Why? Backpacking causes 1 arm to fall asleep, cutoff circulation
Bote Man
hike and walk. I had 20 pounds of food and clothes stuffed in it.
The pack is all the good things I read and heard about it.
Throughout the hike I was adjusting the hip, shoulder,
and "elevator" straps to find the best fit.
Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
My right arm was fine (weird). Once I put the pack in the car
and started the drive home everything returned to normal.
I have never had this happen before. As a test I even loosened
the left shoulder strap to a ridiculously sloppy fit and
it did not help.
Was I doing something incredibly wrong without knowing it?
I really want to figure this out before I hit the big hike
in 2 weeks in Hawaii. There will be no turning back there.
Thanx!
Bote Man
(sendwaves
at voiceware.net)
Chuck Simmons
Do you smoke? I do and as a result have poor circulation in some areas
(mostly extremities). Is there a possibility of problems due to
repetative operations? My mouse arm acts funny when I am at the computer
too much. All of these problems and a few I haven't mentioned should be
brought up with a doctor since possible early identification of a
serious problem developing could be important. In spite of my sins, I
have carried much more and it has mainly been my whole body that
protests. If you can't "shake out" the problem, you had better look into
it with medical advice. Even if you are a bit broken down and out of
shape, at the end of the day, a half hour or so should bring back a
little energy without numbness or other symptoms. It may be nothing but
it may be something. This isn't the best place for diagnosing that kind
of problem.
Chuck
--
... The times have been,
That, when the brains were out,
the man would die. ... Macbeth
Chuck Simmons chr...@webaccess.net
RWalter2
I was trying out my new Gregory Reality today on about a 3 mile
hike and walk. I had 20 pounds of food and clothes stuffed in it.
<<Snipped>>
Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
My right arm was fine (weird). Once I put the pack in the car
and started the drive home everything returned to normal.
<<Snip>>
Was I doing something incredibly wrong without knowing it?
I really want to figure this out before I hit the big hike
in 2 weeks in Hawaii. There will be no turning back there.
Thanx!
Bote Man
(sendwaves
at voiceware.net)
>>
My guess is that there's a problem with the circulation in your arm. The most
obvious thing is that the shoulder strap is cutting off the blood supply and
your nerves "go to sleep" due to lack of oxygen.
If the strap is too tight, you could just loosen/readjust it to solve the
problem. However, it sounds like you already tried that.
Another possibility is that you have an abnormal narrowing of the blood
vessels in the area of your shoulder. This is called "thoracic outlet
syndrome", and it can happen when you have an extra rib, or some other skeletal
anomaly that squeezes on the blood vessels. People who have this don't usually
notice it unless they're doing something unusual like holding their arms over
their heads. It may be that when you are hiking, you naturally tighten up the
muscles in your shoulder to carry the weight of the pack. The muscle
tightening in itself may be enought to cut off the circulation into your arm.
The shoulder straps may not actually be a part of it.
One easy way to test this is to have someone check your pulse after you've
been hiking with your pack on. Have them check both wrists at the same time,
and see if both pulses are strong. If the pulse in the affected arm is weak or
undetectable, you have a circulation problem.
Another possibility: Do you hike with a hiking pole ? If you use a pole in
one hand only, then that hand will be above your heart for most of the time,
while the other hand will be at your side. Blood has to go "uphill" to get to
the hand with the pole, and that might affect your circulation over a long
period of time. Using a pole might give you an asymmetric arm motion as well,
and that may contribute to the way you use your shoulder muscles. Maybe all
you have to do is switch your pole from one hand to the other from time to
time.
R. Walter, CA
Dook of URLs
wrote:
>I was trying out my new Gregory Reality today on about a 3 mile
>hike and walk. I had 20 pounds of food and clothes stuffed in it.
...
>Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
>and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
>I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
>my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
...
It might be circulation, then again it might be a nerve getting
squeezed. I'd guess the latter.
Nerves, arteries, and muscles share the same real estate in your back,
neck and shoulders, so a muscle which is being used in a new way or in
a new combination can muscle out (so to speak) nerves and/or arteries
from their share of the real estate.
I'd do a regular stretching program, particularly before a hike and
during it. Wearing the pack lightly loaded for some brief, daily walks
around your neighborhood should build the muscle which might have been
working overtime during your first wearing of the new pack.
--Dook
MKloepster
>and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
>I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
>my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
>and started the drive home everything returned to normal.
How's your heart?
Dook of URLs
wrote:
>I was trying out my new Gregory Reality today on about a 3 mile
>hike and walk. I had 20 pounds of food and clothes stuffed in it.
...
>Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
>and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
>I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
>my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
GChapp
possibility fo this being a problem.
But also see a chiropractor. Spine misalignments, or something in the
shoulder can pinch nerves. Often a chiropractor can handle these things with
just a few visits.
GC
"Bote Man" <m...@noplace.special> wrote in message
news:3A21C539...@noplace.special...
> I was trying out my new Gregory Reality today on about a 3 mile
> hike and walk. I had 20 pounds of food and clothes stuffed in it.
>
> The pack is all the good things I read and heard about it.
>
> Throughout the hike I was adjusting the hip, shoulder,
> and "elevator" straps to find the best fit.
>
> Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
> and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
> I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
> my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
> My right arm was fine (weird). Once I put the pack in the car
> and started the drive home everything returned to normal.
>
> I have never had this happen before. As a test I even loosened
> the left shoulder strap to a ridiculously sloppy fit and
> it did not help.
>
Courtney Nipper
taking your pack to a back packing store you trust and having them fit it
correctly on you. It's not just the shoulder straps that can make your
arm(s) fall asleep. Ask them to adjust the stays in the pack to fit your
back right as well if you don't already know how to do this. Check to make
sure the hip belt it centered in the middle of your hip bone and the weight
is on your hips and not your shoulders or back. Ask then to also adjust the
shoulder straps to where they are coming over your shoulders in the right
spot. And last, put your arms in front of you with your pack on and pull
the breast strap only that tight and not tighter. Good luck. I own a
Gregory Lassen and love it!
Courtney
Morgan Jones
> Throughout the hike I was adjusting the hip, shoulder,
> and "elevator" straps to find the best fit.
>
> Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
> and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
> I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
> my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
> My right arm was fine (weird). Once I put the pack in the car
> and started the drive home everything returned to normal.
One way of adjusting a pack is to set your hip belt, connect the
sternum strap, just snug the shoulder straps, then give a good pull on
the load lifters (the straps above the shoulder straps that connect
the top of the shoulder straps to the top of the stays). At this
point, the shoulder straps should hold the pack to your back but with
all of the pressure on your chest, not your shoulders - you should be
able to easily slide a finger under the shoulder straps on the top of
your shoulders. This way the pressure of the pack is completely on
your hips and chest.
If you are not doing this, give it a try. It might do the trick for
you.
Morgan.
Patricia Hawkins
BM> I was trying out my new Gregory Reality today on about a 3 mile
BM> hike and walk. I had 20 pounds of food and clothes stuffed in it.
BM> The pack is all the good things I read and heard about it.
BM> Throughout the hike I was adjusting the hip, shoulder,
BM> and "elevator" straps to find the best fit.
BM> Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
BM> and that I had a hard time moving it. For some reason that
BM> I could not attribute to the tightness of the shoulder straps
BM> my left arm had the circulation reduced and was "falling asleep".
BM> My right arm was fine (weird). Once I put the pack in the car
BM> and started the drive home everything returned to normal.
BM> I have never had this happen before. As a test I even loosened
BM> the left shoulder strap to a ridiculously sloppy fit and
BM> it did not help.
This sounds like nerve compression -- possibly as well as circulation
-- do you mention circulation because your hand was white?
The nerves and arteries to your hand exit your thorax through a fairly
narrow opening, called the thoracic outlet. Any distortion of this
outlet can cause nerve and/or artery compression. Distortion can be
caused by unusual anatomy, or by plain old bad posture of your
shoulders, neck, or back. Lots of computer professionals gradually
get slouched shoulders and forward head posture that can cause this
compression -- it's called "thoracic outlet syndrome".
Pressure on your shoulder blade can excarbate it; general muscle
tension can make it worse. Holding your head too far forward can
cause it (as most programmers do, peering at the screen), because the
thoracic outlet goes between two muscles (the scalenes) that anchor
the top of your neck to your ribs; they scissor closed when your head
is far forward. Tight muscles in the front of your chest can also
cause it, as can over-stretched muscles in your upper back/shoulders
-- these are generally sore and achy.
Do you spend a lot of time on the keyboard, and have you been waking
up with a numb arm more than you used to, over the last year or so?
Maybe you have other hand/neck/shoulder symptoms, that have crept up
over time, and that kind of go away when you take a break for a few
days?
If all this seems to fit, thank your lucky stars for an early warning,
and go find a doctor and a PT or OT or really good body worker who
know the meaning of "typing injury" and "thoracic outlet syndrome";
don't pass go, don't take no for an answer; pay out-of-pocket if
insurance won't pay.
