You guys ever had a pinched nerve mess up your hands?

[errrrrl]

So i'm going on week 5 of a pinched nerve in my right back shoulder blade... right pinky is numb and ring finger is half numb and my right hand just feel swollen and heavy with spouts of pain in right arm off an on. I'm going to PT and it seems to help but not quick enough My ability to pick fast Battery/Disposable Heroes types of riffs and just typing/PC gaming hurts like a mofo.

I was wondering if anyone here at RT has gone thru something similar and more importantly did it ever heal? And how long did it take? Any tips on pain management? Driving me nuts and I'm having a hard time seeing a light at the end of the tunnel lately.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I had something similar last year, but probably not as bad as what you describe. Numbness all the way down the right arm into the fingers- I could play but constantly dropped my pick and had no feeling at all. It gradually got better but took several months. 100% after like 6 months. I hope PT gets you back on track!

 

[marshall2553]

I had what I now think was a pinched nerve, though it was never properly diagnosed despite seeing several doctors and specialists, that caused the exact symptoms you're describing in both hands. I could barely work and didn't even try to play due to the pain and frustration, it scared the hell out of me. I honestly didn't find anything that helped with the pain and numbness. My symptoms gradually went away with no real treatment over the course of 3 or 4 months. Stick with the PT and try to stay positive, I know how depressing it can be.

 

[Faded Abyss]

I had a pinched Ulnar nerve that affected my fretting hand. Thought I had golfers elbow for the longest time. Got my back adjusted and took that compression off that nerve. Instantly relief. Not 100% but it doesn't affect my playing unless I aggravate my neck/back/arm doing something else. My grip strength is horrible

 

[Bishop5150]

I've got a cyst in the middle of my wrist. Sucks ass.

 

[jcj]

Yup.

Herniated three disks in my neck, and fucked my left arm up horribly; find a good massage therapist (not the happy ending kind) ASAP.

I did about three months of physical therapy with very little result; the massages helped almost instantaneously.

Good luck!

 

[boost]

Had hernia surgery early December. Numb pinky and ring finger right after. Must have pinched a nerve during or after surgery somehow. Feeling still isn't fully back yet. Tingles like it's asleep.

I'll be heading to the chiropractor to get everything back in shape as soon as I can. A good one can do wonders for you. Everything's connected.

 

[mooncobra]

Yup.

Herniated three disks in my neck, and fucked my left arm up horribly; find a good massage therapist (not the happy ending kind) ASAP.

I did about three months of physical therapy with very little result; the massages helped almost instantaneously.

Good luck!

so did it heal on its own, or did you opt for surgery? I know in some cases it can take a long time to heal on its own.

 

[jcj]

Sucked back into place on its own, but caused me to give up jiu-jitsu for good; another injury, and the doc said surgery was very likely.

 

[mooncobra]

I have had that before. Usually it takes two or three weeks to go away for me. Massages help a lot. Even if it doesn't, damn, they feel good and are very relaxing so it is a win/win!

 

[mooncobra]

Sucked back into place on its own, but caused me to give up jiu-jitsu for good; another injury, and the doc said surgery was very likely.

is jiu jitsu the fighting technique that you destroy people with crippling locks and grappling? that seems like it would come in very handy against an overpowering and superior opponent. Is that the one that family from Brazil are all masters at? That little dude that used to be in the ultimate fighting challenge, who would always win, regardless if he took a beating, he would eventually get someone in a terrible lock and they would have to tap out? I could be thinking of something totally different. Probably around 20 years ago, I had a couple friends that would always get those fights. I remember that little dude always winning. And they always used to stress that he had brothers that were FAR more lethal that had never lost.

