Baker's Arm

[Harpua]

I've had an intense job for the past month where I am constantly using my arms, especially my right one. I am mixing, scraping, lifting, always squeezing pastry bags, etc. Now, my arm falls asleep on its own when I am sleeping, and sometimes when I am awake. It's really scary. I got a deep tissue massage and that helped, but it is coming back. I try to do shoulder rolls when it wakes me up at night, and it kind of helps; does anyone have any suggestions? How can I prevent this from getting worse? It kind of feels like my funny bone is always getting bumped. So annoying.

[kuan]

It might be general tightness in your upper back that's causing some imbalance. You should go see a physical therapist. As weird as it may seem, the answer may be more exercise.

I think the basic exercises are the same though. My wife suffered a third degree shoulder separation and she did some of these exercises:

Your Orthopaedic Connection: Shoulder Surgery Exercise Guide

She started with low weights, a tuna can.

[Harpua]

Interesting. Thanks.

[kuan]

Wonder where kokopuffs went. He's a chiropractor.

[AndyG]

Advil also helps, not just as a pain killer, but an anti-inflammatory too. I know because I had the same type of problem.

[Gummy-Bear]

If the case is inflammation, then the following herbal tisanes (herbal teas) will assist with that:
Calendula
Dong Quai
Licorice
marshmallow
Meadowsheet
White Willow

[m brown]

When that happened to me couple months back I thought it was my heart!

But it was my right arm and same deal:
I would drive, it would sleep
I would sleep, it would sleep
I would type, it would sleep.

ALSO
I lost feeling in my ring finger, same arm - still not 100%.
About a month after leaving the job, fine.

I used to see a DO in NY but have not even looked for one in Dallas.

Take care of yourself!

[bluedogz]

Sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome to me. To a chiropractor with you. Time will heal it, but only if the stressor is gone.

[Harpua]

I figured that it isn't carpo tunnel because it is my whole arm. I think something in my back/neck is tweaked. I can't quit, but I just had the piping bag to my staff instead. However, what really scares me is transferring stiff frosting from huge mixer bowls to containers. I can feel my nerves popping and twinging when I do that. Looks like I'll be handing that over as well. At least I can still spread things and man the ovens!!

[Free Rider]

I had something similar and went for acupuncture. The problem was solved within minutes and, several months later, has not come back even with similar activities as before.

[smalltruck]

Quick note my GF is a massage therapist of 8 years and works in a chiropractic office and the following are her words....

It sounds as if you have either carpal tunnel, a pinched nerve or just plain muscle strain. Going to a chiropracter will help if you have a pinched nerve in the shoulder joint but the nerve could also be in your neck. With the type of work that you do, you could also have a repetitive motion strain. Constant mixing and stirring etc will do that to you. The best possible advice I can give as a massage therapist would be that you ice your shoulder and arm where you have pain, ie: forearm, wrist, shoulder...lots of rest so your muscles won't be so over taxed, take advil for the pain, see a chiropractor, get muscle work done. Not relaxation massage though because it doesn't go deep enough. You need theraputic massage. It should be slightly painful but not enough that you are wincing or gasping for breath. That's too deep. It should be enough for you to go "oh, that hurts but don't stop." A doctor will give you pain meds and likely recommend you wear a brace. You may need to see a physical therapist as well, depending on the damage you have. Pain is your body's way of saying something is wrong, but where the pain is is not always where the problem is.

If you go to a chiropractor and have insurance, sometimes the insurance will pay for massage as well. It will help defray some of the cost. But not all insurance companies will do it. A chiropractor's assistant will be able to get that information for you.

If you remember only one thing, let it be this. Ice is your friend when it comes to muscle pain. Ice decreases inflammation and swelling. Heat INCREASES inflammation. The less pain the better in my book. Don't ice longer than 10 minutes a session or check to make sure you're not getting frost bite.

Hope this helps...any questions, drop me a pm.

[foodnfoto]

If you've got popping and twinging in your arm, that sounds more like tendonitis. This is a kind of repetitive use injury where the tendon becomes inflamed and presses on nerves as they both pass through the joints in your shoulder and arm, thus the numbness.
Physical therapy, ice and ibuprophen will help. Also check out accupuncture-I've had great success with it. It's perfect for this type of injury.

Get help right away! Irritated nerves heal about 1" per month, though suffer injury much faster from repetitive strain.

You might also check out workman's comp since this seems to be directly related to your work. At least ask your doc about it.

[m brown]

I am going to go to the ortho. My left shoulder is now useless, reaching, opening doors, lifting ~ bad.

Gonna get some x-rays to see if its a thing or just a thing.

[chefelle]

Man--am I glad to hear that I am not alone!!! My baker's arm started out with pain in my right elbow that would radiate up into my shoulder and wrist depending on what I had to do that week for work. Lifting, kneading, whisking, cake decorating, folding...you name it it all aggravated my condition. Even playing the piano at church on Sunday.

I sought treatment through various different means. A chef at work recommended Tylenol Arthritis--that worked for about a week--now I have built up a tolerance to it and it's useless to me. I then went to a chiropractor but the one that I visited was very, very agressive with me and not only was I uncomfortable with the type of treatment he gave me I left in so much pain I could barely move for three days--it was about 100 times worse!!!

So I gave up on the chiropractor and went to my family doctor who prescribed ice and ibuprofen as well as an x-ray and a follow up visit. The ibuprofen worked for about a week too and now it no longer works unless I take a ton of it. So it looks like physio, Deep Cold, and stronger pain meds are the way I am going to have to go.

Currently the pain is in my entire right arm and back. At times I will lose all feeling in my right hand. The pain is so intense I can't sleep at night and can barely walk in the morning. Once I take a hot shower, rub my arm and back with Deep Cold and take about four ibuprofen I can go to work and do my job. But once I get home the pain starts right back up again.

Anyway--I say all this to say--I really do feel your pain!!!! And I hope we will all be able to find a way to heal our injuries and soon!!

[foodnfoto]

I'm so sorry you fellows are experiencing so much pain. I've been there, and I'll say it again:

ICE!, PHYSICAL THERAPY!, ACUPUNCTURE!

Twenty-two years ago I ruptured a lower disk carrying a 50 lb box of flour through a swinging door at work. Had surgery, and it worked, but it always gave me trouble.

Twelve years later, while moving to NY I re-injured it. I was in so much pain that if I walking down the sidewalk and the pavement dropped 1/2 inch, that little step would send searing electric pain through my back and out my head and down my leg. Physical therapy, cortizone shots and many meds later, my orthopedist suggested acupuncture (he was licensed to do it.) I had 3 20 minute treatments for the first 2 weeks, then 2 treatments for the next 2 weeks and 1 treatment per week for 3 more weeks. Sometimes it felt bad for a few hours after the treatment. But...

IT CURED ME!

Ten years later and my back has never been better. It gets tired and sore sometimes, but never does it give me the constant discomfort that I suffered for 12 years. Now ice and ibuprophen seem to do the trick if I over work it.

Acupuncture will NOT cure a cold or flu, it won't smooth out the wrinkles on your face or cure cancer. But nerve-tendon-disc-muscle problems-it will help significantly. Just get a good practitioner-not some flakey, hippy-dippy new-age type. Find a clinical technician that uses it. It works!