Still getting pins+needles

J

jago25_98

0
- sometimes out of breath before muscles really ache
- tingling sensation ("pins and needles") in the fingers when I lift

Could be due to lack of stretch?:

- "stretching improves circulation"

- or am I just too unfit aerobically? All I do is 20mins on the rowing machine every 2 days, and cycle about 2miles a day to/from work.

It's wierd. Some days I can have a really good workout while others it's terrible - no energy at all. I can't seem to figure out what's causing it. At first I thought it was the time of day - tired in the morning.

Should I take up some sort of sport to help it? I'm not too bothered about being very aerobically fit; I only want to be able to lift better.

Would Yoga be a good idea? Other suggestions? Should I get a general fitness test my a personal trainer?
 
Well, First off I would like to know some things.

What Lifts do you do when this occurs?
Does this happen with certain lifts?
Are you drinking alot of liquid before and during your workout?
Are you lifting to hard?
And Finally Are you getting proper Sleep?

Give me some more info and I can come up with a solution.
 
Mostly on heavy lifts _but not always_
Sleep varies from 7-11 hours, 9 hours usually.

I can't see a pattern to it.

I try to drink a heck of a lot while I workout. I drink the most in the gym for sure.

I never used to get this when I was a year or 2 younger. Back then I did some sport though, wondered if it was that.

I think that out of breathness is sometimes caused by not being fully awake as it happens that most in the mornings but not always too.

I even get pins and needles sitting on the loo after <1 minute so I think it's not specific to lifting, it's just that lifting brought my attention to it since I can't imagine avoiding lifting.
 
Could be an impingement on your brachial plexus/subclavian artery due to inadequate position of the shoulders (forward shoulders, internally rotated humerus, etc). I would get it checked out...then a therapeutic strengthening/stretching program will probably help you.

Strong and tight anterior muscles versus long and weak posterior muscles may even alter the position of the rib cage such that breathing becomes less efficient, particularly on effort.

If you can't see someone, do one thing for me: have someone look at you from the side and tell you if your shoulders are forward. Lie down flat on mat with palm facing towards the body and have this person check if the back of the shoulder falls flat against the mat. Have them check the position of your palms in standing: are they facing the body or facing back? Let me know the answers... ;)
 
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Ok Buddy, two more Question.

Does It hurt at all? Does it sometimes go Numb?

If yes to either of these questions you possibly have a case of (CTS) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Basically its a condition which results when there is too much pressure on the median nerve as it runs into the wrist through an opening called the carpal tunnel.

The median nerve runs into the hand to supply sensation to the thumb, index finger, long finger, and half of the ring finger.

The flex-or tendons running into the hand also run through this tunnel. If irritated by overuse, these tendons can swell and thicken; the pressure begins to increase in the carpal tunnel and squeezes the median nerve, so pain and numbness in the hand begin..

If You Have (CTS) I suggest you see a Dr. And not lift for awhile.
 
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Boy oh boy
Yup, your posture is definitely less than ideal :(

From what I can see, your posture presents the following:

-forward head
-excessive kyphosis of the thoracic spine (rounded upper back)
-forward shouders

Though I can't see the bottom half of you, these are often associated with sway-back posture.

Very generally and in no great detail, you need to do the
following:

-stretch pec minor
-stretch shoulder internal rotators (pecs, lats)
-stengthen inferior and middle trapezius
-perform chin-tucks (tuck the chin in to extend the cervical spine)

Let me know if you need more details on these...I can probably send you some pics via e-mail ;)
 
Some pics on how to do those stretches would be great :)

Thanks for all your help.

As a way to remind and motivate me to do these exercises would yoga, pilates or anything else be a good idea?
 
I'll work on that and send it to you asap..

I definitely recommend Pilates as the core muscles are very involved and they will help you maintain proper posture.

:)
 
To be honest I didn't relise that pins+needles and posture could be related till now.

- I've actually been doing the Chin Tucks involuntarily already, it causes clicking in the back of the neck

- I also sometimes twist with the rotation mostly just about the naval to free things up. When it clicks I feel better. Is this a bad idea?
I also arch my shoulds back to get a click in the back also.

I can't expect you to give me a ciropractic assessment over the forum (you've been a really great help and I'm really greatful for the advice - I value it more than the last Chiro I went to) so I'll have to see someone again.

I have actually seem someone about my back before but I couldn't (and still can't) afford it. In addition I felt that what they asked me to do and what they did (push my spine around a bit, not really pushing hard) didn't feel like it was going to be enough, especially as I'd run out of money anyway; I found bringing my knees to my chest easy but being asked to change posture incredibly hard - to think about it on every waking moment.

After this post and when I start working I'll get a 3rd opinion and request to be in control of my exercises, i.e. "get me on the stretching machines and give me hell!".

What I'd like is:

- something I can inject to lengthen my pec muscles in conjunction with stretching

- some heavy duty machines; a rack to stretch me out, or somerthing to force my shoulders back / do heavy stretching for me

- continue working back muscles; should shorten?

If I can feel pain, muscle stretch and bones moving I can feel that it's doing something. But paying £20 ($48canadian) an hour for mostly talk and light bone pushing just isn't enough on it's own. I'm sure if I went to my GP and said "get me on the machines, inject me" etc they'd say that's too much at this stage but I want to nip it in the bud. (I hope I qualify for that statement; I'm 22 and had this problem since I was about 19).

If it cripples me however the national health service will probably treat me. Shame it won't help prevent - my GP told me to see the private chiropractor.

I've also found this to be useful:

http://www.exrx.net/ExInfo/Inflexibilities.html

I think it can help point out the stretches etc you mean.

Also tried Yogo the other day. Was mostly breathing. Too early to say how I feel about it. As a gym goer I'm not sure, but it was mostly breathing exercises so I'll give it more chance. Pilates next week.

Thank god for Moggy.
 
I've been working on it.

I've noticed that I get pins and needles a little easier in my legs too now while sitting down in front of this computer or lying down watching a film.

So, this suggests to me that I need to work on my circulation.

I still get pins and needles during a workout but it's only in my hands whilst squatting now (which probably isn't rare). I still have lots of work to do to bring the shoulders back though, but I'm working on cardio now too.

I'm also watching what I eat in terms of GI and sugar. It would be safe to say that high GI stuff makes me high and then properly hurts me shortly after, so I better get glucose intolerance tested, to confirm this isn't on the way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes#Long-term_complications
 
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