Numb left arm/ trapped nerve. Advice needed

[KMR]

I have had a feeling of numbness in my left hand and arm for about a week now. It is mainly the little finger and the ring finger next to it, plus the lower or underside of my arm.

I have had bouts of tendonitis in either arm previously, and common sense/rest has managed to get rid of it, but I cant seem to lose this.

Although I have done a couple of gigs, I have done almost no practice in that time and it is still there. In addition to practice , a further strain on the arm is that I have a 20 month old daughter, who loves to be picked up for a cuddle. I love it too!!!!

All my usual tricks of massaging and stretching etc arent having any effect.

I went to the doctor today, who advised that it was probably a trapped nerve in the area of my elbow and that I should rest it as much as possible. This is difficult as I need to be able to lift my daughter and I also have 3 gigs this week and need the money!!

Any comments or advice would be very welcome

Thanks

[srcsax]

Lots of Motrin every day,3 times a day? Would an anti inflamatory drug work for this?

You may find it helpfull to seek the advice of a Alexander Technique instructor. Also check out Steven Mauks Warm Up book. Too late to help today, but both of these helped me to insure that future injury could be minamized.

I would bear the pain for the kid :-) But, i'm a sucker for my daughter.

[Ol' Mpc Doc]

Sounds like "Cubital Tunnel Syndrome" affecting the ulnar nerve (the "Crazy Bone" one). Relatively common. May clear up with rest and anti-inflammatory medication but may require surgical intervention to stop further deterioration. Best surgical procedure involves removal of bony protuberance in elbow joint and relocation of nerve trunk. Been there, done that. Took about 18 months of recovery time/rehabilitation before I could play Bb-1 on tenor or any clarinet at all. Do a "Google" web search for topic listed above and you'll find some very useful information. Good Luck!

[danodownunder]

Just had 12wks of this and a lot of pain with it you have a pinched nerve probably in your upper thorasic spine, NECK staps and bad posture can do this you need to go to a GOOD osteopath and study the alexander technique most of these things are posture related and you will need to retrain yourself and get a good shoulder harness for a while so you can keep playing as i was in the same boat and be very aware of what muscles you are tensing up when you play and learn to relax them, If you don't it will get worse or come back again worse trust me it can be fixed but i have seen people ignore it and have to give up playing. Dan.

[Talldog]

I'm seconding Danz and think the problem is in your neck, due to hanging the sax around it for hours a day. Hatha yoga, properly practiced is a non-invasive, effective means for dealing with this. Regular yoga practice will not only relieve your symtoms, but improve your health and playing (due to increased relaxation) across the board. I'm guessing there's a musician in your area already familiar with yoga, so look them up.

[Ol' Mpc Doc]

As a (now retired) physician , I don't discount the possibility of a posturally-related inflammation of the C-8/T-1 nerve roots but urge you to consult a neurologist or physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist for EMG conduction testing. This will absolutely identify the source, location and severity of the problem as well as the appropriate treatment. You cannot afford to lose any time exploring "alternative" or "conservative" approaches until the cause and location of your problem is correctly diagnosed.

[Ian]

You've got to go with ol mpce doc's advice - it is correct. Pinched nerves, whether they be pinched in the neck or at the elbow, don't much like being pinched. If they are released whilst relatively uninjured, recovery will be complete and pretty rapid. Sure, postural changes, inflammation etc may play a part, but first you need a proper diagnosis, and that is likely to include that EMG.

[jazzbluescat]

I have had a feeling of numbness in my left hand and arm for about a week now. It is mainly the little finger and the ring finger next to it, plus the lower or underside of my arm...

I had/have the exact same symptom. It came on about three years ago, and has since gradually receded to where it is now mainly in my little finger, very slightly in the fourth finger. I had to practically learn to play all over again, sans feeling in the fingers(mainly the little finger).
I told a wacky chiropractor friend of mine about it. He grabbed my arm, digging his fingers into it, and I regained the feeling. When he let go the "numbness" returned. He called it a pinched nerve, and said that things would return to normal, in time. He was right; but, damn, it has taken a long time.

[rek]

I am a practicing physician (Family Medicine & ER). In general, for patients that have numbness without weakness I think it's reasonable to try postural changes, shoulder straps, the Alexander Technique and /or other physical therapies, avoid resting on the elbow, rest, and tincture of time. If not improving within 3 weeks, or if worsening - particularly if weakness occurs - then it's time for an EMG and a definitive diagnosis.

[KMR]

Thanks to all who have posted, particularly Ol' mpc doc. The name that you put to my problem and subsequent info that I found on the net were very useful.

I am trying to rest it as much as I can and trying the "splint technique" suggested on a few of the sites. The numb feeling doesnt seem to be there all the time now. Im a bit wary of doing a couple of gigs this weekend but will play as little as I can!!!

Is there anything else that I can do to help.

Is it a good or bad idea to do the stretching type of thing at any time.

Does anyone know of any specialists in this area in the UK

Thanks again

[Big Al]

Just came down with this malady 3 weeks ago and am curious as to how some of you guys have fared 2 years later.

