Killer

[nuh_mizer]

You seem to know alot about nerve problems and I was wondering if you could help. Last Oct I had some intense pain in the left side of my back between the shoulder blade and spine. It hurt so bad that I went to the hospital. I ended up having alot of numbness in my fingers, hand, and arm later. After I few weeks I returned to the gym and found out my right arm was drasticly weaker than my left. The strength gradually increased but is still way off. About 4 weeks ago, I felt the same pain in the left side of my back but not as bad. Then later I noticed weakness in my left arm as well but no numbness or pain. The doctors took an MRI and said that I have(had) a pinched nerve in my neck that caused the problems on my right side, but they don't know whats causing the problem on my left side. Could it be related to the pains in my back? When I go to the Chiropractor, the pain goes away for a while.
Thanks for any help.

[jimm]

i think the nerves terminating in your arm originate up in the lower neck region--check an anatomical chart of the nervous system.

your life is a whim in the mind of the Creator

[bkrquads]

The nerves that innervate the upper limb are part of the brachial plexus and run from the 5th cervical vertabrae to the 1st thoracic vertabrae. The nerves form a sort of network which results in no single muscle is innervated from a single nerve. Example: The deltoid is innervated by both the C5 and C6 nerve. The goes for all the muscles in the upper limb. In order to figure out what nerve(s) are being affected, it is important to figure out exactly what motions are being affected (flexing the forearm, extending the forearm, flexing the elbow, extending the elbow, raising the arm laterally, etc...)

It very well be more than one motion being affected at once. Hope this helped..

[archive_Killer]

First want to throw out that I do not have all that much exp with nerve injuries. Most of my exp with thme has dealt with an injury to the brachial plexus (stinger) in football. But I will try to give you some answers.

Usually when trying to figure out what nerve level is being compromised, you perform a motor and sensory test. Here is a quick motor test to see where you are weak and the corresponding root level.

C4 upper tap, shoulder elevation
C5 supraspinatus and deltoid, shoulder abduction (think lateral raise)
C6 biceps, elbow flexion (curl)
C7 triceps, elbow extension (tri pushdown)
C8 extensor pollicis longus, extension of distal (farthest portion) of thumb (think bring the tip of the thumb back)
T1 Intrinsics of hand, ad/adduction of fingers (think bringing fingers together and apart)

This would be more for your right side, as the MRI pointed to a pinched disk in the cervical region on that side. Usually the brachial plexus does not manefest tiself in the pain your back that you described though.

Do the test and tell us where the most weakness occurs. You never had an injury to the area? A blunt blow or anything?

A consideration is a long thoracic nerve injury (dubbed backpacker's palsy). It originates from C5-7 and innervates the serratus anterior muscle. Often injured by blunt trauma from a backpack. Can be caused by overuse, several cases in weightlifters. Usually difficulty in rasing the arm and is often seen with aching or burning around the should blade (which you have).

Do you play any sports regularly? Overhead sports such as volleyball, swimming, baseball?

Hope this helps!

[nuh_mizer]

The only movements that I show any weakness are the tricept one and the intrinsics of hand. Making a fist is no problem, by extending my fingers is. The 1st MRI (done in Oct) also showed a bulding disc it the T1 area, but the latest MRI (Mid January) showed it was no longer buldging.
Next tuesday I go in for an EMG to test the nerves.
I read something about if the suprascapular nerve is compressed it could cause problems with peripheral nerves.

No overhead sports, but it all started after doing heavy dumbell Military press (105lbs)

thanks for the help guys

[archive_Killer]

The suprascapular nerve is C4 - C6. It inervates the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. Often injured by direct trauma or acute dislocation. Often seen in overhead athletes (this is why I asked about other sports). It usuallu starts as ache or weakness in the shoulder girdle follwed by visible atrophy. The weakness causes the shoulder a great risk of impingement. But it does not manifest itself in the triceps or hands.

Let us know the results of your tests. It is obvious that you have something going on.

[nuh_mizer]

Just for reference, the Doc that did the EMD said that it is because of a pinched nerve. I am now on prednisone as a last effort before surgury. I have to meet with a surgeon in April