I tweaked my left shoulder a month or so ago. Nothing horribly painful but definitely a notable discomfort. Since then I've lightened it up on shoulder lifting considerably and have begun doing rehab-type exercises for the joint.

Today, my left pinky (and somewhat, my ring) fingers feel a bit tingly - pins and needles type of tingly. If I bend my elbow, say to rest my chin on my fist, this tingling extends itself up my arm towards my shoulder. I'm convinced the shoulder tweak and this weird sensation are related... just not sure if this is something I should be too concerned about. I'm hoping it'll right itself if I keep up with the rehab.

The strange thing is it hadn't happened at all and then bam, this morning, there it is. And I haven't lifted since Saturday morning.

Anyone had anything similar? This is bugging me, and I'm worried it'll mentally affect my workout tonight.

- Matt, pissed.

It sounds more like a nerve problem than a circulation problem because of the radiation up the arm. The pattern of parathesia you describe (pinky and ring finger - is it only the half of your ring finger on the pinky side?) is the distribution of the ulnar nerve. Is there also a loss of sensation in any part of your arm or muscle weakness? Have you ever had anything like this before in any part of your body? To what part of your arm does the tingling radiate?

It sounds more like a nerve problem than a circulation problem because of the radiation up the arm. The pattern of parathesia you describe (pinky and ring finger - is it only the half of your ring finger on the pinky side?) is the distribution of the ulnar nerve. Is there also a loss of sensation in any part of your arm or muscle weakness? Have you ever had anything like this before in any part of your body? To what part of your arm does the tingling radiate?

Thanks for the reply.

If I had to say, yes, I think it's the left side of the ring finger towards the pinky.

I would not say there is any loss of sensation in my arm. As for muscle weakness, there may be, but it could also be mental now that I am worrying about this... I'll see how my workout tonight pans out.

When I bend my arm, the tingling goes up my arm to my elbow and seems to stop there. None of my upper arm or shoulder seem to be feeling this way.

EDIT: After googling Ulnar Nerve it seems to be exactly that... I'm going to try some of the reccomended changes, ie computer chair higher, no resting the elbow at a bent angle (ie sleeping or driving with the arm on the door) and see what happens.

It sounds more like a nerve problem than a circulation problem because of the radiation up the arm. The pattern of parathesia you describe (pinky and ring finger - is it only the half of your ring finger on the pinky side?) is the distribution of the ulnar nerve. Is there also a loss of sensation in any part of your arm or muscle weakness? Have you ever had anything like this before in any part of your body? To what part of your arm does the tingling radiate?

Well I've given it two weeks and it hasn't really changed much. It's either not a problem or it's numb off and on all day... varies.

I mentioned it to my doctor when I saw him last week about something else, and he said it didn't seem like a big deal and it happens to a lot of people.

The thing is, it's not getting any better. And at times, I know it affects my gripping strength, which sucks for deadlifts and stuff. Has anyone had experience with this? I'm scared of going back about it because if I have to get surgery on my arm, I'm out of the gym for months... and my grip will take even longer to recover, if it ever does... :( This is really stressing me out.

To me, it sounded a lot like either tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. I have had both, while I was in college majoring in music and practising hours every day. The repetetive motion was what let to my tingling, burning sensation. Anyway, here are some links to read up on both subjects and maybe that will help you determine more of what it might be.

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/carpal_tunnel.html (http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/carpal_tunnel.html)

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en.aspx?articleId=358&sectionId=7091

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/carpal_tunnel.html

another link, messed up the one above.