-
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment from Poling and/or Elbow Stands?
So I’ve been off the pole since July, I think, due to wrist pain (note: had posted a "booty challenge" video in July but took it down because I thought I showed too much if anyone was wondering what happened to it). I’ve been back and forth on Orthopedic office visits. My doctor suggested physical therapy for three weeks. During those sessions I learned that I have a nerve trapped at the elbow and there’s a lot of crowding going on in my forearm. The therapist explained that my forearm muscles are like guitar strings…so TIGHT…and causing all that crowding in my forearm. He asked if I had been experiencing numbness of the pinky and half of my ring finger at times when I bend my elbow. I had to think about it at first, then realized that for a year now my left arm has been falling asleep at night when I’m in bed. I never knew why and never put a second thought to it, since I was able to relieve it when I straightened my arm. Back in October after picking up my 30+ lb. daugther, my wrist CLICKED. Since then it’s been hurting, right at the side where that circular bone sticks out at the wrist (the lunate). After 3 weeks of therapy, still no improvement. My orthopedist then ordered for MRI and EMG exams. The results definitely showed ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow, specifically called cubital tunnel syndrome. Linking my past activities to the result of this diagnosis, I’m pretty sure I got it from doing elbow stands and doing pole pull-ups for strengthening and not stretching the forearm muscles. A word to the wise, STRETCH, STRETCH those muscles after a good pole workout. I never knew this. Sure, I stretched all other muscles of the body. But I never thought of the forearm muscles. Go figure! Watch Veena’s stretching videos for the forearm muscles…I wish I had done so earlier! Anyone out there feeling the same symptoms? If so, have you given up on poling to maintain good health of your arms? I don’t want to have to do this.
-
10 Replies
-
Omg. I feel that this is what is happening to me. I just started poling about 2 months ago, but when I started I started hard. I poled everyday all day for about 2 day, you know after school and work…. but i kept noticing this weird feeling every morning when i woke up. it would last all day. but the next day wouldn’t hurt. i haven’t been to physical therapy or anything but i can feel the pain all through out my arm. less in my wrist and more in my shoulder and elbow. Could this be the same thing going on?
-
Your ulnar nerve innervates the little and part of your ring finger, and the part of your hand below it. If you feel the pain throughout your arm, its unlikely its ulnar, but if it feels like nerve pain it could be your brachial plexus instead. Shoulder and arm pain can also come from neck injuries so bear that in mind too. I have ulnar nerve entrapment from an old break, and its horrible, feels like my two fingers and part of my forearm are on fire and really sensitive. Avoid elbow grips like the plague, that is mainly what exacerbates mine. I use stretches, ice, and analgesics. I have tried kinesiotaping and thought it did help a bit, but I think that may have just been a psychological pain relief! They can do an operation to decompress it, i’m not sure how effective it is. I would speak to an orthopaedic surgeon if it is really bothering you!
-
You should really consider getting worked on by a Licensed Massage Therapist who has training in Neuromuscular Therapy and Myofascial Release techniques. This type of work can often times treat and eliminate the symptoms you’re experiencing. Do some research for your area and find someone with these skills. Massage therapy is an amazing tool in maintaining a healthy body.
-
I really benefited from massage in healing my wrist. I injured it over doing split grip poses.
I go to a trainee massage therapist. She’s blind, and as a result has been treating braille users for a long time so is a wrist/hand specialist. I took note of what she did and then took to massaging my arm. wrist and hand nightly. I also started training again as well. After training I’d ice my arm up to the elbow for 15-20mins. Then I’d massage it for about 15-20 minutes before bed,
I suffered that injury for 10 months and had physiothearapy that only worked for a little bit. 1.5 months of ice and massage solved it for me. I’m still training the strength up on that wrist though and gradually re-introducing split-grips.
-
@peaceloveblonde…funny thing is that I was looking back at my old practice videos and noticed I would constantly shake my hands to relieve tension/tightness in my forearm muscles. I think it’s important to identify any pain you’re having and linking it to what you’ve been doing, so you can avoid any pitfalls. If you’re feeling pain in your arm lay low for a while, do research on the beneficial stretches, definitely see an orthopaedic surgeon (as azzwoo adviced) and take it from there. @azzwoo…going to try out the icing and the NSAIDs the orthopaedic surgeon prescribed that I’ve been avoiding to take. I don’t feel any pain unless I try to internally rotate my forearm. The pain is at the outside of my wrist. I don’t feel any numbness in the pinky and half of ring finger though. At times some burning pain around the elbow. The stretches I’ve been doing does help some. But the healing process at the wrist is taking so long.
@mrsfloppyears…thank you for the advice! I’ve been considering that, but never knew that massage therapists actually specialize in certain areas. So good to know!! I’m definitely going to locate one in the area.
@svarri…glad to know massage therapy really works wonders! -
What muscles should I massage for this issue??? Forearm? elbow? Bicep??
-
This is an issue I constantly have to deal with. I already have tendonitis from years of gardening. 2 months into poling I stressed my wrist and forearm while doing a spin. I had 2 months of physical therapy. I iced every night and took anti-inflammatories during that initial healing. I still have issues, mainly when I spin on static mode. I try to avoid those. Since the injury is older I ice first, but then follow with heat. Once the muscles are warm, I use my foam roller back and forth from wrist to elbow (see Veena's foam roller lessons). When I finish with that, I use my thumb to massage from elbow toward wrist only (away from the heart). Next, I manually massage my hand. Then I also do the wrist stretches. I purchased a good quality, adjustable hand grip and I give this a squeeze 10 reps on each side, 3 times. This is to help strengthen the muscles and is the last step in my routine. It's a pain in the arse, but it keeps me poling! Good luck!
-
Okay thanks. I'll have to start this I guess.
-
I purchased Hammacher Schlemmer http://www.hammacher.com/Product/77310?promo=search&query=77310&PID=4018641&source=cj
to massage my tight forearm muscles due to having cubital tunnel syndrome, and I also love this item http://flextend.com/symptomscubitaltunnel.html to help simultaneously strengthen and lenghten my short and tight forearm muscles.,…and I swear by it. My condition is far too advanced to heal on its own, so I'll need surgery. However, my husband began experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome due to typing and began using these products and now he's all good. Good luck, and don't let the condition worsen. Rest more days in between poling. I've been really busy with getting certified as a Pilates instructor, and haven't had much time to invest in Poling, but I'm glad I've given my arms lots of rest. Every now and then I get an itch for it and do manage to put some time into it, but I pay close attention to how my arms feel and take at least a couple days of rest in between.
-
That second link didn’t work for some reason.
Log in to reply.