Been getting ultrasound treatments and trying to rest it, but that's about it.

[whitetrane]

Have you tried a harness-type strap yet? That may help immensely at a low cost. I'm no physician but I have experienced the same problems ("pinched nerve" in layman's terms, leading to numbness and tingling in my fingers) and it seems to be directly related to, or at least exacerbated by, hanging my heavy Martin tenor from my neck.

[Bernards20040]

Sounds like "Cubital Tunnel Syndrome" affecting the ulnar nerve (the "Crazy Bone" one). Relatively common. May clear up with rest and anti-inflammatory medication but may require surgical intervention to stop further deterioration. Best surgical procedure involves removal of bony protuberance in elbow joint and relocation of nerve trunk. Been there, done that. Took about 18 months of recovery time/rehabilitation before I could play Bb-1 on tenor or any clarinet at all. Do a "Google" web search for topic listed above and you'll find some very useful information. Good Luck!

Sounds like it to me too, I suffer from "carpel tunnel syndrome" which has the same effect only on the first and second fingers and half of the ring finger.
i get relief by putting my forearm on my head to elivate my hand, relif is rapid if only temporary.8-)

[legato]

How does this relate to the various instruments? One would think that a soprano sax would be easier on your neck than a tenor or baritone.

Brian

[Big Al]

Since my problem is diagnosed to be in the elbow joint, I haven't really noticed a difference from Soprano thru Bari, however, playing the flute really causes a flare-up after about 20 minutes.

Another problem is trying to type on a key board. Can't tell you how many times I hit "q" or "caps lock" instead of "a".

[spitzbube]

i,ve had imediate releive of acute back pain with a cold laser treatment.it can be done in a chiropractors office for around $65.00 it takes about 5min. or less and is completely painless. looks like a mag lite flash light it produces a spectrum of light that penatrates an inch to two inches deep in soft tissue and promotes healing at an excellerated pace . i would recamend this first as its nonenvasive cheap and results are quick . good luck .

[jazzbluescat]

i,ve had imediate releive of acute back pain with a cold laser treatment.it can be done in a chiropractors office for around $65.00 it takes about 5min. or less and is completely painless. looks like a mag lite flash light it produces a spectrum of light that penatrates an inch to two inches deep in soft tissue and promotes healing at an excellerated pace . i would recamend this first as its nonenvasive cheap and results are quick . good luck .

Interesting. I've never heard of that sort of treatment. Good to know.

[saxmanjack]

About a year ago, I started getting numbness in my left hand/fingertips when I looked up/left. Went to an orthopedist, and after xrays and mri, was diagnosed with cervical stenosis due to disks c5 and c6 being totally degenerated. Doc said the condition would worsen with time and the only solution was spinal fusion surgery. This surgery involves taking a piece of bone from your hip (don't worry- the leg pain isn't permanent for most patients), replacing the dead disks with shims carved from this hip bone piece, and bolting it all together. (But don't worry, voice and ability to swallow eventually return to normal for most patients). I pretty much told him to go **** himself, it did get worse over the next few months, but now its either getting better or I'm getting used to it...

[Michael Ward]

Any ideas about a condition similar but that only affects my right forefinger which after two years is much improved but lazy..ie I can't trill with it, it's more of an effort to lift it and I have a stiff elbow and tendon pain in my right arm up to my elbow. If I play without my thumb the tension and problem all but disappear. thanks

[frankeric]

HS, what posts.
4 years ago I had pain running up and down my left arm into my shoulder and neck. Went to the ortho clinic and after a year and 5, yes 5 doctors, an MRI, a 10" needle stuck into my neck to see if that would releive the pain, it didn't, the conclusion was the C5 C6 needed replacing. I went through much depressed decision making and just as I was making my surgery appointment, a friend of a friend heard my story and said I needed one more opinion, but this time from a neuro surgeon. HS, as he put my xrays up on the screen he turned to me and said " I see you've had surgery to your spine before". No, never been cut / in a hospital, I was 57 at the time. Seems I was born with a fused veribre. "Well lets see whats really going on here." He grabs my elbow and drops me to the table. HS, I had a pinched ulnar nerve in my elbow!!!!!!!!! He told me that if I had had the surgery nothing would have changed!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost passed out thinking what I almost did. The _ _ers!
So he had me change my sleeping position and now almost 5 years later the numbness comes and goes but no more shoulder / neck pain.
Moral? You can never get enough opinions.
Just finishing my 11 month on my tenor. Time flys when your having fun!
frank

[jazzbluescat]

I had tremendous pain in my left shoulder, couldn't even raise my arm directly over my head, had to raise it in a circuitous manner. I thought, oh man, I'm getting arthritis really bad. Went to the doctor, he x-rayed and didn't find anything. He concluded it had to be a pinched nerve in my upper neck and sent me to a physical therapist. She gave me stretching exercises and within less than a year the pain was totally gone. Just amazing what those little stretching exercises did! That lady therapist really knew her stuff.