Problem with my arm

Gnarly Dancer 42 · 360 flip Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5121 City: kalamazoo

here's the story:

i was unstrapped and was trying to jump off this railing onto my snowboard. i put my foot up to jump off it, i slipped, fell about 10 feet and hit my head on top of some rocks. (i wasnt wearing a helmet Embarassed

) after that, both my arms started to tingle and felt like they were on fire. then that pain went away and my shoulder just started to feel uncomfortable, not that bad of pain, just sorta felt like it was sore.

then i went snowboarding again at a resort, and fell on my left arm and my whole arm had that same tingleing/on fire feeling again, so i knew something must be wrong and went to the doctors the next day.

the doctor x rayed my shoulder/arm and told me everything looked normal and that i should just ice it, stop snowboarding for about a week and see how it feels.

i couldn't really help it and kept on snowboarding, (but took it easy) and i still have the same problem where when i land on my shoulder/arm my whole arm tingles.

i tried doing some research and i think its possible that it has something to do with nerves or something. (and i noticed that when i jerk my head a certain way i can feel pain in my shoulder)

basically, does anyone have any idea what's wrong with my arm, or how i should go about healing it? (sorry for writing so much) Embarassed

Soulprogression · Posted: Dec 02, 2008 12:57 am Post subject:

rest it, I know it's hard but don't ride, or do anything where you're gonna risk injuring it or it will just take longer to heal or end up being a problem for life. I have had several similar injuries. head, neck and back injuries can affect your whole arm, I hurt by shoulder and it affected my whole nerve in my arm all the way down to the finger tip.

feelnjstfine · Backside 180 Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 802 City: Portland

Gnarly Dancer 42, definately sounds like a pinched nerve. I've had a similar type thing myself. Pretty sure it first started from a crash I had when racing motorcycles when I was young and last year Ireagrivated it from the type of work I do now. It would only bother me when I was sleeping mainly, occasional when doing stuff though, and my arm would go numb and really start to hurt(I was getting next to no sleep because of it) Both seperated instinces I went to a chiropractor, got x-rays, and was told I had a pinched nerve in between I think C5-6 or C6-7 or somewhere in that neck/upper back region. After a few adjustment it went away and I've been good since. So as for advice, I'd say go see a chiro, if it's the same or similar to what I had it should work. Hope this helps.

taku · Kickflip Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2868 City: Central FL

I was also going to suggest a chiropractor. They are good at diagnosing problems like this... a family doctor doesn't deal with these sorts of injuries on a regular basis and xrays won't show pinched nerves I don't think? Maybe they do, regardless, see the chiro.

If you have health insurance, usually it will cover up to 10-30 visits to a chiropractor per year. You have to pay the copay (15-30$ normally) and insurance covers the rest of the visits up to the allowance per year.

TTUFAN24 · Posted: Dec 02, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

Gnarly Dancer 42, chiropractor. we have awesome results with neuromuscular stuff like that. research brachial plexus and see if that fits your symptoms (pretty much handles the entire upper extremity, caused by misalignment or injury to your cervical spine). anywhere else is just going to prescribe, which doesnt let your body know its limits because it is just numb to sensation. sometimes drugs are necessary. i'm not preaching the all natural chiro stuff because i cant prescribe. i am also getting close to my nurse practitioner which allows that in my scope. i will be able to do both but will always try to resolve symptoms without drugs. just saying try a chiro and see. my two cents

coricluster · Backside 180 Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 1826 City: berlin

dude i have the same problem with my MCL and PCL. i rode rode rode all summer long...hard as could be...and now its so messed up im gettin ready to have surgery after the first of the year. i cant take the pain anymore, i want all new parts in my knee that wayi can ride hard next summer again...

so basically. dont be so stubburn and just get it fixed. do what the doc says and it wont hurt anymore.

OverEasy · Pop Shuvit Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 167 City: Richardson

All good info above, but I would highly recommend seeing an orthopedic doc & getting an X-ray and an MRI of your neck. I had pretty much the exact same symptoms in both arms a little over a year ago, and ended up having to get a ACF (Anterior Cervical Fusion - look it up) at C3-C4 & C4-C5. It has put huge limits on what I can do on a wakeskate now; many people (including doctors) say I shouldn't even be doing it at all.

I don't mean to sound all doom & gloom, but don't mess around with this, man. Get it checked out by professionals ASAP.