I have been dealing with what I have assumed was nerve entrapment in both hands for the better part of a year now. It started with sharp pain/pulling sensation in the palm of my left hand only when reaching a certain way. Then progressed into my right hand with the same situation. My chiropractor suspected that I had a nerve adhered possibly in the forearm area, but soft tissue work, massage, scraping etc hasn’t helped and now I have a burning sensation in both hands along the top of my thumb and forefinger, as well as in the top of my hands between the middle and ring finger and directly under in my palm. My finger tip on both index fingers are burning and have lost touch sensation. To make matters worse, the problem is now involving my left heel and top of left foot. I have been to my GP and have received cortisone injections in both wrists, but it hasn’t helped at all. I’m coming to my wits end. Has anyone experienced anything similar? I just had my 6 month check up and the normal bloodwork all looks great.
Tight neck can cause the burning in your hands. Everybody knows this. If your chiropractor doesn’t know this You Should Find Another One! Immediately!
What’s your lifting been like lately? Maybe lay off the heavy pressing and shrugs for a minute.
I’ve definitely been overhead pressing heavier than usual and I usually press behind the head. I’ve also been substituting Wendler rows for shrugs. My chiro adjusts my neck every other week. I’m trying to use more machines to limit the amount of gripping that I have to do. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!
Physiotherapist here
Have noted any changes in:
- Your typing or writing ability
- Your grip strength
- Your touch sensitivity
Do you have
- Any walking unsteadiness
- Any neck discomfort
- Any lower back discomfort
Are your symptoms more comfortable with your arm
- overhead
- hanging relaxed
- in a “sling” position
What do you do for work? Has work been impacted by your symptoms?
Touch sensitivity in the tips of the thumbs and forefingers is pretty much nonexistent. As well as along the top of thumbs and forefingers. I do have problems with my low back, I have had a laminectomy/discectomy L4-L5 and have a herniated disc in L5-S1 (MRI confirmed) that gives me problems sometimes, but not as long as I don’t deadlift, or back squat it doesn’t bother me. My hands feel best after I first wake up, no pain just some numbness. Arms hanging as in walking seems to cause the most discomfort. Gripping and pulling really aggravates them. The nerve pulling/entrapment feeling comes with reaching/rotating. I am semi retired (rental property/some electrical side jobs) from a very physical career in mining/machining.
Thank you for your response! I’m open to any suggestions,
How about some seated cable rows with a slow tempo, really focusing on using the lats (not the traps) making your neck “long” by keeping your shoulders down and keeping the tension off your neck. And really trying to breath “down” deep into your belly and not “up” into your chest.
And zero work elevating your shoulders and contracting your traps for awhile.
And something like the dip machine or decline benching for pressing to focus on getting your shoulders “down” instead of “up.” While you make a big effort to not shrug your shoulders or tense up your neck.
And no lifting your arms overhead.
I will try to focus on the points you mentioned. I have noticed that I tend to extend my neck in certain exercises like the RDF and push with my head when benching heavy or especially incline pressing. I suspect my overly enthusiastic lifting is contributing to my chronic injuries, but I find it so hard to convince myself to take it easy.
I really appreciate you!
No problem man! I hope some of it is helpful, and that @j4gga2 can give official info, and you get some relief.
In the mean time, if you’re into stretching a couple easy ones for your pec and bicep might take some tension off neck.
Maybe trap?
Just to be clear, any issues with your typing/handwriting dexterity?
In general, your symptoms are very consistent with a cervical nerve root issue (i.e nerve pain coming from the neck). However, if you are noticing any issues with your dexterity or other weird changes in strength you are at risk of spinal stenosis/myelopathy (“pinching” of the spinal cord)
Given these symptoms have persisted for 12 months and there is risk of a myelopathy issue it is a good idea to pursue a cervical spine MRI, if that is financially viable
I would strongly recommend working with a different chiropractor and GP. Proper investigation and management for neck contributions should have been pursued months ago.
Should your MRI be clear, you would then look to pursue investigations for thoracic outlet syndrome, which involves a specific clinical assessment and possibly a nerve conduction study
I haven’t noticed any dexterity issues, but I do have some clubbing of the nails, which my doctor has noted before. Perhaps this could be related to thoracic outlet syndrome? My doctor did mention a nerve conduction study when I saw him last week, we are supposed to discuss this when I see him again. He ordered some blood work to check inflammation markers, which should be back on Thursday.
Whilst it is possibly thoracic outlet syndrome, please keep in mind that true TOS is relatively rare, only affecting ~ 1 in 33000 at most
I’m going to request a MRI at my next appointment. I’ll post any updates or improvements. Thank you so much for your time!
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or just tight Pecs, Bicep and Neck? It looks like you treat them the same way. I wouldn’t wait around for an MRI. See if any of this stuff helps.
I will add these into my routine! I have neglected stretching and recovery work in the past, but have done more in the last few months than in as many years. I’m definitely getting older and feeling it.
In my experience good sports physios have been better for nerve related things than my many GPs who have all been exceptionally terrible with it.
As already said it can start from your spine. Other common areas will be the neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The symptoms don’t always manifest where the damage / problem is.
Getting an MRI will be the best way to see for sure but I’d be doing the exercises too. A physio might be able to speed things up by writing to your GP and asking for the MRI.