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Question
About 2 months ago i had some pain shooting down the back of my arm when lying in bed proped on my left arm, it persisted for a week or so, i figured it was a tight muscle and i preceeded to stretch it for a few days, and then one day i realized that the long head of my left triceps had stopped flexing/contracting completly, there was no bruising and no pain, it has not flexed since, i can work out fine, the other two heads seem to have picked up the slack, it happened about two months ago, i have had two doctors tell me that i just have an overdeveloped right arm, which i know is bs, i can straighten my arm as hard as possible and the long head just wont flex, and does not respond when working out.
Dear Jim,
Sounds like you have one of two problems. Either you have avulsed (torn) off the long head of the tricep, which means that it would need to be re-attached,(this should create a visible lump on the back of the arm) or you have somehow compromised the nerve supply to the muscle...possibly in the neck at the C7 or C8 nerve roots, but more likely at the terminal branches of the radial nerve that innervate the long head of the tricep.
The only true way to determine is there is a nerve supply problem to the long head is with electrodiagnostic testing such as a nerve conduction velocity test. This will measure the conductivity of the nerve supply to the muscle, and then it may be possible to actually stimulate a contraction of the tricep. this would have to be performed by a neurologist, however this test is often limited to large diameter nerves and may not be able to ascertain damage to only one head.
I would suggest that you seek out another opinion, and make sure that you go to an neurologist or orthopedist who specializes in sports injury only. You want someone who works exclusively on athletes for the best assessment.
Hope this helps Jim. I wish you the best of luck.
Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net
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Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
Expertise
I can answer questions on general chiropractic care, sports injury, whiplash and auto crash, mild traumatic brain injury, structural and functional rehabilitation of the spine, nutrition for inflammation and repair, fitness training, nutrition for sports performance and other general health and nutrition related inquiries. I currently lecture on automobile trauma, occupant kinematics, and forensic risk analysis to local EMS, Fire and Police, as well as nutrition and sports injury to community groups. Rest assured all answers are generated from my clinical experience, and scientific research.
Experience
I have accumulated over 1100 hours of post-doctoral training to include; Certifications in Spinal Trauma and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma from the International Chiropractic Association, Certification in Low Speed Auto Crash Reconstruction and Certification in Forensic Risk Analysis from The Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Certified Proficiency in spinal and extremity diagnostic procedures from The Motion Palpation Institute, Certified in Sports Injury and Rehabilitation from the National University of Health Sciences and The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, Nationally Certified Fellow of Structural Rehabilitation from The Chiropractic Biophysics Organization, and I have advanced training in manipulation under anesthesia and nutrition. Feel free to check out my website for course listings: www.suncoasthealthcare.net
Organizations
International Chiropractic Association, Florida Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, American Academy of Pain Management, Chiropractic Biophysics, Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Motion Palpation Organization, American Academy of Manual and Physical Medicine, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce
Education/Credentials
B.A. (Psychology)The University of Cincinnati
B.S. (Human Biology)Cleveland Chiropractic College
D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) Cleveland Chiropractic College
C.C.S.T. (Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma)The International Chiropractic Association
C.C.S.P. (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician)The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians.
*CCST and CCSP 120 hour certification courses are not recognized by the Florida Chiropractic Board due to the fact that they are not 300 hour diplomate level courses*
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