Pinched Nerve? Rototar Cuff? Shoulder?

[archive_Cyp]

Ive got more of an anoyance then anything......I seem to have a Knot in my shoulder blade area, from which a "tendon" (im not sure if thats the right word) gets TIGHT. It seems to run from my shoulder balde area (I beieve the word is sub-scalpia) and run all the way around my shoulder up into my Bicep....I can hold my arm out straight some times and feel the tendon pop or click when a I rotate my arm, in my bicept.....There is no sharp pain or anything BUT when im Doing Incline Presses (I do my on Hammer Strength) My Hand will go Numb when Im almost completely extended, there is No Pain just Numbness....My Strength is fine But this KNOT is so DAMN annoying....

ANY suggestions on the Problem or maybe some type of Stretching??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

Cyp

Cyp, the wording of your problem presented me with a little difficulty. You are experiencing numbness when your arm is extended under load when exercising on a hammer strength decline press? There isn't any pain, but you hear "popping" within the "shoulder" or shoulder blade" during movement? Give me some more info

235lbs of Twisted_Steel and pure Sex Appeal!

[archive_Cyp]

OK...on INCLINE (hammer strength) as im extending up-wards just before I would get to the point where I Lock my elbows, My hand gets a Tingling or numb feeling........If I move my hands up over my head as if I was doing Shoulder dumbell presses I can feel a Clicking in my shoulder area.......I believe it must be some tendon of somewhat that extends from my shoulder blade area (I believe this area is called the sub scalpia) over or around my shoulder and extends down thru my bicep....The clicking can be felt some times in my bicep, you can actually see the bicep move/jump. I feel a big knot in my shoulder blade are (scalpia)...

As I said there is no pain Just a Tight Knotted feeling, and numbess as a described...

Thanks for any help you can offer

[archive_Killer]

Well, you def have some nerve issues happening. The knot in your shoulder is probally a muscle spasm. Is the area hot or warm to the touch? That would indicate swelling, but it doesn't sound like that this is the case.

If it is a spasm, it may be impinging on the suprascapular nerve (C4 - C6). One of the signs and symptoms for this is a vague ache or weakness of the shoulder girdle (military press). Do you have any muscle atrophy of the supraspinatus or infraspinatus (the muscle over the shoulder blade)?

Since you say upon elbow extension you get tingling in your hands, you may be getting some impingement/compression in the medial nerve. Strong contraction of the tris can compress the nerve.

You may also have the ulnar nerve being compressed. This can be caused by hypertrophy of the medial tris and/or anconeus both contributing to numbess during tri extension. When standing with arms by side, palms facing forward, does the tingling happen on the inner portion of your forearm (ulnar)?

What to do? If it bothers you a lot see a specialist. There are certain tests that are a little to complicated to address here that can be performed to asses the proper nerve.

You can try your own treatment consisting of NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflammatories), rest, ice, and muscle stretching.

You can try massage on the spasm. Have someone put a good amount of pressure onto the spasm for around 12 seconds with constant pressure. Then have the person increase pressure to a steady rate for another 12 seconds. Continue as needed. Also ice will help disrupt the pain - spasm cycle.

Hope this helps. I do not have all the much experience with nerve injuries

[This message was edited by Killer on 10-01-2002 at 02:52 PM.]

[archive_Cyp]

There is no numbness when i hold my palms togothere(forarms togother) But my right side including my bicep seems to be weaker then my left (shoulder/chest) If I sleep on my side my entire arm goes Numb.....Scheduled a MRI and a Phys-Rehab a day Later ...I just dont want to give up training....The Knot is ovalshape, Stress will aggrivate it...and when Im writting my rib area will kind of tingle? When i put hand behind my back (making a triangle opening on my side with my arm) and I pull my elbow foward it seems to help. I dont know if this is a safe stretch though...

Thanks for the feedback

[archive_Killer]

Let us know what the results are. Numbness when sleeping is a very common problem associated with nerve problems.

I believe the test you are doing is called the Phalen Test and is used to asses carpal tunnel problems. It doesn't sound like this is your problem, as it is usually caused by repetitive wrist motion.

The stretch you are referring to is for the external rotators - infraspinatus and teres minor. Sound like the knot is in the infraspinatus area, so the stretch may give you some relief and shouldn't injure the area.

Good luck

[archive_Cyp]

Hey Thanks Killer......Great Feedback! I will you keep you posted on the rehab and MRI results......I pretty sure this all a result from a Heavy Androgen cycle, in which I pushed myself way to hard.....All that strength, I just wanted more, should have taken it easy....

Thanks once again

[archive_Killer]

There is a post a while back that talked about one's arm, hand, whatever falling alseep while sleeping due to increased muscle mass. You may want to take a look.