numbness...!

[strongchick]

Today was "back - o - the - yards" day....deadlifts, booty, and calves. (Don't ask about my split...its weird cuz I can't work in deads on leg day now even though I'm doing Lipokinetix every other day instead of every day...that sh%$ is mad draining.)

After deads I went to do some leg raises for abs and I couldn't hang on because my left hand and finger tips went numb..all tingly and I could tell no blood was reaching my fingers.

I was dumb with surprise, then I realized that the bar was pretty heavy and may have cut off my circulation.

Should I use those hook thingys...wrist straps...? It frightened me to death. The first thing I thought of was Michael J. Fox! ( I think he said his first symptoms of Parkinson's was numbness or something...or maybe I'm just being dramatic.)

 

[Phemomena]

hell yeah, use straps if you need 'em... i also use alternating grip on my heavy dls (one hand facing forward, one back)

 

[Star]

Did your whole hand go numb or just one side?? I had the same problem with my left hand. It turned out that I had a nerve compressed in my elbow and had to have it operated on. It started out slowly....and occasional and got persistantly worse over the next year or so. If it happens again get it checked because early on it can be treated with antinflammatories but if you wait too long......an operation is the only way and it is not pleasant. They had to shave off a majority of my elbow bone to release the pressure and I have some permanent damage. It's been over a year and I am still recovering. You can be born with it but it is usually caused by repetitive motion..IE: weightlifting.

Star

 

[strongchick]

Thanks for the warning. I appreciate heads up so I know what to look for!

My whole left hand was numb...like, if I sleep real deep and lay on my hand in the middle of the night and wake up with it all numb and tingly...

I have the feeling I was so concentrating on my lower back position that I didn't notice my hands were upset....I was wearing gloves, which possibly masked a warning that I was holding on too tight.

I'm glad your hand is okay now...it sucks to have to get an operation...down time from the gym just sucks in general...

...so I will observe things and try the straps. Pray for me that it's not a nerve.

Perhaps forearm training/grip strength training, which I never do, is the next step.

 

[Phemomena]

if it's only happened once, its probably nothing to worry about..... if it happens repetatitvely then see a doc...

but yeah, work the forearms/wrists.. will help you out in just about all your lifting... but i still use straps on back day... helps take the focus away from gripping the bar/weights and let me concentrate on using my back...