surgey on left arm?

[hurtinalaska]

On Janurary 21 i had surgery o my left arm for radial nerve entrapment.
I was working on my truck when i put my arm up with no pressure on it just reaching up it popped. Instant numbness. Before this i was experancing tightness and fatige in both my arms. The muscle in both arms would also just start twitching and at times my fingers,wrist would lock up. Was this from my radial nerves acting up. I have been lifting over 30,000 lbs a day for 10 years would this have caused my radial nerve entrapment? My muscle in my left arm have atrofedd so much that you can see how small the arm is compared to the right. Any thought are welcome.

[Heidi]

Hi
Symptoms of radial entrapment are similar to that of tennis elbow, so yes the tenderness and weakness in your forearm was most likely caused by the impingement.

Your radial nerve innervates the muscles of the posterior compartment of the forearm. As nerves allow the muscle to move, if the nerve becomes impinged or pinched the signal sent through the nerve does not reach the muscle as it should which can lead to twitching and "locking".

The fact that you lift a lot of weight may well have caused your problem as overuse is a big factor in developing radial nerve impingement. Your arm will also have atrophied because the nerve signal is not getting through properly so the muscles are not being used as they would normally, leading to weakness and wasting.

I hope this helps

Heidi

[hurtinalaska]

The doctor who did the surgury told me that it was from me working on my truck and she did not listen when i told her i had no pressure on the arm. I explained to her what my job was and she went with the event. Is it to late to apply for worker comp. I am still haveing pain in both my elbows and it feels like it is at the joints were the tendons attach. Also tender. My work is putting a lot of pressure for me to come back and i have recived a letter for possible termination. What can i tell them? Heidi thanks for your help.

[Heidi]

I don't know how it works out there! But here if you can't work you must see the Dr to get signed off.
I would recommend trying a physical therapist. They may be able to manipulate the muscles around the elbow and forarm to loosen them off which should help.

Heidi