Ouch Then Shake

[jyl]

Had a weird incident last night.

Was scrunched up in a loveseat at the triplex. Half-asleep, taking refuge from my house where my wife and the housecleaner were running rampant. I suddenly realized it was time to go home, and without thinking levered myself up using my right upper arm pushing backwards against the seat.

Instant piercing pain in the tricep area. Like I pulled or tore a muscle. It hurt like crazy. My right hand and arm went numb, could hardly move the right arm, I was unsteady on my feet. I walked carefully to the truck, fumbled with keys, got in and drove the three blocks home.

By the time I got home, the pain and numbness were mostly gone, I could move my arm freely. That's like 3 minutes post-incident. I walked to my front door, and then started shivering and felt nauseous. Went upstairs and to bed. Yes, the house was very clean.

So - what was that about? Don't think I actually did anything musculoskeletal because it resolved so fast. Some nerve thing? The shivering and nausea were, I think, shock - that's what my electrician says. She'd stopped by the triplex just as I was staggering out.

[oldE]

Muscle strain? I had s similar incident when I was on the dairy trucks. Stopped at a store picked up a few cases of milkshakes from the back and stepped towards the front door. The sensation was as if someone had struck me between the shoulder blades with a hammer. When I got inside my appearance so alarmed the owner he made me sit down and rest. After about 5 minutes the pain had subsided and I was able to perform my work. Driving back to the depot ( that had been my last stop of the day) I was wondering if I had had a heart attack, but there were no other symptoms and never a re-occurrence

[john70t]

Strokes are usually one side.
Checklist: Pupil sizes not even. Mouth and shoulder droop. Not being able to lift both arms together. Slurred or incoherent sentences.

Get safe. Contact someone. Take a good dose of aspirin as blood thinner. Drink water. Half a banana for potassium and blood sugar. Rest a few reclined.

[masraum]

I have no idea, but it sounds scary as hell! I'm glad that you're still around today to post about it!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sounds like getting old!

[Zeke]

I'm with @john70t that a stroke may have occurred. Worth checking out.

[LWJ]

I thought you NEVER take aspirin for a stroke???!?

I may have had a similar injury wrenching. Elbow made a "pop." Hand was number for 1.5 years. Seems better now.

You? Get checked out. I didn't have stroke symptoms.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I thought you NEVER take aspirin for a stroke???!?

You are correct
https://www.stroke.org/en/life-after-stroke/preventing-another-stroke/aspirin-and-stroke

Taking aspirin isn't advised during a stroke, because not all strokes are caused by blood clots. Some strokes are caused by ruptured blood vessels and taking aspirin could make these bleeding strokes more severe.

[LWJ]

^^^Good.

A local friend had a nasty heart attack. His wife gets him two aspirin and calls the medics. He lived. He seems well. Word is the aspirin may have made all the difference. She knew as her father had recently passed from a heart attack.

[jyl]

I think stroke unlikely. I was speaking fine. My electrician and daughter were looking at me closely, they’re the kind who’d notice the symptoms listed.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

I think stroke unlikely. I was speaking fine. My electrician and daughter were looking at me closely, they’re the kind who’d notice the symptoms listed.

I agree. It doesn't sound like a stroke to me, but then I've never had one, I'm not a doctor, and I haven't stayed in a Holiday Inn in years.

Your thought that it was maybe some sort of weird nerve pinch or something seems reasonable to me, but then look at my statement above. My 2¢ is worth what you paid for it.

[LWJ]

Well ok. If not a stroke. Here is what I did.

Big ugly F250. PO seemed to use an air ratchet to tighten everything. I am working on some very tight nut with a breaker bar and my left elbow makes a real POP. Sort of hurt. Clearly something is wrong with my elbow. Later that week I am fly casting big streamers which use a lot of arm strength. My left index and middle finger went numb along with some of my left thumb. Maybe I cut into a nerve? I seem 98% better now. Thankfully.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Well ok. If not a stroke. Here is what I did.

Big ugly F250. PO seemed to use an air ratchet to tighten everything. I am working on some very tight nut with a breaker bar and my left elbow makes a real POP. Sort of hurt. Clearly something is wrong with my elbow. Later that week I am fly casting big streamers which use a lot of arm strength. My left index and middle finger went numb along with some of my left thumb. Maybe I cut into a nerve? I seem 98% better now. Thankfully.

Lasted that long though - didn’t see a doc?

[LWJ]

^^^I did see a bunch of docs. Did PT. Nothing made a difference in my opinion. I healed. It took time.

Caused me to not play guitar, wrench or fly fish very much. Which is a shame.

[gacook]

^^^^ The older I get, the slower I heal. That's really the only change I've noticed (so far).

[NY65912]

Tia ??

[jyl]

Originally Posted by NY65912

Tia ??

I don’t think so. I didn’t have stroke symptoms as I understand them - my arm and hand were numb but I got my keys out of my pocket, put them in the ignition, started the truck, shifted into gear, drove home with normal use of the steering wheel, and three minutes after the pain hit, it and the numbness were gone. And while I don’t know, I don’t think piercing pain in one specific location is very stroke-like?

Quite weird though.

[wdfifteen]

You might want to Google “Ulnar Nerve Compression.” Your symptoms are similar to mine, not exactly the same.

[NY65912]

Just hoping all is well.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by jyl

I think stroke unlikely. I was speaking fine. My electrician and daughter were looking at me closely, they’re the kind who’d notice the symptoms listed.

Originally Posted by jyl

I don’t think so. I didn’t have stroke symptoms as I understand them - my arm and hand were numb but I got my keys out of my pocket, put them in the ignition, started the truck, shifted into gear, drove home with normal use of the steering wheel, and three minutes after the pain hit, it and the numbness were gone. And while I don’t know, I don’t think piercing pain in one specific location is very stroke-like?

Quite weird though.

Doesn't sound like a stroke now. Quite weird is right. You've been working your ass off since you started painting your house. You might want to schedule a general check up if you haven't been in a while.

But I'm not telling you anything that you might not be already thinking, just encouraging that you follow through. A set back now will not help with all the plans you have.

Here's to your health.