Expert: Scott F. Gillman, DC, DACBSP - 10/31/2008

Question
Hi there,
I am currently recovering from a broken ankle, and did not lift weights during the first four weeks of my recovery.  However, about a week ago, I decided to do a bicep workout.  About an hour after the workout, I tried to bend my left arm back and scratch my back with my left hand, and I felt a sharp, intense pain in the area of my lower tricep near the elbow.  Since then, I have felt a tingling sensation in my left triceps when I am on my crutches, and tonight I moved my arm backwards and suddenly felt an intense sharp, burning pain in my lower left triceps. The tingling is not constant, but when I first get out of bed or off the couch and get on my crutches, I feel the odd tingling/burning sensation in my lower left triceps.    
I was just curious what might be causing this? I hypothesized that it might be a partial tear of my triceps or triceps tendon, but this is just a guess.  I was also wondering what you think the healing time for an injury such as mine might be?  Thanks a lot for the help.


Answer
Kirk,

From what you're describing, I'm assuming you have been on crutches.  This puts pressure on the area of the arm pit, near where nerves traverse to get to your arm and hand.  I doubt highly that you tore a triceps.  I think you have irritated a nerve in and around the arm pit zone and it is causing the odd sensations in the triceps area.  THerefore, if this is true, then the healing time would depend on you not putting the crutch under the left arm pit.  If you've developed a sudden nerve compression, and there is no adhesion of tissue around it, then it should fizzle out in a week or two.  Otherwise, it could take a bit of manual therapy to release the area.   In order to tear your triceps, a heavy weight would have to drop on to you...  Lastly, just to make sure you have not developed "crutch palsy," have someone look at your shoulder blades.  Go into a push up position on the floor and see if the left blade "wings" out compared to the right.  If you have this, it confirms that a nerve in your axilla (arm pit) was compromised.  This, too, heals with time in nearly all cases.

'Hope this helps.

Dr. G