Shooting pain in left arm - know what it is?

[jujitsuka07]

The past two days, I have had an occational shooting pain in my left arm going from my shoulder down to my wrist along the lung? meridian that seems to temporarily paralyze my arm.

My first thought was 'pinched nerve' because I get pinched nerves alot that temporarily paralyse a muscle, but this felt nothing at all like a pinched nerve. It was WEIRD! My coworkers said it may be a heart attack, but at my young age, that would be very rare.

I can't go to the doctor about it right now because I can't afford it and have no insurance. Does anyone know what this might be???

[Taoquan]

This is a early warning sign of a heart attack and/or stroke. you really should get this checked out asap. do what you must but get it checked out, even in my school we don't mess around with sensations like this.
Though you have had it for a few days, still better safe than sorry. If it is not anything serious than look into other options.

[Stevebjj]

How old are you?

http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/heart_attack_young_healthy_people.htm

There's an article, but I'd be concerned. You may be young, but you may also have some kind of congenital defect that you've never known about. Some people do, and as an athlete (presumably) you might be stressing an already weak heart.

Point being, it's impossible to know, but you shouldn't take chances with things like this. Go to the doctor and get it checked out. Many areas have free clinics or subsidized clinics where you can go and pay on a scale. If you have to do that, so be it. That's my take, at least.

[jujitsuka07]

How old are you?

I'm in my late teens.

[prowla]

My advice is to see a doctor, and tell him exactly what you are feeling and doing.

That's what I did.
I've been having a pain at the front of my right shoulder, which can go down my arm to my thumb.
It turns out it's a problem with my neck!
If you count the vertebrae (the round sections of bone that make up your neck and spine), my 6th & 7th are compressed (ie. closer together) at the back than they should be.
It's possibly caused by bad posture (sitting at computers!), but there may be other factors too.
I've been to see a doctor and physio, and have some exercises to help. (I didn't like the bit where he made my back pop though!)
And it is improving.
The biggest benefit for me in MA terms was that I found out that there is nothing wrong with my shoulder & arm, and so I could get on with my training alright.

Anyway, as I say, see that doctor!
(Hope it's good news...)

[thecycle]

The past two days, I have had an occational shooting pain in my left arm going from my shoulder down to my wrist along the lung? meridian that seems to temporarily paralyze my arm.

My first thought was 'pinched nerve' because I get pinched nerves alot that temporarily paralyse a muscle, but this felt nothing at all like a pinched nerve. It was WEIRD! My coworkers said it may be a heart attack, but at my young age, that would be very rare.

I can't go to the doctor about it right now because I can't afford it and have no insurance. Does anyone know what this might be???

How often and for how long do you train?

What do you do for work? Is it manual labor or something that requires repeated use of your right arm?

What doctors call signs of heart attack and what you are describing also occurs in people who work out too much, and people whose bodies are unbalanced. You are pushing the Yin part of your body too much, and the shooting pain is the sign of that.

To describe why, you need to know how the body works at a very basic level. But that information is hard for people to beleive and takes time for them to accept as truth. And you don't need it to fix yourself.

If you are working out too much, maybe every day for hours a day, or your job requires repeated constant use of your right arm, stop doing what you are doing. Exercise less or try to do that job using your right arm less and see if the pain stops.

Don't expect it to stop tomorrow. It will take time for the Yin part of your body to recover and re-expand itself if that is what the problem is. The Yin part of your body is like a sponge. Constant exercise and work squeeze it very small like you squeeze a sponge.

After you stop squeezing, it takes some seconds or minutes for the misshapen squeezed sponge to return to it's normal size and shape. That is what you need to let the Yin part of your body do.
---------------

On the other hand, and you do not say, if you are using drugs, they too can cause this effect. I don't need to tell you to stop the drug use if that is what you are doing.

[Moosey]

How long does it last? Could just be growing pain. I used get that as a teenager, feels much like a trapped nerve.

[jujitsuka07]

How often and for how long do you train?

About once a week for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. And it's really light training - most of the students are beginners, so we take it easy. :cool:

What do you do for work? Is it manual labor or something that requires repeated use of your right arm?

I work at a restaurant, but it's very light work: making salads & sandwiches, slicing vegetables, washing dishes, and sweeping & mopping. I am right handed, but I try to use my left hand too so that I'm not stressing my right hand/arm too much.

What doctors call signs of heart attack and what you are describing also occurs in people who work out too much, and people whose bodies are unbalanced.

I definately don't work out too much, lol! I'd like to work out more, but my knees always hurt (the nerves fire incorrectly).

On the other hand, and you do not say, if you are using drugs, they too can cause this effect. I don't need to tell you to stop the drug use if that is what you are doing.

I am not on any presciption drugs or illegal drugs, and have never use illegal drugs.

How long does it last? Could just be growing pain. I used get that as a teenager, feels much like a trapped nerve

The actual pain only lasts maybe about 5 seconds, but even after that, it seems that it is difficult to move my arm for maybe another 10 - 15 seconds after that. I doubt it's growing pains - I've been done growing for a while. I get trapped nerves ALL the time, like several times a week for years. This feels very different.

