About 2 years ago, the doctor told me I have ulnar neuropathy in both arms. I’ve learned to deal with it pretty well, however, I’m beginning to get irritation during my training sessions again. The pain occurs rarely during deadlifts, when I become fatigued during bench press, but mostly during OHP. The discomfort can become pretty severe once i get to my heavy sets of OHP. My first question is, are there any risks in training with neuropathy? My second question is, what should I do with regards to training? I’m currently running the bridge. Thanks.
What are your actual symptoms?
Is this being attributed to an entrapment syndrome at the elbow?
Have the symptoms changed at all in the past 2 years?
- My symptoms include: shooting electricity-like sensation primarily in the humerus during any exercise involving tricep extension–usually increasing in severity as my triceps begin to fatigue. Pain can also occur during deadlifts and rows. Occurs in both arms.
- Yes, I believe my doctor told me there was entrapment.
- I noticed that I had been sleeping with my arms curled up. When I’d wake up in the morning, I would notice that the symptoms were quite noticeable. I began sleeping with straight arms. The symptoms then began to become less severe in the morning and during workout sessions. The symptoms I’m currently experience are the same as before, but the symptoms only occur during training sessions.
Have you ever been evaluated for surgical decompression?
No I have not. I’ve never really seen it as in issue that requires surgery, however if it worsens, it would not be something I would be against.
After reading up a bit on Up To Date, I see that surgery is recommended only if there is clear weakness occurring due to the nerve entrapment. It recommends conservative treatment such as wearing splints to straighten arms in bed and doing nerve gliding exercises. From listening to you guys, I would assume you would believe nerve gliding exercises don’t really do anything. The conclusion I’m drawing from this is that I should sleep with straighter arms and continue to train normally while ignoring the pain unless I notice any weakness. What are your thoughts?
That is a reasonable first approach. But if you have continued, severe symptoms for over 2 years, I’d say it’s still worth getting a surgical evaluation & opinion on the matter.
Alright thank you doctor. Until then, are there any hazards with weightlifting and should I adjust my program at all?
If you only have intermittent sensory symptoms, I think you’ll be OK training. I don’t know anything at all about your program to give you specific recommendations there.
Thanks. I’m running the bridge for about 2 more weeks before I begin the group programming beginning of March.
Just throwing in the experience my father has had with the symptoms you are expressing… he also has ulnar neuropathy due to entrapment at the elbow and is awaiting a surgery date.
For him it began similar to yourself, with tingling/slight “shock” like feelings, which he ignored for several years. Fast-forward to a few months ago and he began noticing loss in strength in everything distal to his elbow, and now there is quite apparent atrophy occurring (to the point where his left forearm/hand looks like that of a man 2 decades older).
In no way am I saying this will happen to you (as I am no expert or doctor), but I know my dad’s doctor had wished he had come in earlier when the symptoms were mich less severe. Maybe you should officially seek a second doctor’s opinion?
The triceps isn’t innervated by the ulnar nerve; you are describing symptoms of something other than ulnar compression neuropathy. You ought to see a doctor who is trained in neuromuscular anatomy, such as an orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, neurosurgeon, or physiatrist (physical medicine and rehabilitation [or PM&R]). In the meantime, keep training.