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Question
About a year ago, I woke up in the morning with a terrible pain in my left shoulder, got progressively worse during the day, and by the end of the day I was in the ER and was having some numbness in my left hand and thumb. They did xrays, gave me anti-inflammatory drugs and pain meds. The severe pain subsided almost immediately and I was left with achiness in my arm, which over a few months gradually got better. My question is, the area still gets achy, and although my thumb is not totally numb, it is numbish if that makes any sense. My x-rays just showed some slight detioration and some very slight narrowing. Is this something a chiropractor could help me with? Is the numbish feeling in my thumb due to nerve damage? My MD told me it would most likely return to normal in time.
Chris,
This is a very common condition. The numbness, or "paresthesia", as it's called is often a reflection of some level of nerve irritation. There does not necessarily need to be damage, but instead any offending pressure, irritation or congestion around a nerve will cause paresthesias of different sorts, whether it be numbness or tingling. Damage to the nerve will cause loss of reflexes or loss of strength. If you have all your stregths in your arms, hands, fingers, then you likely have no nerve damage. The nerve that goes to the thumb is a brance of the 6th cervical nerve...very common. You should try some manual treatment with a chiropractor to see if the combination of joint manipulation and soft tissue massage clears it up.
'Hope this helps.
Dr. G
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- Scott F. Gillman, DC, DACBSP
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Scott F. Gillman, DC, DACBSP
Expertise
21 Years in practice: I can answer any question regarding chiropractic and sports medicine treatment. Mostly, I can help the unknowing public understand what is safe, valid, reasonable and evidence-based, and what kinds of unscrupulous chiropractors and fraudulent methods to stay away from. I have an advanced specialty degree in Chiropractic Sports Medicine. I have experience treating elite and Olympic athletes.
Experience
Experience:
- 21 years in practice;
- Pan American Games, 2011: Official Medical Staff for the Pan Am Games.
- Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: World Olympians Associan and International Sports Chiropractic Association Healthcare Team;
- International Chiropractic Sports Sciences Diploma;
- Official Provider: Jamaican Track and Field team for Penn Relays (2009-2011)
- Experience with USA Gymnastics Healthcare team and International Powerlifting Association Medical Staff;
- 300 hour chiropractic sports medicine diplomate degree (DACBSP); International Chiropractic Sports Sciences Diploma (ICSSD)
- Healthcare Consultant: Century, Ty-Wood Corp. Holliston, MA (2005-2007)
- Team Chiropractor: Boston Bulldogs USL D-3 & Boston Renegades USL W-1 League (1999-2004)
- Independent Examiner: Scope Medical and The Physician's Network
- Professional/Clinical Monitor: Affiliated Monitors, Inc.
- Board of Directors: MetroWest Chamber of Commerce (Massachusetts)2000-2006
- "The Impact of Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy on Chronic Recurrent Lateral Ankle Sprain Syndrome in Two Young Athletes" J. of Chiro Med , Fall 2004
- "Work Related Injury;" The Hanover Report, June, 1993
- "Long Lasting Analgesic Effect of Oxymorphonazine in Rats;" Agonists and Antagonists III, n.7675, 1985
- BS Biology, Doctor of Chiropractic: Northwestern College of Chiropractic,
- Diplomate: American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP)
Education/Credentials
Doctor of Chiropractic Diplomate: American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians
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