Don't think I'm just trying to pick apart your thoughts - I appreciate everyone's input. I'll consider eveything said, and continue to look into this. Thanks! :)

[cheesypeas]

No-one is ever too young to have heart problems. If you have to...borrow the money to get yourself checked out.

Better to be healthy and in debt.

[SatoriTheLush]

Well, if it is a shooting pain down the lung meridian, then what you are looking at is an overactive firing of the median nerve. Common median nerve trouble ranges from carpal tunnel to carpal adhesion, and most are the result of repetitive stress injuries. Other causes cover the spectrum from a slipped disk in the neck to a tumor or cyst impinging the nerve, etc...

I'm up on this at the moment because I've completely lost the use of my left hand over the last couple of months due to an adhesion of the fascia around my ulnar nerve, at it's tunnel (the funny bone.) I initially though it might be related to the median nerve, but that didn't hold up to greater scrutiny.

Okay, assuming this is a median nerve thing, lets explore it a little bit. When this happens, do you get tingling or pain in your index finger or thumb? Is the shooting sensation more up at the shoulder, or more on your forearm, between elbow and wrist?

Now, move your left arm slowly around its socket in your shoulder. Your goal here is to put your arm into every possible position, slowly, while feeling for anything odd. Can you detect a position in which the condition triggers, or in which you can feel a "ghost" of the pain? If so, describe the position of your arm at this point, and examine your life thoroughly for times that you put your arm into this position during the day. If you can find a match, knock that out of your routine and see if it doesn't help after a couple of days.

The problem with diagnosis is that the problem with the nerve could be anywhere from the brachial plexus down to your wrist. Especially troublesome, it might be in your neck. Have you had any head or neck injury, or suffered whiplash at any point? Have you been put into any locks on your left arm during your training that felt excessive, or even just different? Have you recently worked on falling techniques?

Anyway, while I want to offer up this little bit of help in identifying the problem, I must re-iterate everyone else's concern. This is a potentially serious matter, and you need to get it looked at by a professional. I know a decent amount about anatomy, and in particular I've been brushing up on the nerves in the left arm lately, but I am by no means qualified to diagnose the problem. There's seriously no substitution for professional care.

If you are a teenager without health insurance, you might very well qualify for indigent care services. Unpleasant as that may feel, check with the state - you might be able to get it all taken care of under medicaid.

Good luck

[jujitsuka07]

(see Satori's post)

Yeah, the pain is at the same spot as the lung meridian, but I don't know how closely it is associated with the actual meridian itself (I just started learning about meridians, so I don't know much, lol!).

You mentioned that it might be a nerve thing. That's really possible 'cuz I've had problems with my nerves for a long time. Last winter, when it would get cold, my back would lock up (my vertebrae would pinch the nerves, I guess) so much that I couldn't stand or walk sometimes.>>>You're probably saying "Then why are you worried about your ARM???" It felt different than that - maybe it was still a nerve though, huh. :o

I don't seem to get any pain in my finger or thumb, of if so, it's so minimal that I don't notice it beacause my arm hurts too much.

The shooting sensation seems to start at the shoulder, and run down to my wrist.

Moving my arm around doesn't seem to cause and pain or weird sensation, so we're good there.

I've not had any neck injuries, and have only had a few minor head injuries.

I don't remember being put into any terribly excessive locks recently - I usually attack w/ my right, so that's usually the arm that gets locked, and yes, we work on falling techniques alot.

And to everyone - thanks for the help! I'll be reviewing these ideas in search of a diagnosis. :)

[Sam]

(see Satori's post)

Yeah, the pain is at the same spot as the lung meridian, but I don't know how closely it is associated with the actual meridian itself (I just started learning about meridians, so I don't know much, lol!).

You mentioned that it might be a nerve thing. That's really possible 'cuz I've had problems with my nerves for a long time. Last winter, when it would get cold, my back would lock up (my vertebrae would pinch the nerves, I guess) so much that I couldn't stand or walk sometimes.>>>You're probably saying "Then why are you worried about your ARM???" It felt different than that - maybe it was still a nerve though, huh. :o

Moving my arm around doesn't seem to cause and pain or weird sensation, so we're good there. I've not had any neck injuries, and have only had a few minor head injuries. I don't remember being put into any terribly excessive locks recently - I usually attack w/ my right, so that's usually the arm that gets locked, and yes, we work on falling techniques alot.

And to everyone - thanks for the help! I'll be reviewing these ideas in search of a diagnosis. :)

Dude best diagnosis is that of a doctor and the people who have said it are right you are never too young to have a heart attack. A girl in the year below me at school had a massive one when she was 15. Unlikely but better safe than sorry.

[SatoriTheLush]

Well, if you were unable to find any position that stimulated the median nerve, it makes that less likely to be the problem. Which of course makes certain other, more unpleasant diagnoses more likely, unfortunately.

Get to a doctor ASAP buddy. Go to the ER if you have to, and wait to be treated. This is something worth going into some debt to get taken care of. If you live, you can always pay it off. The same is obviously not true if meet an untimely end, and lot of good the money you didn't spend will do you then too.