Daily Mobility Exercises by Dr. Kelly Starrett › Forums › General › numb hands not caused by carpal tunnel syndrome

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    • 03/05/2015 at 12:08 pm #71285
      AvatarAshley Symons
      Participant

      I have radial nerve entrapment somewhere between the c-spine and my elbow. My  hands fall asleep when I do not sleep on my back which isn’t often and when I ride my motorcycle. I have taken the Phalens test and have no numbness or pain no matter how long I stay in the Phalens position (2+ mins). I have done all the mobs to my forearms ( smashed, floss and tack w raquetball, voodoo bands, banded distraction on the wrist) it didn’t make a difference on the numbness when on the bike, which leads me to believe its radial nerve impingement between the c-spine and elbow. What are some specific mobs I can use to help releive this? Thanks for any suggestions

    • 03/06/2015 at 8:50 am #75826
      AvatarTrevor Franck
      Participant

      Mr. Keisler,

      Have you explored your upper trapezius or you triceps on that side for trigger points? I commonly have patients that come in with radicular pain that is caused by trigger points or myofascial pain which can be mistaken for nerve pain. Start there and see. Keep us updated.

    • 03/06/2015 at 11:39 am #75834
      AvatarAshley Symons
      Participant

      I’ve started working on my traps, neck, and shoulder area. I haven’t had a chance to get on the bike and retest due to weather. What is the best way to mobilize the neck area (scalenes?) Thanks for your advice!

    • 03/09/2015 at 8:10 am #75840
      AvatarTrevor Franck
      Participant

      That’s a tough area to mobilize but I use manual therapy exclusively in clinic to apply constant pressure through trigger points in that area because it can be severely tender to patients. So I haven’t used any other methods that I can say are effective. You are your own N of 1 so try anything that you may think to be effective and of course let us know.

    • 03/09/2015 at 11:42 am #75842
      AvatarNathan Richer
      Participant

      IMHO scalenes very tough area to mob. i’ve seen Kstarr take a Yogatuneup ball and use it’s grippy surface to twist the fascia on the scalenes.

      i personally have tried using a lacrosse ball on the scalenes against a door jam and it seems to do OK. i tack the scalene area and then bend the head/neck away from that area.
      you can also try some of the banded mobilizations on the arm that pull the arm away from the joint towards the side/rear and then bend the head/neck away from the mobilized shoulder.
      i also like the ball in first rib mobs, either on door jam or with a strap holding the ball in the area. i set it up, and then bend the head/neck away.  in some recent videos, roop is using the point of a gemini against a door jam to jam into the first rib and mob it that way. then bend the head/neck away to work the neck.
    • 03/10/2015 at 4:21 pm #75844
      AvatarAshley Symons
      Participant

      Thanks for the tips. I will give them a try!

    • 03/18/2015 at 11:40 am #75859
      AvatarKatie Hemphill
      Participant

      Hey Zachary,

      What part of your hand goes numb? Have you implicated the radial nerve only based on the Phalen’s test?
      Also, Joel, you notice that he is complaining chiefly of numbness in the hands, right, not radiating pain?
    • 03/19/2015 at 11:21 am #75861
      AvatarAshley Symons
      Participant

      Thumb, first and middle finger. I don’t have any pain just numbness.  I have started doing some mobs on the neck, first rib and shoulders. What I have noticed is that if I keep my shoulders externally rotated when I’m on the bike it seems to help, don’t know if its the rotation or the mobs, or a combination of both but it has made a difference.

    • 01/31/2021 at 2:28 pm #478841
      Avatarezrangclark
      Participant

      Ashley. Did you find a specific list of mobility therapies that works for your symptomes? Im having the same issue with numbness in the thimb index and middle fi gers. THANKS!

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