right elbow goes numb?

Here are my symptoms: Right elbow goes numb about couple times a day, not during climbing. It happens on rest day too. It doesn't hurt, but it feels like when you hit your funny bone without the pain and your arm/elbow feels numb and lose strength temporary. Sometimes I can trigger the symptoms with keeping my arm/elbow in the same position for a while and it feels like my arm/elbow falls asleep. Then I will move my arm a big and after a while it goes away. Again, it doesn't hurt. If anything, it feels like it's pressed down on the outside and topside of the elbow.

Has anyone had the same or similar issue?

Things that I have done differently recently: I added pushups in between climbs in the gym. I started playing angry birds on my ipod.

I can always trigger this by playing angry birds where I hold the ipod in front of me with elbows and arms staying in the same positions for 10+ mins.

I am minimizing the amount of time I am playing angry birds or play with just left hand. I am also resting for a few days now. Any other suggestions? Ideas?

THANKS!!!

i am not a doctor, but sounds like maybe an ulnar nerve issue. i had a similar problem, although it affected my hand as well. these things sometimes clear up on their own. i had surgery. even if you were to get a nerve study, i think you need to wait several weeks for anything to clearly show up. if that's what it is, a fairly easy fix (assuming you have insurance/finances). originally i wondered if it was coming from a shoulder injury but was told that it would be very unlikely to be the cause. best of luck!

Sounds like ulnar nerve compression - gets aggravated when holding the elbow in a bent position for any length of time. Probably mostly being aggravated by the iPod games. Mine was severe, and associated with a lot of other tendon and ligament problems - had my elbow reconstructed 2 weeks ago today - but using my iPhone would definitely flare up the nerve stuff. Sounds like you should be able to manage yours by modifying your iPod use. If not, you might consider PT for a thorough assessment and to learn how to do some ulnar nerve mobilization - this can be extremely effective. Good luck!

I concur with suggestions of ulnar nerve pathology as highly probable. You didn't say how it long it's been going on.

I once had some ulnar nerve irritation/numbness, although mine affected my hand (ulnar nerve innervates pinky and part of the ring finger). It came out of nowhere. It persisted for a few days and then went away on its own.

I don't think push-ups are giving you ulnar nerve problems.

Avoid prolonged positions like you've been doing with your iPod and give it some time. If it persists for weeks, then a doc visit is probably in order.

Thanks for all the replies! I think you guys are onto something. Damn those angry birds. I guess I won't be playing that for a while.

It's only been 3-5 days, which is about 1 week after I started playing angry birds. I have been focusing on training for climbing and pay quite a bit of attention if I feel anything abnormal around my fingers, arms, elbows, and shoulders. Spring is here. I wouldn't want any injuries to ruin my climbing season!

Hopefully this issue will go away in the next few days after I cut out playing that game. Thanks for all your replies again!

Sounds like "agitatus avian ulnar syndrome" to me.