numbness from drinking

[eits]

So you're advocating self diagnosis and/or Internet diagnosis?

Neither of those are usually ever good ideas. That's the main reason the other guy was arguing with you so much. People should see a medical doctor first. If that doctor wants to refer them to a specialist of some kind, then that's fine. But to get the general public (the same people that give the Darwin Award a purpose) self diagnosing when they 1) have no idea what the hell they're doing and only think they do 2) can't run tests of any kind, then it becomes kind of an idiotic and moot action.

?? when did i advocate that?

to use an analogy of what i did advocate, i basically said that it makes sense for a person to go to the grocery store if they want to bake a loaf of bread and a hardware store if they want to saw a tree or something. it doesn't make sense to go to the grocery store to buy a chainsaw.

going to a medical doctor for something like this would waste time and money, especially when the likelihood is that they'd just give a prescription. it makes more sense to treat the problem that's causing the symptoms rather than just treating the symptoms, which is what a chiropractor would do.

 

[Gooberlx2]

To top it off, I have a mild migraine.

More likely a headache. Drink some water, you're probably dehydrated.

You'd know damn well if you had a migraine. My wife's "mild" migraines would incapacitate most people. Her bad ones take us to the ER.

 

[eits]

I agree with most of what you say, I just don't see it being any more likely that it's an issue located in the cervical spine, than an issue located in the elbow.

let's assume the problem's in the elbow and not the neck (even though it's FAR more common to have neck issues than elbow issues). the op hit his elbow hard enough to cause an ulnar neuropathy for two days without realizing, "ow, my elbow really hurts"? that just doesn't happen.

is it possible that he's got a misaligned elbow causing irritation to the nerve? absolutely, but it's not nearly as common as the same basic principle occurring at the neck.

it's one of those "hunting for horses, not zebras" things, i guess. is it possible it's the elbow? absolutely. is it likely? sure. is it more likely that it's the elbow than the neck? i don't think so.

 

[TheVrolok]

going to a medical doctor for something like this would waste time and money, especially when the likelihood is that they'd just give a prescription. it makes more sense to treat the problem that's causing the symptoms rather than just treating the symptoms, which is what a chiropractor would do.

This is only true if you're right. If, however, he's got lateral epicondylitis or bursitis that's putting pressure on his ulnar nerve then he's wasting time/money at a chiropractor. I'm not saying that's the case, it could be cervical, but you seem to state your opinion as fact, when in reality, the other side of the argument is equally as valid. Honestly, I'd say that the OP give it another couple days and see where things are. Unless he's got great insurance and would pay next to nothing for a GP/chiro visit, then what the hell.

 

[TheVrolok]

it's one of those "hunting for horses, not zebras" things, i guess. is it possible it's the elbow? absolutely. is it likely? sure. is it more likely that it's the elbow than the neck? i don't think so.

I think that's your training as a chiropractor speaking, though. I'm not sure all physicians would agree with that assessment.

 

[tcsenter]

but it goes away... your hand wakes up and you're back to normal until you put your elbow on another horizontal surface.

It goes away after a couple hours. Its become a chronic thing. I've had it for 10+ years now.

 

[eits]

This is only true if you're right. If, however, he's got lateral epicondylitis or bursitis that's putting pressure on his ulnar nerve then he's wasting time/money at a chiropractor. I'm not saying that's the case, it could be cervical, but you seem to state your opinion as fact, when in reality, the other side of the argument is equally as valid. Honestly, I'd say that the OP give it another couple days and see where things are. Unless he's got great insurance and would pay next to nothing for a GP/chiro visit, then what the hell.

how so? i've treated tennis elbow and bursitis plenty with perfect success. ice it, ultrasound it, cold laser it, adjust it, and rest it... the end. then, try and teach proper exercises and biomechanics so it doesn't happen as much in the future.

 

[eits]

I think that's your training as a chiropractor speaking, though. I'm not sure all physicians would agree with that assessment.

it's more likely to have an issue in the spine than in the elbow. why? because it's a load-bearing structure that degenerates a lot faster than elbows, especially when under improper structural stresses. that's not my chiropractic education speaking, man... that's just facts.

yes, some other doctors may disagree, but i think a majority of them, when told that someone's got what seems to be cervicogenic headaches for the past two days and paresthesia over the right c8 dermatome for the past two days, they wouldn't look at the elbow. they'd look at the neck.

 

[eits]

It goes away after a couple hours. Its become a chronic thing. I've had it for 10+ years now.

exactly. it doesn't stay for two days. the op's had the issue for the past two days.

 

[tcsenter]

exactly. it doesn't stay for two days. the op's had the issue for the past two days.

I was thinking more like the OP has been resting his arm or putting pressure on the ulnar nerve repeatedly. At some point, my problem transitioned from infrequent to daily. Come to find, I had been repeatedly resting my elbows on a desk every day for I don't know how long.

 

[Mark R]

So for the past two days I haven't been able to fully feel my right ring and pinky finger (I would say 85% of the sensation is there). To top it off, I have a mild migraine. Is this anything really serious? I will probably see a doctor soon. In the mean time, anyone experienced anything similar?

The most likely cause is some irritation of the ulnar nerve. This nerve is very easily pinched or pressed on, where it goes past the elbow (hence the name 'funny bone' - due to the strange feeling produced by hitting the ulnar nerve where it goes over the bone).

Alcohol, especially is a great cause for causing trouble with the ulnar nerve. When your wasted, you may sleep or lie in an awkward position - in particular, your normal reflexes during sleep are reduced and its very common for people who have had too much to drink, to put excess pressure on the ulnar nerve while they sleep. This causes some minor injury to the nerve, leading to the abnormal sensation in the ring/pinky fingers.

