Prior to getting back in the gym, I started waking up in the middle of the night with pain in my shoulder. My arm would often fall asleep to the point that I couldn't feel it at all. After a week of this, I started getting generalized weakness in my left arm, with random bouts of pins and needles numbness beginning a third of the way down my radius and into my thumb. I did go see the doctor, and his suggestion was to rest and give it time. If that did not fix the issue, he wants me to come back and he'll refer me to a neurologist for a pin test to locate a pinched nerve.
I've started my workout regimen since this began. My shoulder does NOT hurt at night any longer, and the pins and needles numbness is very infrequent (though still happening). What is still persisting, however, is the generalized weakness. It isn't quite as noticeable when I'm doing shoulder exercises. Overhead dumbbell press or lateral raises feel fine. However, when I curl or do exercises requiring flexion of the left arm, I notice significant weakness. Some days are better than others.
I am conflicted on how to handle the issue. Exercise seems to have made many of the symptoms better. The weakness doesn't seem to be getting better. Since this occurred prior to working out, I'm not sure that rest is the answer either. And I honestly really, really don't want to have to see a neurologist if this is something I can fix with some therapy time in the gym, or with proper stretching. Any suggestions?
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