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  1. #1
    LDSlifter is offline New Member
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    Arm going numb...are all chiropractors anti-bodybuilding?

    Ok…so here’s the question. I’ve been lifting weights (with proper form) now since 1994. About two weeks ago I was working my shoulders and finished up with dumbbell raises, then did a little legwork. To make a long story short, I ended up getting real faint feeling, then my left arm felt like it was not getting any blood circulating in it and it tingled. So I figure I overdid something, but I never felt or heard anything unusual during the workout. It took about a day or so for the arm to feel normal again. It felt like there was no circulation in it although it did not turn blue.

    I waited another week, then tried to workout again. This time I was working the bench, did three sets of about 8 reps and sure enough my left arm started going numb again. This time my pinky and next finger and the inside of my palm tingled as if I had slept on it and it wasn’t getting any blood. Well it took about 3 days for that to go away and yet, now a week later, my arm still feels different and the tingling comes back quite easily as does sorta a dull ache in the tricep area.

    Today I went to a chiropractor who says my left shoulderblade is up to an inch lower than my right shoulderblade, that my neck alignment is straight when it should have a slight curve, and that my neck movement (turning left or right) is diminished up to 40% (so I’m not like Regan in the exorcist I guess). He also said I’ve injured my neck in some way and that it is having an effect on my arm. He then tells me he can fix the pain/numbness in my arm, but that I should never lift heavy weights again or it will come back even more fierce. He pretty much poo pooed weightlifting all together and sorta scolded me for not taking care of my body. Before I went to him, I interviewed him and he told me he has worked on numerous athletes and bodybuilders over his 25 years in the business. So I was hoping for somebody who would understand sports oriented medicine.

    I’m like…doc..look at me, I’m 5’11, 35 years old, 210 pounds at 9% bodyfat and you’re telling me I’m unhealthy? Bodybuilding to me is like “crack” to an addict. I can’t even imagine life without lifting at least three times a week. I’m quite perplexed to say the least.

    So…have you guys ever had this sort of arm/shoulder injury? Should I get a second opinion or a different chiropractor? How long did it take to be rehabilitated? Did it come back? Are chiropractors nuts? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

    Thanks

    LDSlifter


  2. #2
    tatty's Avatar
    tatty is offline Member
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    Always get a second opinion, especially if it comes down to you quitting lifting (hope not). Whatever the case though, take care of your body and I really DO hope you recover 110%. I hope I never have to make that choice.

    Good luck bro.

  3. #3
    ripped4fsu's Avatar
    ripped4fsu is offline Anabolic Member
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    I would go see an actual Doctor (Orthopedist preferably). You might find your symptoms are not related to BB at all.

  4. #4
    Pheedno is offline Respected Member
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    Originally posted by ripped4fsu
    I would go see an actual Doctor (Orthopedist preferably). You might find your symptoms are not related to BB at all.
    Very true. Also a vascular specialist might be a good idea.
    Left arm numbness is a sign of a possible heart problem. Get a second opinion definately.

  5. #5
    chicamahomico's Avatar
    chicamahomico is offline Respected Member
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    I've had every shoulder injury there ever was.

    If you have no preexisting injuries that weren't caused by the weightlifting then most likely you have some sort of shoulder impingement. Non acute injuries along the shoulder girdle are almost always caused by a postural fault or muscle(s) shortening in close proximity of the shoulder girdle. I doubt you have heart problems. Heart attack pain starts as as tightening/squeezing in the chest then often radiates over the left shoulder and down the arm. But who wants to be the guy who said don't bother going to the doctor? Go see an MD, it can't hurt.

    With regards to seeing a chiro and never being able to lift again. Tell this guy thanks but see someone else. Go to a physiotherapist, preferably one who works with atheletes on a regular basis. I have never heard of an structural injury that required a person to quit exercising entirely and I challenge the readers of AR to find one.

