holy cow my arm hurts

[FarmerCec]

i think i blew out my elbow or hand, i don't know. i'm a huge ball of stress right now and can't think straight to figure out what this is. i'm sure it's soemthing terribly simple, but gosh it's been a rough couple of weeks for me and i just don't think clearly these days..

from elbow down to under my thumb and into my palm, i feel like i've been cut open. if i apply pressure to the tightest (not most sore) part of my elbow, my hand jumps. i think that confused me more than anything. if i apply pressure over the carpal tunnel, the pain stops.

surely - surely i can't have CTS. right? this is just a fluke, right?

i took some aleve last night out of desperation, and was able to sleep for a few hours, more than i've slept straight through for a long time. so that helped, but i'm wondering if i should set up some regular upper body only sessions for myself a couple of times a week for about a month or so.

any other ideas are appreciated.
amanda

 

[moel]

Are you talking about the inside of the arm for the entire length, elbow to palm? If you are, it sounds like your extensors are locked up. Have you tried to stretch them, and if you have, do they seize up even more? Have you iced the area, with what results? Have you had an injury recently of any kind? Have you tried to work on the area gently yourself, with what reults? How about some compressions? Are you having more pain when you grasp as opposed to opening the hand? Perhaps some tendonitis if all the above only increases the problem? Just some thoughts, hope this helps. Any one else have any other thoughts?

 

[LookForward]

Have you increased you work load recently or done anything other than massage that could have affected your arm?

I agree with the extensors, also the flexors. Stretching and/or some PNF. Origin and insertion work, get some good muscle stripping done and then ice down.

I am sure your added stress doesn't help either. :wink:

 

[5th Horseman]

thanks for your replies..

yes, i have been working harder than usual - i had 3 90 minute deep tissues on just legs & feet of a nurse in 3 days last week.

and being the flex & ext totally makes sense b/c i use my knuckles a lot. when i overuse them i mostly feel the soreness on the tops of my arms but this time it's different and that threw me off. the pain is more inside the arm and underneath.


when i stretch, the muscles don't necessarily seize up more, and at first i couldn't ice, any touch at all to the area was like i was being sliced open. i am icing now which is better than heat. and two days out of the acute period, it's much better, even though i had 4 sessions yestedya. today is a light day, only 1 full body and 1 half hour. then i go to the nursing home to work on feet!

the compressions that i used are the ones i talked about before: in the elbow they hit a reflex and a nerve, in the hand it stops all pain.

i will start 2/week sessions having my arms stripped and shoulders worked , my neck is a wreck too (i made a rhyme!). i neglect myself way too much, and i must stop doing that.

thanks for all of your ideas! and for letting me vent!
xoxo,
amanda