[Jean-Paul]

Be very specific...what problems? What aggrevates it, what makes it better. Describe the symptoms. Numbness? Tingling? Weakness? Pain? The radial n. is a peripheral nerve. If it's true radial n. irritation then the neck hypermobility may not be the problem.

Weakness and pain are pretty much it. I have had some tingling on the tops of a couple of my fingers. Sleeping and then waking up aggravates it at the source, but all the other problems I have been having with my arm may not be connected to it. I am not really sure.

Do you mean ears in line with shoulders?

Yes

Guarding from what? Do you have a prior related injury.

Yes. Over the years I have had some minor problems, lots of shoulder problems. About 4 years ago I really threw my neck out terribly, and mistakenly went to a chiro who only made it worse with the adjustment. I wound up going to a neurosurgeon who, at the time, said that I had 55% strength loss in my right arm. I had an MRI and he said that my neck had pretty badly compressed vertebrae with bulging discs. They weren't ruptured though. Before he could tell me that I was going to have to do surgery I wound up going to an accupuncturist (don't laugh) who had immediate and amazing results with me!

Well, it has been off and on with dull aches and some occaissional "pinched nerves" (that is what if felt like), and then some serious bouts of pain that last for days or sometimes weeks! This last bout really had me down for a while, until one of my clients who is a doc took me to his buddy who is a rehab guy (enter Rob Tillman), whom I have only known up to then by reputation only. I have visited with him twice so far. They taped me up so that I couldn't comfortable break good posture for a couple of days. He said that my neck was not only too inflamed and the muscles to tight to move it, but that it even if they weren't so guarded, that my joints were to loose, and that moving bone wasn't what I needed. He said that I am hypermobile. That is the problem with so many chiropractors (no offense to BRB who seems to be more rehab oriented than the typical "clientele building" chiros) is that they just want to adjust EVERYTHING, and adustment is NOT always what is needed for spinal problems. Mine has be adjusted so much by myself and others that the joint has no stability left. It has only stayed in place at all because of my natural musculature. So I have to hold my posture out of the guarding position for a while, get the inflammation down, and do some exercises.

My first response would be that it sounds like you have some forward head posturing and perhaps protraction of the shoulders. This could be irritating the C7-8 nerve root between the anterior and middle scalene. There could be an entrapment at the neurovascular sleeve, triceps, brachialis, or supinator. Hard to say without examining you.

This is pretty much what Rob said. I will give you a more specific diagnosis when he is finished.

Your last comment makes me lean toward a muscular issue. Does it feel like it's more in the front of the hip?

Yes! Lately it is much more in the front.

Ah, the wear and tear finally catches up to you. I know the feeling.

YES! And I HATE THAT!

Are you getting some regular soft-tissue work done? You have an ART guy at your disposal, correct? Have him check your scalenes, pec minor,and follow the radial nerve pathway for any upper extremity symptoms. For the hip, check distal psoas, proximal rectus femoris, pectineus, obturator externus, and long adductors.

Well, yeah, I sorta have an ART available. My problem is that I am keeping him too busy! I rarely get on his table, dang it! I will give him these instructions and tell him to dig out my insides!

Thanks for all of your input. I really appreciate it. BTW, did you ever get my emails from today? PM me if you did.