Arm (and hand) numbness during long swims

Interesting map JawHawk, thanks. I started running several months back. I noticed when I run a hard effort, like a 400, some of my right fingers start to numb (C7 & C6 to map resp). But when I swim my whole right hand starts tingling. I think it might be related to pressure on a nerve in my shoulder since it inflammed lately. Also when I sleep, both of my hands go numb within 30 minutes no mater how I lay.

Check out this dermatome map: www.backpain-guide.com/.../4Radiculopathy.html From their text: "Each of the spinal nerves provides sensation to a predictable area of skin." Look at the map and you'll see that the area you're describing corresponds to the C8 nerve root in the spine. Perhaps something is putting pressure on the nerve root.

The same thing happens to me when I do long straight swims, around the 1500 yard/meter mark. For me it starts with my right hand (I breathe to my right). I'll do some fists/spread my hand out, and it goes away. Occasionally I'll get it in my left hand, and making a fist helps that too. I get a similar numbness when I cycle, if I'm on the drop bars for several miles at a time. Making a fist and shaking my arm helps. Or just pulling my water bottle and drinking. Never had this numbness when running.

My hands "fall asleep" when I am sleeping unless I make sure that they are below my heart when I fall asleep. I don't know if that will help you, but it's worth a shot.

I get the same finger numbing sensation and then eventually my entire hand. also on long swims or tough 5000m practices. I always associated it too breathing every right arm stroke. but after visiting a chiropractor last spring he did some adjustment to my C5-C8 area and for about 3-5 weeks this past summer I didn't have that problem. but towards the end of the summer the numbing came back. looking at the nerve map it now makes sense. but I wonder why it's only on one side?

If you hold your fingers together too tight or press the thumb too tightly against the index finger causes tension in the forearm. This can make every thing go numb.

Thank you all for your input!! :) As luck would have it, today I went to the pool and ran into one of the swim team parents - who is our favorite neurosurgeon. We chatted a bit & he agreed that it was most likely not a dangerous injury, and certainly not in my cervical spine, but that I probably was rotating or moving in some way that stretches that nerve a little bit (someone mentioned that, didn't they?) The dermotone map was very helpful, and as an NP, I actually had looked at that, and realized that everything was connected. I'm relieved that I will live, and don't have to quit my training, or even have an MRI - the lack of pain & quick return of sensation (I never really lose sensation, it just gets kinda numb) was Dr.Rumana's "proof" that it is minor. For me, anyways. Thanks again to you all! I'm off in the morning to do my trial swim in the Ichetucknee River - 3.5 miles in 70 degree water!! :banana::banana::banana:

My hands have gotten numb during long timed swims (like the old T-30s). The problem for me was that I was not relaxing my arms/hands on the recovery and my muscles got sufficiently pumped up to start constricting and compressing things. Solution for me was to relax muscles that weren't currently in productive use -- even if it's only for a fraction of a second.

It sounds like you may have a nerve irritated from the neck. You should not take it lightly- numbness now may become pain, muscle weakness later.Are you breathing to that side? What you can play with is how you are turning your head - so make sure your are rotating your hips, shoulders- not just your head to avoid pinching the nerve. I'm hoping "Gull" or some other MD out there can give me some advice. This being Labor Day weekend, I can't really run right over to my ortho or neuro doc. Background: I know I have minor carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists (who doesn't now-a-days?). I'm training for an ultra long swim, and picking up the yardage. I noticed a week a go that after about 3-4000 yds/mtrs, the last two fingers of my right hand go numb, and it begins to spread up my arm, up to nearly the shoulder. I can flip over and do backstroke & shake it out, no problem, rest for a bit on the wall, and it temporarily stops, but then when I get going again, it comes right back. There is NO pain involved, and no nasty sequelae (yet), no swelling, redness, change in temperature to the limb; and once I stop swimming, it completely resolves until the next time I'm swimming a long workout. So - how to prevent it? I certainly can't just stop swimming - the "race" is 10 miles long, so I'm bound to experience this during the event, as well. I kinda wonder if it may be partially related to the water temperature, because lately we've been swimming in 76-78 degree water. Ideas?

I am a left side breather. I have alternated breathing on the other side for a while during long swims. Not bilateral breathing just changing sides for relief. Hey, Geo, we (finally!) found some common ground! :applaud: I do exactly the same thing.