[Robsons]

Strange one this...
After spending two weeks in Mallorca (2 weeks in Oct) climbing everyday, I noticed a pain in the middle-upper of my back, to the right-side of my spine. It felt/feels like a trapped nerve, but has lasted (despite attempts to release/grind) since Oct 14th-ish?
More recently, it has started to affect my shoulder, and even my elbow (right-side). Affects my shoulder, sometimes merely lifting my arm above my head. Climbing - doesn't affect me pullling down, or pulling in, but palms and mantles. I'm assuming this pain is a result of the "trapped nerve" in my back?
I have also felt a pain in my outer right elbow - definitely a tendon shooting pain - but no affects whilst climbing. Or an obvious trigger to the pain?

I appreciate this is a difficult one to understand from my description, but if anyone can - advice, or even better an explanation would be fantastic!
I live in the Guildford/Reading area (south-east). I know some of you guys are based down here, so if anyone can recommend a good physio, that would be spot on too!

Thanks guys,

Robin

[Falling Down]

My elbow 'tendonitis' and shoulder problems were related to or directly caused by nerve impingement in the thoracic vertebrae.

Have a read of http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,16540.0.html and this http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,14902.0.html and look out for the posts by The Sausage.

You might want to get your shoulder and back looked at by a specialist to diagnose and then release any impingement, then start doing some shoulder stabilisation exercises - have a search through the threads and you'll find plenty of useful info.

[roestone]

Hi.
I am just recovering from the same thing, it's been with me since mid October too !!!!! Not convinced on the trapped nerve prognosis, it comes from first pulling a small muscle in the arm pit area, too much climbing without the ALL important easy days and rest days. Fundamentally you need to do more press ups and pullups on a bar, not campus board.
But first the fix. Stand up straight and look ahead with arms relaxed at your sides. Now, using the neck muscles, pull your head backwards and hold for 3 seconds. Your elbow will probably hurt and at some point the side of the bicep too. Repeat 10 times, 2 or 3 times a day. Make a serious effort to sit, stand and lay down as straight as poss. The head movement should replicate the backward movement of the comical Egyptian dance. This advice is in no way legally binding. Good luck. roestone

[duncan]

Problems in the neck or thoracic spine area can often lead to pain in the shoulder and elbow.  Problems in the shoulder can sometimes lead to thoracic and elbow pain. 

The mechanism of how a problem in one part of the body causes pain to be felt elsewhere is not completely understood.  It is most likely referred pain: cortical (brain) confusion about the symptom source.  A know example of this is way as heart problems can be felt as shoulder or arm pain.  Another mechanism is nerve irritation of some sort but true nerve pain is much less common and usually has feelings like pins and needles or numbness along with pain.

Pain character is a very poor guide to the diagnosis in my experience: I don't think it is possible to say something is a tendon problem because of the nature of the pain. 

This is a long-winded way of saying get it looked at.

[The Sausage]

You definitely need to get it looked at - preferably by a physio that comes recommended. I could get hold of some numbers for folk in London, if that's any good?

Lots of probs can come from that area. There are things that go by the name of T4 syndrome - you could have a google of that. I think it sounds likely that the elbow pain is related, but that is pure conjecture. "shooting" pain tends to be nerve-y, rather than tendon-y.

Sorry, don't have time to write more. Will try to over next couple of days.

Good luck!

Joe

[Robsons]

Thanks ALL for useful info, very much appreciated!
Really want to get it sorted asap!!!

Roestone - the "Egyptian" movement locates the pain in the back perfectly!? I'll try the exercises!
Duncan - true, guessing at trapped nerve/tendons - agreed, will get checked!
Falling Down - thanks for those - have read them previously, but didn't think to look in them for this...cheers!

Joe, any recommendations in London would be hugely appreciated! Definitely don't want it to worsen!  The elbow pain is certainly not (imo) a tendonitis issue as I have had that previously. I can almost feel the tendon "catching" and sending the pain down to the elbow??
Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Robin

[Robsons]

Hi Joe, any word on this?

Cheers,

Robin

[joel]

I'm not Joe, (although I am Joel...), but have seen about 3 different London physios and 2 sports massage practitioners about climbing related problems (shoulder/elbow but a little different from your issue), and can recommend the following 2:

1.) Physio - Suzanne Tugwell at http://www.thecollegepractice.com/  - she's v. busy and the only good one there so if you ask for her and they try and offer others just say no... It's Kentish Town not Highgate as it says, may not be the most convenient but she is pretty good...

2.) SPORTS massage practioner -  Rie  Satie-Munro (sorry Rie for mangling the spelling, but the 1st name is correct....) - she works from the arch wall here http://archclimbingwall.com/?page_id=14

I'm just a punter (in both the climbing and medical knowledge senses!) so Joe's opinion and recommendations will probably be more valid as a medical professional. Good luck!