United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi,
Yesterday I started to have a sharp pain on the inside elbow of my affected arm. The forearm is tingling, as well as all of my fingers. The pain seems to happen when I move my shoulder and lasts from 1-10 minutes but the tingling is constant. The doctor wants me to wear a sling, but the messages I have read from this list, I'm scared it would make my problem worse. The only problem I have had with my arm in the past is the limited movement and then having occasional muscle spasms if I overused it (27 years). I went to my school doctor and they said it was some type of nerve problem and want to refer me to a specialist but I'm in school and if this is something that will just go away I don't want to have to spend the money. I read the book she was using to diagnose it, and it said the problem will go away naturally and to take pain medication. Has anyone else had this problem?

Hi Tina

I was probably about 30 when my erbs arm started having what I call "issues". In fact, that's the last time I climbed a tree to prune it. I got stuck and couldn't get down. My kids got a good laugh at that one. Now at 58, I wish I would have given my arm a little time to rest after I over used it instead of just pushing on. But with three kids, a job, a home etc, etc I just pushed thu it hoping it would go away.

It is nerve damage, but now days, when I overuse my arm, and it doesn't take much if anything to get it flared up, I don't have a choice but to let it rest. I don't have any answers for you, but I, like others, really do know how you feel. I guess I have had to look at it like a gradual decline. I really don't want to sound negative and I don't know if your situation could be helped with surgury as everyone's situation is so different.

I do know the weather plays a big part in how the arm feels along with the overuse issue. For what's it worth, I had a very old, but wise doc at one time and he had me put up a bar between the door way and hang (tip toes) so that the scar tissue would not build up so quickly. Hurt like the devil but I as a little older than you when I started that. I haven't done that in years, but I wish I would have kept that up. They call that hind sight LOL Good Luck and maybe another poster might have some good ideas for you. Sharon

Hi Tina,

I see this is a little late, as I just found these boards. I have been experiencing the elbow pain recently, and it seemed to come up out of nowhere. It is a kind of an intermittant pain, comes in for about 30 seconds and then leaves for about a minute or two... a very sharp stabbing pain, and to be honest, it is getting to be more than I can handle! I have never addressed this issue with my doctor, because most of the doctors I have seen are USELESS when it comes to the discussion of my bpi. Please let me know if you get any info about it, and good luck!

Shelly