Milking and arm pain

[helmstead]

It is fairly common for the impingement to be in the neck or in the brachial plexus, the bundle of nerves and blood vessels that come through the shoulder and serve the arm and hand.

I have late stage 1 spinal degeneration, and have terrible issues with just this, among other things. When I'm really 'out' my arms are numb all the time. It FEELS like you have carpal tunnel, but it's just your neck.

Also, I have weak tendons and ligaments throughout my body. Some days my poor wrists click and pop with every squeeze while I'm milking...

I have found tho that the more I milk and strengthen my fore arm muscles, the better it gets....so keep at it. It might help you to wear wrist braces while you milk to avoid extra strain.

 

[Melissa'sDreamFarm]

Funny you said that Kate, last night I put my wrist brace on while milking and it helped. No wrist "clicking" either.

But on another note, I woke up this morning with no feeling in my hand again. It has to be the way I'm sleeping with my arm all curled up. I have typed for years and years and never had a problem with my RIGHT hand. I've only had occasional numbness in the mornings. So I think its my pillow or the way I'm sleeping and milking only aggravates it more.

I was very comfortable this morning while milking and only had little numbness. Thank goodness Annabell is patient with me, I switched hands a lot which helped.

 

[freemotion]

Three sleeping positions commonly can cause arm and hand numbness/pain:

Curling the hands inward....to train yourself, wear sleeping braces or put your hands flat under your pillow. It takes weeks to re-train yourself.

Sleeping on your side with your shoulders curled inward. Put your bottom arm (the one against the mattress) behind your body, lean forward slightly, and support yourself with a pillow. Or sleep on your back if you can.

Sleeping with the head tilted forward (sleeping on your side) and your chin near your chest. Pull the lower corner of your pillow down, between your chin and your chest, to prevent this position but still support your head.

These are just a few ideas and certainly not all the information you'll need to resolve this. But don't think it cannot be resolved! MD's do not have the training to deal with this, though. You need a chiropractor.

I've seen pics somewhere of a milking stand with a low railing, padded, that the lady rested her arms on while milking, to help deal with arm/hand pain. I thought it was brilliant at the time. I don't know where I saw it, though, it was a loooooong time ago. That is also a simple solution for some people.

ETA: You need a chiropractor UNLESS it turns out to be a surgical issue, which it can be. I tend to go to the least invasive option first, then work my way down.

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

my mom had carpel tunnel and when she started milking 6 goats twice a day by hand... she decided to get the surgery on her hands. she got one hand done and then the other once she could use her hand again. it helped her alot.
good luck!

 

[Shayanna]

wrist brace(s). not super cheap, but cheaper than a dr's visit or a milking machine.

 

[Oakroot]

For me I have found vitamin d3 is an excellent inflammatory but I really have to be on a low sugar/carb grain free diet. Otherwise I end up with a shake in my right hand. A major life style adjustment may not be the answer you are looking for but it worked wonders for me and my joint/muscle issues.