 

[sg guy]

-I hate these kinda threads, 1992 I severed the nerve and tendon in my right index finger-(work accident)-after surgery the doc said if I work real hard at therapy I might get up to 75% useage back-(index finger was completely numb, like when you sleep on your arm all night and its dead, so you take the other arm and shake it back to life)-I couldn't hold a pic, at the time I was in a fairly popular SABBATH cover band in new England, I tried everything using my middle finger,thumb pic,
taping my index and middle fingers together-(oddly this was the worst one, I had to almost will the index finger to move, but it moved at a different speed than my middle finger)-even tried to get it amputated aka RONNIE LOTT, doc wouldn't do it, I physically couldn't play, the dead index finger would always rear its ugly head and plunk or mute a string, I quit playing, sold everything, half heartedly picked up the bass, but my heart just wasn't in it, I quit for just over 7 years, decided to drive race cars, at an auction I got a cheap dean guitar and a Marshall G10? amp, I could hold a pic!! But for only 10 minutes or so-(a lot depended on the weather, finger got stiff the colder it got)-but I over compensated by putting too much pressure with my thumb, and it would start twitching, found those pics with the hole in the middle, those helped, pics flew out of my hand at an alarming rate, I just kept an ash tray full of them on top of the amp-(didn't wanna waste any of my 10-15 minutes picking up pic's!!)-got better gear, no where near the player I was, but every once in awhile I hit the grove, and I'm cool with that, a very cool dude over at the Marshall forum had magor surgery for tendonitis, completely opened up both arms from wrist to elbow, he suggested I try that self sticking mesh tape, gave me back a little feel, and added another 5 minutes to my play time-(why the hell I didn't think of that!! I had 3 rolls of the stuff!!)-i always seem to wrap it too tight and my index finger turns purple, but it is what it is I guess, you learn to adjust, like I don't hold my cigarette's between my right middle and index finger any more, I'm always cutting it, or slamming it in a door, or...

-I now have 97% mobility and range in that finger, still completely numb, I hope your pinched nerve is just a temporary set back, rock on brah.

 

[errrrrl]

Wow guys, I appreciate all the replies and incite.

My wife has been throwing the idea of going to a massage therapist (not the happy ending kine, lol jcj) but I never thought about a chiropractor. I think I'm going to find one right away, getting tired of chugging 800mg horse sized pills of ibuprofen that doesn't seem to do a whole lot. I have buddy telling me to try this thing called Bemer that is some kind of microcirculation ectromagnetic field therapy thing that cost about two Friedman heads... looks interesting but holy shit its expensive.

And sg guy, holy shit that is one crazy story brother, truly sorry to hear what you been through. I can't even imagine.

Thanks for the advice and support guys, gonna go find a chiropractor now!

 

[jcj]

Wow guys, I appreciate all the replies and incite.

My wife has been throwing the idea of going to a massage therapist (not the happy ending kine, lol jcj) but I never thought about a chiropractor. I think I'm going to find one right away, getting tired of chugging 800mg horse sized pills of ibuprofen that doesn't seem to do a whole lot. I have buddy telling me to try this thing called Bemer that is some kind of microcirculation ectromagnetic field therapy thing that cost about two Friedman heads... looks interesting but holy shit its expensive.

And sg guy, holy shit that is one crazy story brother, truly sorry to hear what you been through. I can't even imagine.

Thanks for the advice and support guys, gonna go find a chiropractor now!

Be very careful with the chiro, especially if you don't fully understand the source of the injury.

Please, try massage first, and see if that helps, before getting adjusted by a chiro.

 

[mooncobra]

Wow guys, I appreciate all the replies and incite.

My wife has been throwing the idea of going to a massage therapist (not the happy ending kine, lol jcj) but I never thought about a chiropractor. I think I'm going to find one right away, getting tired of chugging 800mg horse sized pills of ibuprofen that doesn't seem to do a whole lot. I have buddy telling me to try this thing called Bemer that is some kind of microcirculation ectromagnetic field therapy thing that cost about two Friedman heads... looks interesting but holy shit its expensive.

And sg guy, holy shit that is one crazy story brother, truly sorry to hear what you been through. I can't even imagine.

Thanks for the advice and support guys, gonna go find a chiropractor now!

Be very careful with the chiro, especially if you don't fully understand the source of the injury.

Please, try massage first, and see if that helps, before getting adjusted by a chiro.

I saw a couple chiros once each, everyone kept telling, go see a chiro. I went, both times I was worse. it wasn't for my pinched nerve though, that was my experience with them.

sg guy, holy shit, sorry to hear that man. glad you can play some now.

