Self care: tingling/numbness in pinkies

[Joann]

Hey folks,

I've been experiencing tingling/numbness in my pinkies, usually at night... it comes and goes, hasn't been very severe, but noticeable.

I know my flexors & extensors need some bodywork, and it all feels related up into my shoulders and neck, particularly anterior neck... not just scalenes but to the hyoid as well.

Any self care advice? My chiro did say a lot of stuff was going on, and wants to see me weekly again for a while, but the only self care she could recommend was to "keep working on posture", mostly with neck traction/extension and laying on a rolled up towel under my shoulder blades.

Any idea what I might be doing to cause this? Anyone else experience something similar?

 

[Disney Girl]

i am with silenceinthemist - TP's in the forearms can be a big culprit.

An EMG that I got done for a cervical herniation also showed cubital tunnel syndrome. With regular forearm work - I have not had any problems where as before I was in daily pain. Pain, numbness, and tingling from my elbow to my pinky and ring fingers.

Also making sure not to sleep with your arms above your body (above your head) or even on your chest. If I would sleep with my hands on my stomach while on my back my forearms would go numb.

Stretch and get deep regular work for a while. Then keep it up! :wink:

 

[BigAl]

any kind of gripping action

Like hours of petrissage? ;-)

Thanks both for the suggestions! I have access to the Travell books and will check the chapter you suggest.

Anyone else with other experiences, please post.

 

[Wit]

Could also be symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome...which, as far as I know, usually involves the pinky. If this is the case, self-care would be to keep the pecs and anterior muscles stretched and lengthened. One good stretch for this is to lay down on your bed (supine), position your body so it's along the edge, and then drop your arm off the side and let gravity pull and stretch.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I agree with all the above statements... but also be aware of you body mechanics while working. I didn't realize that my table was WAY too high and to make up for the needed pressure I was bringing my shoulders up into my ears, which was causing a false TOS... once I dropped my table I was a lot better and haven't had the problem since. So definitely work your scalines, upper traps, forearms, especially the ulnar aspect and stretch before and after you work.

 

[puppetgirl121]

I don't think my table is way too high, but I'm still unsure about just how high it should be. Sometimes I feel like it's too high, other times too low. Grr.

 

[Ade]

...I'm still unsure about just how high it should be.

What I was taught and works for me is: stand facing the side of your table, let your fingers dangle or make a fist, the table should come right underneath touching your fingertips (or knuckles, depending on if you made the fist). So far so good for me.

One great thing about my table, that really helps with my body mechanics, is that it's hourglass shaped...so I can get into the middle/center-line of the client's body with ease.

 

[common sence]

That was just from my experience... I have actually dropped my table a few notches from where I was originally working in school since I couldn't lunge (from recent knee surgery)... look and see if it happens after you have been doing deeper work, or if you have a larger client on the table. I have my table usually at the deeper pressure setting, but raise it when I have someone that only wants a light relaxing swedish.

Just watch how your shoulders are positioned, they should be in a relaxed state while you are working, if you feel that you are bringing them up at all you need to drop your table another notch.

 

[Wish I was boredDude]

Thanks folks, I'll look at that today.

 

[TonyWithLove]

I don't think my table is way too high, but I'm still unsure about just how high it should be. Sometimes I feel like it's too high, other times too low. Grr.

The client's body size has an impact on how high your table should be as well. I've worked on a few people who were larger, and found myself working with my shoulders pulled up around my ears, even though my table height was perfect for the person I had worked on just prior.