Here are a couple of good resources:
http://www.engr.unl.edu/ee/eeshop/rsi.html
http://www.tifaq.com/
--
Patricia J. Hawkins
Hawkins Internet Applications, LLC
Bote Man
<wk4s0tc...@mail.connact.com>
>
>>>>>> "BM" == Bote Man <m...@noplace.special> writes:
>
>BM> Near the end I noticed that my left arm was feeling tingly
>BM> and that I had a hard time moving it.
>
>-- do you mention circulation because your hand was white?
>
>up with a numb arm more than you used to, over the last year or so?
>Maybe you have other hand/neck/shoulder symptoms, that have crept up
>over time, and that kind of go away when you take a break for a few
>days?
Guilty as charged in front of the computer. :( However, I am conscious
of my posture and do as much as I can to prevent slouching and
the like: exercise, yoga, stretching.
I'm going to re-adjust the stay connecting points on the Gregory,
per another poster's point. The young lady who fitted me seemed
less than expert with the Gregory line and moved the straps down
to the lower of the two slots. I didn't question her at the time,
but reading all the informative posts here indicate that as a possible
solution.
I will also get my general physical condition examined, as this might
be indicative of something bigger.
Thanx for all the advice everyone!
I'll provide a full report upon my return to the mainland.
Bote Man
out
Patricia Hawkins
BM> Guilty as charged in front of the computer. :( However, I am conscious
BM> of my posture and do as much as I can to prevent slouching and
BM> the like: exercise, yoga, stretching.
BM> I'm going to re-adjust the stay connecting points on the Gregory,
BM> per another poster's point. The young lady who fitted me seemed
BM> less than expert with the Gregory line and moved the straps down
BM> to the lower of the two slots. I didn't question her at the time,
BM> but reading all the informative posts here indicate that as a possible
BM> solution.
BM> I will also get my general physical condition examined, as this might
BM> be indicative of something bigger.
Beware -- your average physician doesn't know a damn thing about
repetitive strain injuries, or posture. Try to see a physician who
regularly treats it, or another type of practitioner, for example, a
PT or OT who regularly treats RSI, and would know the typical posture,
and what to do to correct it. An osteopath or a chiropractor might be
a better bet than your family physician, as they actually get training
in postural/muscular/skeletal issues, although some chiropractors have
a reputation for *always* finding something wrong.
Bote Man
>Try to see a physician who
>regularly treats it, or another type of practitioner, for example, a
>PT or OT who regularly treats RSI, and would know the typical posture,
>and what to do to correct it. An osteopath or a chiropractor might be
>a better bet than your family physician, as they actually get training
>in postural/muscular/skeletal issues, although some chiropractors have
>a reputation for *always* finding something wrong.
Point well taken. I know in some circles chiropractors can do nothing
but wrong, so I had not been inclined in the past to seek them out.
I have a trusted friend who could provide me with a good recommendation
and I will do what I can in the short time remaining.
As a side note, I went to see a older guy who runs a camp store in
this area (the only one around of its kind for a long ways) and
he dismissed it, saying basically everybody gets aches and pains
from hiking. From some other things he told me he probably puts up
with a lot of pain that he need not.
I adjusted the shoulder strap anchor points just now, but have not
had the chance to test it out. I'll do that tomorrow if I can.
Thanx for all the input everyone, don't let the spammers get you down,
just ignore them. I do and it works great!
Bote Man
Mark McGilvray
to say is that some of the "holes" in the shoulder bones become constricted
and pinch the nerve. I have also had edema in my hands from carrying a pack
at altitudes above 10,000 feet. All these problems seem to go away/diminish
as soon as I get the pack off. Don't pay any attention to what others tell
you about chiropractors. I went to one for my back and it helped. It is an
individual matter where the chiro may help or not. Find a competent one, but
beware of being milked for "maintenance" visits forever, which are about $30
a whack and can go on forever. Also beware of "re-examination" fees at $300
per.
"Bote Man" <m...@noplace.special> wrote in message
> Dateline 27 Nov 2000 17:35:42 -0500, by Patricia Hawkins
<phaw...@connact.com>
> <wk4s0tc...@mail.connact.com>
> >
> >
> >BM> and that I had a hard time moving it.
> >
> >This sounds like nerve compression -- possibly as well as circulation
> >-- do you mention circulation because your hand was white?
> >
> >Do you spend a lot of time on the keyboard, and have you been waking
> >up with a numb arm more than you used to, over the last year or so?
> >Maybe you have other hand/neck/shoulder symptoms, that have crept up
> >over time, and that kind of go away when you take a break for a few
> >days?
>
>
>
> I will also get my general physical condition examined, as this might
>