 

[xzyryabx]

Since when are Chiros the first stop for stuff like this?
It's a nerve problem...go to a Neurologist!
One thing they will do is conduct a nerve conduction study; they measure the speed of an impulse down the nerve and try to assess where the "pinch" is.
In my case it is at the elbow, in the "funny bone". Only things to be done in my case are behavioral therapy (stop leaning on the elbow) or surgical (they go in and reposition the nerve to a different part of the elbow where it is more protected).
If they in your case find it is a spinal "pinch" or herniated disk, then you can go from there and ask if a chiro will help or if behavioral or surgical intervention is needed.
Seriously guys, go to a neurologist while you still have health insurance to do so.
Many times going first to a chiro can cause more harm than good.

 

[IndyWS6]

I've had surgery to correct Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on both arms (the ulnar nerve gets trapped in the "V" where it goes through the elbow - verified by way of a nerve conduction study like xzyrabx mentioned). Essentially, they filet your arm open on the backside starting about 4" from your elbow on the forearm, across the elbow and then halfway up the back of your bicep. Then, they cut your forearm muscle in half, peel the ulnar nerve out and relocate it to the underside of the forearm, tucking it under the muscle to protect it and then sew the muscle back together. Now, my "funny bone" nerve is on the side of my forearm. I should have gone to the doctor when I first noticed it. I only have about 60% of the feeling in the pinky and ring fingers on both hands and I lost about 50% of the muscle on the bottom of the palm on both hands. That will never come back.

I blame my terrible guitar playing on my hands, but the truth is that I sucked before the surgery

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

where are the off topic police?! ... but to this topic, I have a nerve issue in my lower back. Not the same as hand but makes waking up every morning crooked and with pain a good time. I also have a hard time putting on my shoes and lacing them. Guess I will go back to velcro soon.

 

[boost]

Wow guys, I appreciate all the replies and incite.

My wife has been throwing the idea of going to a massage therapist (not the happy ending kine, lol jcj) but I never thought about a chiropractor. I think I'm going to find one right away, getting tired of chugging 800mg horse sized pills of ibuprofen that doesn't seem to do a whole lot. I have buddy telling me to try this thing called Bemer that is some kind of microcirculation ectromagnetic field therapy thing that cost about two Friedman heads... looks interesting but holy shit its expensive.

And sg guy, holy shit that is one crazy story brother, truly sorry to hear what you been through. I can't even imagine.

Thanks for the advice and support guys, gonna go find a chiropractor now!

Do your research on them first. There are some quacks out there and some that really know what they are doing. Be careful. You will be sore and beat up when you leave an appointment, but the next day you are in good shape. They just get everything in alignment. Sometimes being out can affect the nerves, but not sure if that's what's going on with you.

Do the massage first. I mean why not right? If it still persists, consult with a chiropractor and see if that is something he thinks he can correct. He should be able to tell you from a quick exam if you are out of whack. He should also do some tests prior and after he works on you to show you what you couldn't do before and what you can do now (head movement, leg strength, etc.)

 

[marshall2553]

Since when are Chiros the first stop for stuff like this?
It's a nerve problem...go to a Neurologist!
One thing they will do is conduct a nerve conduction study; they measure the speed of an impulse down the nerve and try to assess where the "pinch" is.
In my case it is at the elbow, in the "funny bone". Only things to be done in my case are behavioral therapy (stop leaning on the elbow) or surgical (they go in and reposition the nerve to a different part of the elbow where it is more protected).
If they in your case find it is a spinal "pinch" or herniated disk, then you can go from there and ask if a chiro will help or if behavioral or surgical intervention is needed.
Seriously guys, go to a neurologist while you still have health insurance to do so.
Many times going first to a chiro can cause more harm than good.

+1 See a neurologist if you haven't already, get the nerve conduction study to determine where the pinch is. Ask if it's safe to see a chiropractor.

I had been seeing a chiropractor before my injury and in retrospect I'm wondering if it had something to do with causing it. After I recovered I moved and started seeing a different doctor. I told him about what I went through a few years earlier and he X-rayed my spine. They found an issue with a couple of vertebrae in my upper back where he suspects the pinch occurred and said that I could easily re-injure it if I'm not careful. Now I'd be afraid to let a chiropractor touch my back.