Hi,
Lately I've been getting these sorts of things going up my arm, like electric shocks, when I do bicep curls using my set of dumbells. I was fine with this weight, untill about 2 weeks ago, since then they've been putting me off from using those dumbells. Anyone know what the cause for these "shocks" might be?

It sounds a lot like what I have been getting in my lower back during deadlifts. I asked about it in this thread: tingle (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=8828) . Unfortunately, nobody knew the answer to mine either. I hope you get some replies. Might shed some light on whats going on with me.

I know exactly the feeling, and I'd have to give the same half-assed response I gave in the other thread about deadlifts :) I think that it is a nerve, but I have nothing else of worth to say on the matter :o

I guess I'll have to ask my doctor or something, I'm too scared to continue lifting once the shocks kick in. Perhaps you might beat me to it, if you do please tell me what happens.

Which part of the arm? (I guess this shows that I don't exactly know of what you speak...)

I feel it most in my fingers, but its the whole arm from bicep down.

I used to have these. I'm not 100% of what was happening, but I believe that a nerve was getting pinched or a vein was getting pinched and preventing proper bloodflow to the fingers.

Either way, I stopped doing curls for a while and focused on all compound lifts and gained some size. When I went back to curls, my arms were bigger and the nerve or vein didn't get pinched.

Note that I still did curls for a while even with the tingling. I would stop if it got to be too much, and I would start again after a rest and the tingling going away.

I feel it most in my fingers, but its the whole arm from bicep down.
If you get a tingling sensation in your index, middle- and ring-finger along with an electric shock sensation in your palm you could be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Consult your doctor.

Now, if you get a tingling sensation in your pinky- and ring-finger, then it could be an ulnar tunnel syndrome.

In either case, I recommend visiting a doctor, since I sure am not one! :D

Is it in one arm or both arms?

I had a similar problem from poor posture at my work desk. After typing away for a while, I would get electric shocks and tingles running down my left arm. I ignored it, and continued to put in lots of hours using my crappy pc desk (I work from home). Eventually, I couldnt feel my pinky and ring finger - although I still had full control of them, but they were numb. So I finally went to the doctor and we figured it out.

Whodathunk posture at your desk was important (no leaning on your elbows people)

If it runs down your arm, it sounds like a trapped nerve. If its not painful, lay off whatever causes the "shock", and rest up for a while.

I had one doing shrugs, and whenever i put a weight down on the floor, the moment, the floor took the weight off me, it shot right down my arm from my traps. Not really painful though. But more "uncomfortable". I rested from traps, and a few weeks later, then shooting sensation had gone.

Cant hurt to see a quack though, always better to be safe then sorry. But i wouldnt worry. A traped nerve is probably the cause.

On a side note, you tend to get trapped nerves from poor form, or from lifting with a stabiliser, like your rotory cuff etc. Lifting heavy dumbells of the rack with one arm is a common cause. :nod: