Bicep/Elbow/Tingling In Wrist

Training Injuries
1

I’m going to be as elaborate and concise as possible so please bear with me as I try to accurately explain what is going on with my left arm (note I’m right handed). Around 10 months ago I started noticing a clicking on my elbow when I did single arm dumbbell push presses and windshield wipers. I noticed the clicking felt like the tendon was moving left and right over my elbow where the medial epicondyle is located (http://www.itendonitis.com/elbow-tendonitis.html). At first I worked around it then laid off those movements until it healed and continued training.

Around 1.5 months ago I was doing speed bench work and I had to cut it out half way through because I felt a familiar dull throbbing pain around my bicep and shoulder which I assumed was my rotator cuff (a lingering issue that has come and gone throughout the entirety of my 20s). Usually if I rest, ice stretch it the pain goes away in a few days. This time however, the pain kept getting worse and I noticed it in exercises that normally didn’t cause it. After two weeks of having to knock off more and more movements (1 pullup sent me into a 2 hour episode of pain) I noticed the elbow clicking was occurring in conjunction with the shoulder/bicep pain.

I had a friend feel my elbow as I did dips (surprisingly dips and pushups don’t hurt it though I can feel the tendon move in the movement) and he assessed that I have pissed off the tendon which is causing pain in my arm.

And to top it off if I pinch the area on the top of my hand where the forearm and wrist connect (Wrist Pain New York, NY - top picture in the area of the volar wrist ligament) I feel a very sharp tingling sensation. Putting it all together I assume that the elbow clicking is the culprit but after searching I can’t find anything that matches my symptoms since the elbow itself is never in pain but the bicep and shoulder is (The Biceps (Human Anatomy): Function, Diagram, Conditions, & More right where the short head brachialis is which radiates towards the deltoids).

Here is a list of movements that cause the pain

  • Overhead Press
  • Bench Press
  • Stabilizing a low bar backsquat
  • Bicep curls (more so hammer curls)
  • Overhead stroke swimming
  • Pullups (all hand positions)
  • Muscle ups
  • Even sprints from the pumping motion
  • Mixed grip deadlifts (though the pain for this is bearable)

I know this was long winded but I wanted to be as thorough as possible. I’ll gladly answer anymore questions or try mobility work to locate any pain. I’m a poor college student and I don’t have the funds to go doctor hopping to fix this. I appreciate any and all help from my fellow lifters!

2

Sounds like your elbow is unstable (clicking) and therefore is pinching your ulnar nerve. the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow is right by the medial epicondyle, and i suspect is the culprit)

look up elbow stability exercises, and general elbow physiotherapy exercises. im biased and would recommend prolotherapy to your elbow. also google ulnar nerve pinch, entrapment, etc. to get a better idea of what’s going on.

Also, if you’re not already, id recommend permanently incorporating some external rotation movements in your routine, for your rotator cuff. its all connected maaan etc etc.

3

I was hopping for a couple more responses before replying but I’ll just ask you a couple of things Ray. First off, every article I read about elbow issues dealt with pain in the elbow itself and since I’m not feeling any pain there, just the clicking, that’s what steered me away from rehabilitation exercises. So, even though the pain is radiating to my bicep area, would the issue be identical to the rehabilitative articles I read that stress elbow pain? I know it might sound like a silly question but I want to ask everything so I don’t waste time in the wrong area or fuck up something else.

I do appreciate the input though and if this helps it would be nice to bench over 200lbs without pain again!