pain in forearm

[Pyromidion]

It's been lingering for a few weeks now. It doesn't hurt all the time, but only when I pick things up. Palm down, its the muscle that runs from the outside of the elbow over to the inside wrist. I found that I can do hammer curls with no pain, but regular [palm up] curls bother the muscle. Any idea what I did to cause this?

 

[Kyle]

No idea what causes it but I had the same exact thing...it was a bitch- lasted for months. I had to stop doing regular curls as well as a few other excercises that aggrivated it- problem was I'd end up doing similar movements etc outside of the gym and re-aggrivate it again.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

That sounds like it could be medial epicondylitis (if you're referring to the inside of your elbow when you palm is facing forward). Specifically, it sounds like tendinitis radiating through your flexor carpi ulnaris. This can be caused by awkward form, overuse, or acute injury. It's pretty easy to remedy if you go to a physical therapist and get some exercises. If you don't stop and treat it, it'll only get worse.

 

[eits]

it sounds less like lateral epicondylitis (not medial) and more like a hypercontracted or strained brachioradialis muscle.

hammer curls engages the muscle to contract to aid in the curl, whereas regular curls will righten the muscle to be used only for stability (running parallel to the force arm causing almost no torque to aid in the curl).

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Straight bar curls did this to me. As long as I keep my palms angled towards each other to some degree when I curl the pain stays away.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

it sounds less like lateral epicondylitis (not medial) and more like a hypercontracted or strained brachioradialis muscle.

hammer curls engages the muscle to contract to aid in the curl, whereas regular curls will righten the muscle to be used only for stability (running parallel to the force arm causing almost no torque to aid in the curl).

Depends on which side he's talking about. Most people don't refer to their arm pain in anatomical position or else I would've assumed lateral epicondylitis as well. Most people refer to their arm the way it hangs and the "outside" is frequently the medial epicondyle.

 

[eits]

Depends on which side he's talking about. Most people don't refer to their arm pain in anatomical position or else I would've assumed lateral epicondylitis as well. Most people refer to their arm the way it hangs and the "outside" is frequently the medial epicondyle.

palm down, starts at elbow, goes down to INSIDE (thumb side) of the wrist.

there's no muscle that attaches from the elbow to the medial wrist that aids in elbow flexion.

it took me a second to try and figure out what the op was explaining, too i'm 99.9% sure he's talking about the brachioradialis.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

palm down, starts at elbow, goes down to INSIDE (thumb side) of the wrist.

there's no muscle that attaches from the elbow to the medial wrist that aids in elbow flexion.

it took me a second to try and figure out what the op was explaining, too i'm 99.9% sure he's talking about the brachioradialis.

Palm down, starts at the outside of the elbow (outside with palm down is the medial epicondyle), goes to the inside of the wrist. The flexor carpi ulnaris originates on the medial epicondyle (outside of the elbow with palm down) and inserts on the 5th metacarpal. Pain is poorly localized with dull aches and pains and it could just be interpreted as "inside." If he has tendinitis, he may also have irritation of the wrist from straight bar curls. That can aggravate the flexor retinaculum and result in less localization of pain. Brachioradialis pain doesn't start on the outside with the palm down.

 

[sandorski]

Started getting this a couple weeks back. For awhile it was a constant ache, but now it's more sporadic and a lot less painful.

A Googling didn't turn up much, other than people complaining and their Doctors not being able to diagnose it. Many suggestions of pinched nerves, especially in the neck. So anyway, I started to stretch my arm everytime it occurred and that seemed to help a lot. I don't think it fixed it, but it provided temporary relief. Certainly better than popping Pills.

 

[eits]

Palm down, starts at the outside of the elbow (outside with palm down is the medial epicondyle), goes to the inside of the wrist. The flexor carpi ulnaris originates on the medial epicondyle (outside of the elbow with palm down) and inserts on the 5th metacarpal. Pain is poorly localized with dull aches and pains and it could just be interpreted as "inside." If he has tendinitis, he may also have irritation of the wrist from straight bar curls. That can aggravate the flexor retinaculum and result in less localization of pain. Brachioradialis pain doesn't start on the outside with the palm down.

dude, of course it does. flexor carpi ulnaris wouldn't cause the symptoms of the op, first off.

secondly, http://www.monsterforearms.com/monster_forearms008012.jpg

palm down, it goes from the outside of the elbow to the inside of the wrist. also, given the action that is unprovocative, it's got to be the brachioradialis.

flexor carpi ulnaris is a very minor muscle in flexion. it's an ulnar deviator (medial rotator) of the hand. there's no way that curls would aggravate that. plus, it'd be likely to be the last muscle of the wrist flexors to be aggravated.

it's brachioradialis, dude it's gotta be.

