Question
I got neck and shulder pain for a couple of years. Recently, my left arm and fingers got numb from time to time, and it goes all the way to my thumb and index fingers. it would start from the top of my left arm and i can feel it goes through the fingers. i felt like i want to push the top of my left arm at that time to make me feel a little release from the heaviness and numbness it will be gone for like 10 seconds, not totaly gone though. can you advise what the problem it is and what i need to do to fix it? thanks a lot. Sharon

Answer
Hi sharon,

The neck and shoulder pain is very likely the underlying cause.  These mechanical problems compromise nerve function.  The nerves for the arm, thumb, etc. pass through that area.  You are describing coverage for the C6 dermatome.

The current phenomenon at the top of the left arm is a trigger point that is causing paresthesia (referred sensation).  When you use pressure you can change the effect for a time.  Thorough treatment may fix this part of the problem temporarily.

My best suggestion is to consult a chiropractic doctor.  The doc should make sure there is nothing else complicating the situation, get the underlying problem fixed and work on the trigger point along the way.

If you don't have a chiropractor or a referral there is a good locator at chiroweb.com

Hope this helps.

Grace and peace, Dr Pendergraft