Newbie needs advice

[anonymous?girl]

hi, this is my first post on this forum so I'm just going to get to the point.

Recently Iv had pain in my shoulder and lower back which is uncomfortable most of the time but not excruciating. Also Iv started to feel pins and needles in my pinky finger and shoulder and numb pain across the hand especially after ab exercises. At the gym on monday I did an ab workout then these feelings grew stronger and then I couldn't sleep at night. Its more like a numb feeling in my arm and my whole arm feels weak especially the bicep, however this could be due to the fact that I am naturally right handed.

Now a little about me, since the age of about 8 iv been involved with sport, mainly field hockey which I pursued at high school to county level which involved playing 3-4 times a week. after leaving high school i stopped playing so regularly and it became once at the weekend. At the end of last season I got my knee cap fractured with a hockey stick and was in cast for about 4 weeks, then I didnt exercise for a long time, maybe 6 months.

Now im getting back into sport and i am taking my health more seriously, eating healthily ect playing regularly and exercising regularly. My whole left leg is smaller in muscle mass and generally weaker so it tends to ache.

I used to get the same uncomfortable feeling in my shoulder when I was a paper boy at the age of 14 and Iv always had lower back ache after sport but i just assumed this is normal for hockey players.

So basically Im worried that this could be serious or could progressively get worse as I try to get fitter. Iv been to the doctor today he has referred me to a physio but he seems to think there is not much wrong with me. I know it is easy to self diagnose on the internet that is why I have posted here, I don't want to become a hypochondriac like my dad!

I also don't want to become addicted to painkillers, I tend to have an addictive personality to certain things...

Any replies are much appreciated, I will of course check back here.

 

[omarvader]

Can't advise re your health problems reale1992 but I do wish you well must be a nightmare for you. Get well soon x

 

[Pompal 09.]

And are you relaxing regularly and resting regularly and having fun regularly? Your regime sounds maybe a bit full-on? Try asking your body what it wants and needs.

 

[Victoria U]

Which arm and shoulder have the symptoms, how old are you, are you male or female?

 

[AbbbeyV]

I can say from personnal experience, that I have (periodically) the same symptoms in both of my arms (but not usually at the same time).
It is caused by my 'C' SPINE nerve roots, LEVELS 5/6/7, being impinged or compressed, by muscles that are in REACTIVE AND FIXED SPASMS.
Look up, autonomic nervous system information, from internet!

My 'T5 level' (between shoulder blades), is also Known to be a contribitary factor in the most serious instances.

My Osteopath relieves these compressions, by applying various (gentle) decompression techniques, to those levels. It can sometimes take several vists, and up to 2 months (or more) for the compression to completely go, and even then, the muscle weakness and waistage you describe, can take many months more to improve!!

These symptoms (in my case) are exactly that!! just sympyoms!
The root causes of my pains and disabilities are located in the L5/S1 lumber spine level, and is causes 'spinal destablisation', which in turn is caused by a leaking and bulging disk.

You need to get a definative and accurate diagnosis of you spinal condition. Ask your GP if it is appropriate, to get refered for a nerve root block injection. I had 2 in my L5 region, and for 6 weeks I had absolutely no back pain, nor any shoulder, arm or hand pains and wekness. For a further 5 weeks, I had significantly reduced symptoms.
After the injection wore off, all of my shoulder, arm and hand symptoms came back!

There are loads of therapists, of all desriptions, on this web site, take your time to look around, see which ones would suit you best.

FOOD FOR THOUGH hey!

Best wishes

SPINELF