 

[eits]

Started getting this a couple weeks back. For awhile it was a constant ache, but now it's more sporadic and a lot less painful.

A Googling didn't turn up much, other than people complaining and their Doctors not being able to diagnose it. Many suggestions of pinched nerves, especially in the neck. So anyway, I started to stretch my arm everytime it occurred and that seemed to help a lot. I don't think it fixed it, but it provided temporary relief. Certainly better than popping Pills.

you'd be able to tell c6 nerve root compression from muscular pain. you'd be feeling pins and needles over the skin in that area, in which case you'd need to see a chiropractor.

 

[sandorski]

you'd be able to tell c6 nerve root compression from muscular pain. you'd be feeling pins and needles over the skin in that area, in which case you'd need to see a chiropractor.

Good to know. It definitely was not that.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

dude, of course it does. flexor carpi ulnaris wouldn't cause the symptoms of the op, first off.

secondly, http://www.monsterforearms.com/monster_forearms008012.jpg

palm down, it goes from the outside of the elbow to the inside of the wrist. also, given the action that is unprovocative, it's got to be the brachioradialis.

flexor carpi ulnaris is a very minor muscle in flexion. it's an ulnar deviator (medial rotator) of the hand. there's no way that curls would aggravate that. plus, it'd be likely to be the last muscle of the wrist flexors to be aggravated.

it's brachioradialis, dude it's gotta be.

With the palm down, the brachioradialis is on the inside of the arm, not the outside. The flexor carpi ulnaris is still a flexor and can be aggravated by curls. Doing hammer curls activates the flexor carpi radialis more than anything. However, bar curls require activation of all the flexors, especially with the unnatural lateral rotation of the forearm. Since the flexor carpi ulnaris is a medial rotator, I'd imagine that the lateral rotation results in great activation of the muscle and therefore extremely high tension on that muscle specifically.

I'm also mentioning this based on personal experience. Doing straight bar curls aggravates the inside of my wrists significantly. This sounds like a similar problem, especially due to his description of pain location. Either way, a PT could ID and prescribe exercises to fix it. Us identifying it doesn't help so it's just futile anyhow

 

[eits]

With the palm down, the brachioradialis is on the inside of the arm, not the outside. The flexor carpi ulnaris is still a flexor and can be aggravated by curls. Doing hammer curls activates the flexor carpi radialis more than anything. However, bar curls require activation of all the flexors, especially with the unnatural lateral rotation of the forearm. Since the flexor carpi ulnaris is a medial rotator, I'd imagine that the lateral rotation results in great activation of the muscle and therefore extremely high tension on that muscle specifically.

I'm also mentioning this based on personal experience. Doing straight bar curls aggravates the inside of my wrists significantly. This sounds like a similar problem, especially due to his description of pain location. Either way, a PT could ID and prescribe exercises to fix it. Us identifying it doesn't help so it's just futile anyhow

dude, brachioradialis starts on the outside of the elbow and travels to the inside of the wrist (with the palm down). exactly like the op said.

it is not a flexor in the sagital sense... it is a flexor in the coronal sense. it laterally flexes the wrist.

agreed that arguing it is pointless. not necessary to have a pt look at it though (since it's brachioradialis ). jk... just have the pt strip out the brachioradialis and it'll be just fine.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

dude, brachioradialis starts on the outside of the elbow and travels to the inside of the wrist (with the palm down). exactly like the op said.

it is not a flexor in the sagital sense... it is a flexor in the coronal sense. it laterally flexes the wrist.

agreed that arguing it is pointless. not necessary to have a pt look at it though (since it's brachioradialis ). jk... just have the pt strip out the brachioradialis and it'll be just fine.

I'm picturing him putting his forearm in the pronated position. To me, the brachioradialis is on top of or more inward. That may just because I'm my own model and I may be more/less flexible than the OP. Either way it makes sense and either way it's easy to fix if dealt with properly through rehab exercises (or by completely cutting out straight bar curls and taking some days to ice/recover).

 

[Pyromidion]

Seems you guys are getting all technical on me! It's not so much important that I identify the muscle, but I do appreciate your online banter . Found a picture online of approx. the location of pain ( http://www.ergomatters.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/forearm_extensor_massage_400.jpg ) If I may make an educated guess as to how it was caused, I went tubing a few weeks back ( http://photos.igougo.com/images/p335213-Tubing.jpg ) and my driver was pretty aggressively trying to throw me. While both arms were sore the same way, my right one is feeling better, and my left now has this issue. In the meantime, you suggested at PT, I'll see what I can do.

