Front elbow/arm numbness

I've never heard of anything like that. I would have him go to the Doctor.

I agree...go to the doctor!

bicep area, tricept area? forearms? all of the arms? check to see if its in a dermatome pattern ( google it ) if its dermatome in pattern it can be a nerve thing. if not , it could be a blood flow thing. funnybone area?

Numbness is going to be nerve. Depends on where the symptoms is to Dx the nerve impingment zone. To come and go from one swing to the next is odd though. I would think once it starts it is there until he is done with the activity. Here are 3 conditions to look up. Carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome. If it is his back arm it could have something to do with traction of the ulnar nerve also (funny bone) at the medial elbow.

He says it actually starts in his elbow and kind of shoots down his forearm towards his hand. Feels like he hit his funny bone. Front (left arm), Right handed hitter.

Doesn't happen often. Once every 3-4 sessions in the cage. A session consisting of 100-150 swings. So maybe once in 500 swings or more?

No doctor visit yet....it would take a pair of handcuffs and law enforcement to get him there. He's smart enough if it gets worse he'll tell me, or at least I hope so. If he doesn't...then there isn't much any of us can do.

Just thought someone else might have seen similar symptoms.

Thanks

I would then rule out a carpal tunnel and probably TOS. Sounds more like a impingment or adhesion of the ulnar nerve at the elbow.

Basically the nerve runs through a little groove at the medial elbow. This is where you bang it and say I hit my funny bone.

There are cases where it can have a build up of adhesions/scar tissue and then when the elbow is flexed or extended quickly you have nerve traction due the inability of the nerve to slide in this grove fast enough. The traction is going to cause a zinger you are talking about.

Im going to be bias here since Im a chiropractor. Look for a chiro/PT that knows Graston technique or active release technique (ART). Its always a good idea for a athlete to have one in their pocket anyway. Unfortunatly most PCP/MD are not going to know what to do for a neuromuscular condition. Probably refer to a PT if they are good.

yes, but the area we hit our ulnar nerve "funny bone" is really part of the olecranon process of the ulna, not part of the humerus. so the funny bone is not humerus. just a joke (probably not a funny one though) that i use in anatomy class.

i agree with the above post.... sounds like a nerve situation. could actually come from some misalignment of the cervical vertebrates. chiropractor may be what he needs.

quote:

Originally posted by 1BDad:
Anybody have a hitter who's arm sometimes goes numb while hitting?

Does he also pitch?

does he use a wood bat?

if i hit it wrong with a wood bat, it gives a numb sensation just for a second.

i'm not a doctor or medical professional, just sharing my experience.

Nope, doesn't pitch anymore. Plus it's his left arm, he throws right.

Happens with both wood and metal.

We'll see how it goes. It appears to be getting less and less often. Hopefully it will go away, if not, we'll deal with it.

Thanks for the input from everybody!!

Have him warm up his arms with stretching and push-ups before hitting.