up the arm. Got an MRI done, it was a slight bulge, not enough to warrant any surgery, but a round of PT took care of it.
When I first got to PT, the therapist asked me some simple questions. One of them was what are you doing when you notice it the most. It was usually loading the dishwasher after dinner, so he told me to mimic what I was doing then. Standing at the sink, and leaning down to my right. He said my head naturally rotated back when I did that, since I would be looking straight down at the rack, and also my torso was twisted. Just enough movement where the bulging disc was to pinch it a little. It all made sense, but nothing I had thought of on my own.
You can likely get rid of it altogether with therapy. You'll be doing funny neck and shoulder exercises to build up strength in that area, as well as come cervical traction and mobility work. I went twice a week for about 6 weeks, then once a week for another month, and did work at home every day. A lot of it is brought on by posture, desk jobs, and the lifting may not help things. Get used to dumbbell squats. Between the neck issue, and another disc issue in my back a few years later, I'll never hold a bar on my back again. But at 43, I'm not chasing any power lifting records. I can work the legs enough holding heavy dumbbells and not have to do barbell squats.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 4:51 pm to TU Rob
quote:Very glad you got it mostly worked out, although I'm always reluctant to give PTs too much credit. A lot of time passed in your situation while you were in PT and it always leaves me wondering if they don't get a lot of credit just for your body remediating the issue itself over longer periods.
When I first got to PT, the therapist asked me some simple questions. One of them was what are you doing when you notice it the most. It was usually loading the dishwasher after dinner, so he told me to mimic what I was doing then. Standing at the sink, and leaning down to my right. He said my head naturally rotated back when I did that, since I would be looking straight down at the rack, and also my torso was twisted. Just enough movement where the bulging disc was to pinch it a little. It all made sense, but nothing I had thought of on my own.
You can likely get rid of it altogether with therapy. You'll be doing funny neck and shoulder exercises to build up strength in that area, as well as come cervical traction and mobility work. I went twice a week for about 6 weeks, then once a week for another month, and did work at home every day. A lot of it is brought on by posture, desk jobs, and the lifting may not help things. Get used to dumbbell squats. Between the neck issue, and another disc issue in my back a few years later, I'll never hold a bar on my back again. But at 43, I'm not chasing any power lifting records. I can work the legs enough holding heavy dumbbells and not have to do barbell squats.
I'm a big proponent of resistance training, but I have made a similar decision not to go crazy heavy on things like the neck bar you mentioned. Even with proper form, you can frick your shite up. It's just not worth it. There's all sorts of body weight reps that can be done also which will be beneficial but without the risk.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 5:40 pm to bamaguy17
quote:
I’m really pretty down about this. I had struggled with motivation a couple months ago and I’ve really started hitting my stride. My squat was taking off again. Now age seems to be hitting me all at once.
I love squats, always have. There comes a point though, where you can achieve a great adult level of fitness without heavy squats and the squats are just not worth the wear and tear and the risk.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 6:24 pm to scottydoesntknow
That’s why I’m down. I can guarantee if I’m held to fricking dumbbell squats and body weight shite I’ll never do it.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 7:01 pm to bamaguy17
quote:
That’s why I’m down. I can guarantee if I’m held to fricking dumbbell squats and body weight shite I’ll never do it.
Thats fair, I mean this may be an unpopular opinion but if your legs are pretty strong already, dont do any of it. Maybe try something that is fun/functional etc or just do upper body. Working out is supposed to make you feel good, not bring you pain.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 7:25 pm to bamaguy17
quote:Hire a trainer that forces you to.
That’s why I’m down. I can guarantee if I’m held to fricking dumbbell squats and body weight shite I’ll never do it.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 8:12 pm to Big Scrub TX
quote:
Very glad you got it mostly worked out, although I'm always reluctant to give PTs too much credit. A lot of time passed in your situation while you were in PT and it always leaves me wondering if they don't get a lot of credit just for your body remediating the issue itself over longer periods.
Yeah I can see that. But my dad is a neurologist and referred me to a neurosurgeon where I live. They both reviewed the MRI and said PT was the way to go. Not strengthening the surrounding area was just going to make it keep hurting and lead to nerve issues. I had already been dealing with it for about 2 months and it took another month before I could get to the final diagnosis. About 2 weeks to see the doc. Another week or so to get scheduled for MRI, and another week or so for the follow up and then getting into PT. After a month I was noticing less numbness and more mobility. After two I was ready to be done with it but they said let’s scale back to once a week and if you are totally free from the tingling and numbness from one visit to the next you should be good to go.
Posted on 4/26/24 at 12:11 pm to TU Rob
quote:It sucks, man. It really scares you on the front end. And then the recovery is so absurdly slow. I feel for you.
Yeah I can see that. But my dad is a neurologist and referred me to a neurosurgeon where I live. They both reviewed the MRI and said PT was the way to go. Not strengthening the surrounding area was just going to make it keep hurting and lead to nerve issues. I had already been dealing with it for about 2 months and it took another month before I could get to the final diagnosis. About 2 weeks to see the doc. Another week or so to get scheduled for MRI, and another week or so for the follow up and then getting into PT. After a month I was noticing less numbness and more mobility. After two I was ready to be done with it but they said let’s scale back to once a week and if you are totally free from the tingling and numbness from one visit to the next you should be good to go.
But note to self: get a dad that's a freaking neurologist!
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