 

[eits]

Seems you guys are getting all technical on me! It's not so much important that I identify the muscle, but I do appreciate your online banter . Found a picture online of approx. the location of pain ( http://www.ergomatters.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/forearm_extensor_massage_400.jpg ) If I may make an educated guess as to how it was caused, I went tubing a few weeks back ( http://photos.igougo.com/images/p335213-Tubing.jpg ) and my driver was pretty aggressively trying to throw me. While both arms were sore the same way, my right one is feeling better, and my left now has this issue. In the meantime, you suggested at PT, I'll see what I can do.

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=113075

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Seems you guys are getting all technical on me! It's not so much important that I identify the muscle, but I do appreciate your online banter . Found a picture online of approx. the location of pain ( http://www.ergomatters.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/forearm_extensor_massage_400.jpg ) If I may make an educated guess as to how it was caused, I went tubing a few weeks back ( http://photos.igougo.com/images/p335213-Tubing.jpg ) and my driver was pretty aggressively trying to throw me. While both arms were sore the same way, my right one is feeling better, and my left now has this issue. In the meantime, you suggested at PT, I'll see what I can do.

There's the last piece of info. Yeah, if it hurts on the outside of your arm and it was induced by trying to really hold onto something, it's likely the brachioradialis. *Shakes fist* Lay off, ice it, and get away from or modify exercises that aggravate it.

 

[eits]

There's the last piece of info. Yeah, if it hurts on the outside of your arm and it was induced by trying to really hold onto something, it's likely the brachioradialis. *Shakes fist* Lay off, ice it, and get away from or modify exercises that aggravate it.

make sure you stretch it. if you lay off it completely, you'll get contractures that will be annoying later on and will need to get stripped out (if you don't already have them), either by a skilled pt or skilled chiropractor. like sc said, just don't exercise it too much for right now, ice it, and work around your routine so you don't aggravate it.

 

[Pyromidion]

Thanks for the help and effort! I'll get on the ice, and avoid anything that stresses it (essentially anything with an underhand grip with that hand). Any educated guess as to why my right arm is feeling alright despite having been in the same situation?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Thanks for the help and effort! I'll get on the ice, and avoid anything that stresses it (essentially anything with an underhand grip with that hand). Any educated guess as to why my right arm is feeling alright despite having been in the same situation?

It could be a lot of things. If you're right arm is your dominant arm, you could have better motor coordination and therefore muscle activation. Because of that, you stabilized the rotation more effectively. You could also have greater muscle mass in your right arm, etc. It could also be that there was one time that you slipped up and it injured your left arm slightly. Continuing to complete exercises with an injured arm could've just left you open for further aggravation.

Don't necessarily avoid everything with an underhand grip for too long. Things like deadlifts and pullups tend to be fine, but straight bar curls really mess with the rotation. Best of luck.

 

[eits]

Thanks for the help and effort! I'll get on the ice, and avoid anything that stresses it (essentially anything with an underhand grip with that hand). Any educated guess as to why my right arm is feeling alright despite having been in the same situation?

refer back to my first post in this thread.

if you're a righty, it's just because your left is weaker.

 

[polarmystery]

I can attest to the medial epicondylitus. Otherwise known as "golfer's elbow." I was diagnosed with it by my orthopedic doc back in January and I've been trying to strengthen my forearms and wrists, which has helped a lot. It has taken me this long to get over most of the pain, so to the OP I suggest RICE, and strength training exercises with very light dumbbells to improve wrist and forearm strength.

 

[eits]

I can attest to the medial epicondylitus. Otherwise known as "golfer's elbow." I was diagnosed with it by my orthopedic doc back in January and I've been trying to strengthen my forearms and wrists, which has helped a lot. It has taken me this long to get over most of the pain, so to the OP I suggest RICE, and strength training exercises with very light dumbbells to improve wrist and forearm strength.

it's not medial epicondylitis.

 

[polarmystery]

it's not medial epicondylitis.

What is it then? The doc told me I had minor tears in the connecting muscle that was on the bone near the elbow. I was even given pain meds for it. I'm not saying I disagree with you, I'm just asking what else it could be?

Edit: nevermind just read above. Your diagnosis sounds a lot closer. Now my world is all screwed up!