Tingling left thumb, index finger, ache in left forearm

by Denise
(Indiana)

Started with tingling in the left thumb about 8 weeks ago. The tingling started in the index finger about 2 weeks later and then the ache in my left forearm began. I stopped my daily workouts. My MD diagnosed a pinched nerve. I went to a chiropractor for treatment for 4 weeks, took steroids for 15 days and nothing has improved. I ice it several times a day and I'm taking Ibuprofen for the ache. What else can I do?

Hello Denise,
Well, the tingling in the thumb and forefinger, and ache in the forearm certainly points to a pinched nerve root in the neck - the C6 root.

Do a few tests for me:

1) Sitting, stretch your normal arm straight out to the side, palm forwards. Now stretch your arm backwards, extend the wrist, and SLOWLY tilt your head to the opposite side. Remember what you feel in your arm. Now repeat with the naughty arm. Is there a difference? If it's a pinched nerve, your lower arm will feel very tight, perhaps sore, tingling.

2)Place your hand on your head. Does it relieve or aggravate the pain in your forearm and hand?

3)Turn your head to the painful side, and look slowly upwards. Does it hurt in your neck? does the tingling start in your arm?

4) Take a pin and prick your thumb and forefinger, comparing sides. Is there a difference?

5) On hands and knees, do some gentle push ups. Does the triceps muscle in your upper arm tire more quickly than the good arm?

Do you have neck pain, and have X-rays been taken? I suspect you may have an old injury that has caused damage to the joints of Luschka. Type Luschka into the "Search this site" at the top of the Navigation bar at Chiropractic-Help.com (on the left), and you will get lots of info.

If no X-rays have been taken that would be my next step. Then perhaps an MRI. Then perhaps a different chiropractor!

I hope all this has contributed. Let me know.

Dr B.

PS. One last thing: Type "Home traction" into that search engine.

PS. Watch out for cortisone + antiinflammatories, they have hideous effects on your kidneys and stomach lining.

http://www.chiropractic-books.com/Dual-Antiinflammatory-Drugs.html