This type of minor injury usually resolves within a few hours - days. It depends on how hard, and for how long this was pressed. E.g. bad posture (elbows on desks) can cause this, but the symptoms resolve quickly, because people take their elbows off the desk when it gets uncomfortable. This doesn't always happen if one is asleep from drink, and the pressure can continue for many hours.

Ulnar nerve irritation is much more common than C8 irritation. Although, C8 could potentially cause this. However, C8 also gives sensation to the back of the thumb. If the thumb is OK, it's more likely to be an ulnar nerve problem, rather than a C8 problem.

However, if the OP's symptoms continue, then a neurologist shouldn't have too much difficulty telling the difference with a careful medical history and examination. If the examination isn't enough, electrical measurements from the nerve (nerve conduction studies) can not only identify the nerve, but the point along its length that is affected.

 

[eits]

I was thinking more like the OP has been resting his arm or putting pressure on the ulnar nerve repeatedly. At some point, my problem transitioned from infrequent to daily. Come to find, I had been repeatedly resting my elbows on a desk every day for I don't know how long.

again, it doesn't last for days whenever you relieve the pressure off the nerve.

 

[eits]

The most likely cause is some irritation of the ulnar nerve. This nerve is very easily pinched or pressed on, where it goes past the elbow (hence the name 'funny bone' - due to the strange feeling produced by hitting the ulnar nerve where it goes over the bone).

Alcohol, especially is a great cause for causing trouble with the ulnar nerve. When your wasted, you may sleep or lie in an awkward position - in particular, your normal reflexes during sleep are reduced and its very common for people who have had too much to drink, to put excess pressure on the ulnar nerve while they sleep. This causes some minor injury to the nerve, leading to the abnormal sensation in the ring/pinky fingers.

This type of minor injury usually resolves within a few hours - days. It depends on how hard, and for how long this was pressed. E.g. bad posture (elbows on desks) can cause this, but the symptoms resolve quickly, because people take their elbows off the desk when it gets uncomfortable. This doesn't always happen if one is asleep from drink, and the pressure can continue for many hours.

Ulnar nerve irritation is much more common than C8 irritation. Although, C8 could potentially cause this. However, C8 also gives sensation to the back of the thumb. If the thumb is OK, it's more likely to be an ulnar nerve problem, rather than a C8 problem.

However, if the OP's symptoms continue, then a neurologist shouldn't have too much difficulty telling the difference with a careful medical history and examination. If the examination isn't enough, electrical measurements from the nerve (nerve conduction studies) can not only identify the nerve, but the point along its length that is affected.

read what i wrote vrolok.

 

[tcsenter]

again, it doesn't last for days whenever you relieve the pressure off the nerve.

Again, it doesn't need to "last for days" when you are putting pressure on the nerve repeatedly each day, day after day.

I guess everyone with RSI neuropathy got it from a singular event that occurred months or years prior. Hence, the part about REPETITIVE.

 

[eits]

Again, it doesn't need to "last for days" when you are putting pressure on the nerve repeatedly each day, day after day.

I guess everyone with RSI neuropathy got it from a singular event that occurred months or years prior. Hence, the part about REPETITIVE.

the op said it was going on for two days

trust me, i know how things work. you don't need to explain it to me. pressure on a nerve causes the nerve to not work the way it should... i get that, believe me. it's like you're trying to explain how an alternator works to a mechanic.

i can pretty much guarantee you that the op's problem wasn't because he hit his funny bone or rested it on his desk or something.

dunno where the op is to give us an update, though...

 

[Mark R]

again, it doesn't last for days whenever you relieve the pressure off the nerve.

But what if the pressure is within the body?
Ulnar nerve entrapment is the 2nd commonest nerve compression syndrome, and its nearly as common as carpal tunnel (up to 10%). It's usually due to build up of fat around the nerve, causing compression.

Of course, a single (or repeated) incident of external pressure can exacerbate this, and may cause symptoms to develop when they weren't noticeable before.

Why is this not as plausible an explanation than a cervical root compression? Which is much less common statistically (less than 0.5% of people get this).

 

[BoomerD]

Hell...I always thought that was one of the reasons to drink...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFhI82A5MQM&feature=related

 

[eits]

But what if the pressure is within the body?
Ulnar nerve entrapment is the 2nd commonest nerve compression syndrome, and its nearly as common as carpal tunnel (up to 10%). It's usually due to build up of fat around the nerve, causing compression.

Of course, a single (or repeated) incident of external pressure can exacerbate this, and may cause symptoms to develop when they weren't noticeable before.

Why is this not as plausible an explanation than a cervical root compression? Which is much less common statistically (less than 0.5% of people get this).

because, for one, there's a headache component involved. headaches from a hangover don't last more than a day, typically. cervical misalignment could account for both the headache and the c8 root compression. also, for paresthesia to persist throughout two days in the c8 dermatome without trauma to the elbow or wrist is pretty uncommon.

what you're suggesting is that he drank alcohol and was soooo wasted that he hit his elbow on something hard enough to cause a neuropathy and cause a multi-day hangover headache? all without realizing, "man, my elbow hurts... i wonder what the hell i did last night"?

to me, it's more likely that the problem's in the neck.

 

[tcsenter]

trust me, i know how things work. you don't need to explain it to me. pressure on a nerve causes the nerve to not work the way it should... i get that, believe me. it's like you're trying to explain how an alternator works to a mechanic..

Right, and I've only been stocking shelves at Wal-Mart, not involved in two or three dozen ulnar nerve decompressions, a few of which included complete transpositions.

 

[eits]

Right, and I've only been stocking shelves at Wal-Mart, not involved in two or three dozen ulnar nerve decompressions, a few of which included complete transpositions.

why did you have to undergo that many decompressions? holy crap! talk about treating a symptom...

 

[tcsenter]

Are you drinking while reading ATOT?