  6. #6
    Tapout's Avatar
    Tapout is offline Senior Member
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    heres some news for ya bro
    i agree in some cases a regular dr should be seen but not all cases. my first big experience with a chiro was when i was doing squats. it was 97 area and i hit 500 for the first time but in doing so i heard a pop in my neck. within a few minutes i had a headache that felt like a hammer hit it. it got so bad that i went to the hosiptal,3 hrs later and after a cat scan,talk of a spinal tap and sinus x-rays they gave me drugs and told me to go to a neuroligist. my dad and brother both saw this chiro so i took their advice and went to him. my bp was 180/100 and head pounding,also could barley turn my head. he examined me and looked at my x-rays---within 30 minutes of walking in he adjusted my neck(scared the hell out of me) my bp was back down to 130/70 and headache was gone.
    i saw him a few other times and was fine---thank God i went to him

    now for your type injury
    i had a bad neck injury again in jan of 99 caused by jui jitsu. i had my head snapped fighting then in class 2 days later i did choke escape drills. when i woke up the next am my right arm was numb and almost gone(meaning could barley use it)
    it turned out that i crushed the bracheal nerve in my neck. my arms were 18" at the time and within 2 months my right arm went down to 15",shoulder was sunk in(the nerve i crused affected those muscles and they were getting no stimulus) and i went from being able to do 60-70lb side laterals(yes 60-70 lb) to barley being able to do 5lbs
    i went to a new chiro covered by my insurance he almost killed me--he hurt it worse. so i went to reg dr. who did mri and sent me to neurologist. they talked about surgery and a halo,did a eletrical stimulus test putting needles in my muscles and testing electrical current(i had none in those muscles)--see just because you lift weights dont mean you get big-there is constant electrical stimulus to the muscles without it they shrink bad.
    they decided to try heavy doses of prednisone(anticatabolic steroids )which ate my muscles more and i went back to my old chiro who read xrays and mri and did adjustments and electrical therapy.with his help(we was a sports chiro who also worked on many athletes but also is a athlete himself)i got better almost immediately
    they said that since the nerve was crushed and not cut i was reparing and did not have to grow full way back
    it took 6 months before i could lift and 1 and 1/2 years before i could lift hard
    so now here i am at 248 and 19% bf from 240 at 30% bf in a little over 2 years....so yes you should get a second opinion but chiros work great and there is no reason that you should not be able to lift again. i lifted again and i had a bad injury

    good luck bro

  7. #7
    King Samson's Avatar
    King Samson is offline Associate Member
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    they decided to try heavy doses of prednisone(anticatabolic steroids)which ate my muscles more and i went back to my old chiro who read xrays and mri and did adjustments and electrical therapy.
    He means prednisone (catablolic steroid )....but anyways

  8. #8
    chicamahomico's Avatar
    chicamahomico is offline Respected Member
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    it turned out that i crushed the bracheal nerve in my neck.
    OUCH! I've taken some nasty shots to the brachial over the years. Been ko'd from a punch to the brachial where it runs up the neck, had deadarm for a several days after taking a punch to the shoulder ( brachial plexus tie-in ). Moral of the story: effective place to hit!


    was a sports chiro who also worked on many athletes but also is a athlete himself
    The more I talk to people about sports injuries the more I believe that finding medical professonals that are athlete oriented or athletes themsleves is the sole most important thing for active people seeking attention.

  9. #9
    Tapout's Avatar
    Tapout is offline Senior Member
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    yea king samson thats what i meant i was tired
    chic--our instructor has all our punches going to the chin or bracheal--your right very effective--i had dead arm into numb arm for several weeks
    worse pain i ever had the burning was unbearable--lasted for weeks--i had to sleep sitting on recliner if i laid down arm would go numb and hurt also neck would hurt
    took more drugs than elvis presely for 3-4 months

  10. #10
    doctorb is offline New Member
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    Bad form and not warming properly causes a lot of injuries.Blood circulation plays a major role in bb and other sports. My hands were numb last year I figured out that due to shoulders dislocation and my imbalance of the behind the neck causes it.

  11. #11
    Carlos_E's Avatar
    Carlos_E is offline National Level Bodybuilder/Hall of Famer/RETIRED
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    Quote Originally Posted by doctorb
    Bad form and not warming properly causes a lot of injuries.Blood circulation plays a major role in bb and other sports. My hands were numb last year I figured out that due to shoulders dislocation and my imbalance of the behind the neck causes it.
    Wow, you just bumped a 2 year old thread.

  12. #12
    bluethunder is offline Anabolic Member
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    Chiropractors for me have help tremendously!! Recently been going for lower back pain. After x-rays he told me I was a mutant. Its guys like me that put chiropractors kids thru college. What he meant was instead of 24 vertabrates on spine I have 24 1/2!! Had many back x-rays before never knew!! But be carefull not all chiropractors are good

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