Nerve Impingement??

[Guest guest]

Howdy,

I've known some of you and Dr. Siff for a few years from the Strength

List, MFW, and ASW. I just joined this list at Dr. Mel's urging to

ask about this problem.

About 2 months ago I suffered an injury to my left arm while doing

some power cleans. I ended up with the entire left arm from shoulder

to fingers totally numb. It has reduced to just an ache/tingle in

the forearm/wrist/hand area. I went to a hand specialist to make

sure I didn't have damage to carpal tunnel, nerve or nerve sheath.

I have finished with all the tests and I just saw the

specialist today for an analysis of the results. There is no

evidence of nerve or muscle damage, which is a very good thing. He

suggested that I may be pinching the nerve in some " t " place :-)

where my pec minor will be pinching off the nerve bundles going to my

left arm, or I may be pinching the nerves in my wrist slightly.

I haven't lifted in 2 months now and I really want to lift again!! His

best advice was " if it hurts, don't do it " and that he really doesn't

see how I could do powerlifting again without suffering the problems

and probably doing permanent nerve damage. This doctor is a highly respected

expert in his field and one of the best in this area of the U.S.A.,

but he is not a sports minded person and may only be speaking about PL through

ignorance.

What are your thoughts? What can I do to get back in the gym while working to

eliminate the symptoms of this

problem? Failing that, what can I do to rehab the injury fully, even

if it means I cannot go back to the competitive platform again (not

that I was very good:-). The nerve specialists were not able to

confirm that this is a nerve impingement, or some other problem. Any thoughts

or directions to go?

My doctor is not concerned, since nerve and muscle damage is not happening. Of

course, he doesn't have to

live with this annoyance and the prospect of 60 more years (God

willing) of life with this problem from one stupid moment in the gym.

Tommy O'Brien

Grand Rapids, MI USA

APF Michigan State Co-Chairman