Squatters....

BLifts38
BLifts38 Posts: 248 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay everyone... I need some input from those who squat regularly. Bear with me as this might be long..

I would like to preface in that I am just getting over an insane neck ache. I am finally feeling better this morning, thank God. I was doing back squats this morning and noticed that when I was squatting down and holding the bar, my left arm was getting really numb... like REALLY numb. And getting noticeably redder than my right arm. It was to the point where I couldn't even have my arm in the position when I am squatting. I stopped squatting and moved on to a couple more exercises. I asked one of the trainers about it and he wanted to watch my form... he said my form was spot on but noticed I have a bruise on the back of my neck. I told him about the neck pain I've recently been having and his eyes lit up. He said to talk to a doctor right away because it could potentially be a pinched nerve. Even now, after an hour and 15 minutes removed from my workout, my arm is pins and needles.

Has anyone experienced something like this!?

Replies

  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    It could be lots of potential things, although redness would not necessarily be an indicator, the pins and needles might. You should definitely consult with your doctor regarding this. Far better to see the doctor and find nothing wrong, than to not see the doctor and complicate matters that need addressed.
  • jacklifts
    jacklifts Posts: 396 Member
    I haven't every experienced neurologic symptoms. Sometimes my wrist hurts if it gets cocked back too much or something. But if you're having pins and needles, numbess, flushing, it sounds like a nerve issue. You should go see a doc. Might need something as simple as an anti-inflammatory, though you might get sent to the MRI. Do you do high bar or low bar back squat? If high bar, you might try low bar and put the bar on your posterior delts rather than your traps. Also, you could try front squats and see if that makes a difference.
  • BLifts38
    BLifts38 Posts: 248 Member
    jacklifts wrote: »
    I haven't every experienced neurologic symptoms. Sometimes my wrist hurts if it gets cocked back too much or something. But if you're having pins and needles, numbess, flushing, it sounds like a nerve issue. You should go see a doc. Might need something as simple as an anti-inflammatory, though you might get sent to the MRI. Do you do high bar or low bar back squat? If high bar, you might try low bar and put the bar on your posterior delts rather than your traps. Also, you could try front squats and see if that makes a difference.

    The trainer had my try front squats. The one where my elbows were out still hurt my arm.. but the one where I had to cross my arms felt a lot better!
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited November 2015
    WELP, i'll just give a few ideas that may or not be right.

    1.) is your neck sore in the area where you are laying the barbell to squat? It's very likely that you are either placing the bar in the incorrect location, not letting it rest on your traps, you may have small traps which are not used to using a barbell.

    2.) Your grip on the barbell could also be wrong.

    3.) you could lack the shoulder flexibility to hold the barbell right.


    OR-

    I was going to suggest you might be dealing with shoulder impengement, bursitis, etc. This causes numbness, tingling, and pain running down the arm (specificallly down the inside of your arm from shoulder to elbow/funny bone to outside wrist and up your pinky/ring finger).

    You could also be dealing with a pinched nerve.

    My opinion is to lay off the squats till you figure out what the problem is. Go get a deep tissue or sports massage, then give it about a week off. Rest it, Ice it, and then try an NSAID (something like voltaren gel which is a topical anti-inflammatory which you can apply directly to the area would be best). Does it feel better? Does it still hurt? Okay, then go to the doctor.


    Best of luck.
  • BLifts38
    BLifts38 Posts: 248 Member
    I made an appointment for first thing tomorrow morning. My arm was feeling numb up until about 45 minutes ago but it feels okay now. Hopefully the doctor gives me some answers tomorrow.
  • _Bropollo_
    _Bropollo_ Posts: 168 Member
    You might have pinched a nerve (or two). You should be flexing your traps, and resting the bar on them. If the bar is resting directly on your neck, that would explain the pain.

    Best form check video I have ever had the pleasure of watching: https://youtube.com/watch?v=rOJGzAgLWDc
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    Does your gym have a safety bar?

    Types-of-barbells-4.jpg

    Might help.
  • Sam_I_Am77
    Sam_I_Am77 Posts: 2,093 Member
    nakedraygun wrote: »
    Does your gym have a safety bar?

    Types-of-barbells-4.jpg

    Might help.

    Oh man that would be the *kitten*. I would love to do my volume work with one of those.
  • ramepithecus
    ramepithecus Posts: 40 Member
    I have shoulder impingement in both shoulders and that's what it feels like. I haven't done squats with a barbell so I can't say if the position would trigger it but it can be any number of things where my arms are held high. I usually recover faster than what you are describing.

    This probably won't help but I'm curious about what your doctor will say.
  • BLifts38
    BLifts38 Posts: 248 Member
    ramepithecus wrote: »
    I have shoulder impingement in both shoulders and that's what it feels like. I haven't done squats with a barbell so I can't say if the position would trigger it but it can be any number of things where my arms are held high. I usually recover faster than what you are describing.

    This probably won't help but I'm curious about what your doctor will say.


    I saw a PA today and he said it's a nerve impingement on my rotator cuff!
  • V_Keto_V
    V_Keto_V Posts: 342 Member
    Hack squats are another good alternative to front squats and back squats. Re: elbows tucked front squats: it takes some time and flexibility to get used to this position, Elliot Hulse on YouTube has a really good demonstration. If your gym has a squat machine, you can do front squats having the shoulder rests lay on the anterior trap area
  • Animox
    Animox Posts: 1 Member
    [/quote]

    I saw a PA today and he said it's a nerve impingement on my rotator cuff![/quote]

    I happened to stumble upon this, as I have some serious neck/upper back pain for the 2nd time after low bar squats. The pain feels like a pinched nerve, in between my shoulders / base of my neck.

    Did the doc prescribe anything in particular for your form? Thanks in advance
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    bmarge10288 wrote: »
    ramepithecus wrote: »
    I have shoulder impingement in both shoulders and that's what it feels like. I haven't done squats with a barbell so I can't say if the position would trigger it but it can be any number of things where my arms are held high. I usually recover faster than what you are describing.

    This probably won't help but I'm curious about what your doctor will say.


    I saw a PA today and he said it's a nerve impingement on my rotator cuff!

    I knew it! Did the doctor prescribe what I suggested?
  • BLifts38
    BLifts38 Posts: 248 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    bmarge10288 wrote: »
    ramepithecus wrote: »
    I have shoulder impingement in both shoulders and that's what it feels like. I haven't done squats with a barbell so I can't say if the position would trigger it but it can be any number of things where my arms are held high. I usually recover faster than what you are describing.

    This probably won't help but I'm curious about what your doctor will say.


    I saw a PA today and he said it's a nerve impingement on my rotator cuff!

    I knew it! Did the doctor prescribe what I suggested?

    He told me to just keep an eye on it since it just started happening this week. He said switch between ice and heat and to take an anti inflammatory. If this continues in 3 weeks, i'll need to do physical therapy.
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