Got a weird one, the guys at the Rock Gym didn't know what it was.

I was bouldering on a 30 degree from the horizontal wall. Grabbed a stalactyte hold overhand and pulled through (so that as I went past the hold, the thumb-side of my hand was facing me.) Didn't hear or feel a twang or pop, but some nerve in the ball of my thumb went nuts. Tingled for about the next day when touched.

It didn't stop me from climbing that night, and I really had no pain unless I tried the same grab again. I've avoided grabs like that, and so far, so good. However it comes back when I start to get close to that sort of grab. If I avoid it, there's no problem.

My mom thought it may have been a burst blood vessel, but I had no bruising.

Is it a tendon, nerve? Joint? Is it just one of those wait-a-long-time-to-heal injuries?

Yeah Charlie, how is that nerve doing? I've got a pinched nerve on my left hand from doing tile work. For months I couldn't feel 3 fingers in my hand. After two years, I've got the feeling back on 2 of the 3 but you could cut off my pinky with no pain killers. It moves but is a constant tingle.

My experience, waste of time & money to go to a physical therapist it did nothing more than what time itself has done.

Now the pinched nerve on my right elbow is seriously effecting my ability to lock off holds and drink coffee.

Some woo-woo told me to go to the chiropractor. I'm considering that.

~Susan

It's been better, I haven't really ran into too many issues. I felt it starting up on a weird grab the other day, but other than that, it's been relatively dormat.

Maybe time is all that it needed.

Massage Therapists will tell you that massage can cure you.
Rolfers will tell you that Rolfing will fix it up
Doctors will prescribe knives or pills.
Yogis will advocate yoga.
Chiropractors will bend you back into shape.
Whatever form of practice that one is engaged in, they will offer advice and have some form of cure, or better yet, long term therapy, so that they can pilfer a portion of your income on a regular basis.
My advice to you is self-diagnose, self-treat and self-heal.
Yes, my advice will no doubt create many knee-jerk, diatribe responses from those folks who believe that only “professionals” can fix you. Don’t let them sway you with accounts of how Dr Such and Such cured them of their chronic psychosomatic malady.
Of course, I am generalizing and every situation is different, but from my experience, it is best to listen to your own body, educate yourself, then make a lifestyle change to self heal.

Yes, be careful with hand/arm numbness, tingling, and weakness. As the previous poster mentions, this can be a sign of the nerve being damaged in the upper neck (usually C3-C7) vertebrae.

My wife started having pain, tingling, and numbness in her arm/shoulder. It steadily progressed until there was neurological weakness. At that stage, surgery is recommended - and that is what she had. C6/C7 fused. No problem since. Unlike lower back surgery, these surgeries have a very high success rate (with the possible future risk of issues for neighboring vertebrae since you've fused a motion segment).

For her, surgery was the right answer - and the operation confirmed it. She had a massive bone spur that had worn down the covering of the nerve, and the nerve was - literally - being ground away.

If any of these symptoms persist for a few months, seeing a neurosurgeon for a consult is recommended. We saw three neurosurgeons, and NONE of them pushed surgery. They simply laid down the facts, and left the decision up to us.

Weakness is the dangerous symptom, since once a nerve is damaged - it might not repair itself even after surgery.

I tore the deep facia muscle tissue of the erector spine in my lower back about twenty years ago. This muscle connects the rear blades of your pelvis to your spinal cord (from what the doctors told me).
Their advice was to quit climbing, try to avoid exercise, and they prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxers, which turned me into a quivering mass of crap.
Once I ignored their advice, waited for the spasms to subside and began passive stetching through the pain (and oh boy did it hurt), once I had my range of motion back, I exercized it like crazy and finally cured myself, and yes, as susan said, bourbon did help a lot.

With all due respect, Tom, don't forget that your doctor story is 20 years old, not to mention the fact that not all practitioners are the same or bring the same skills and knowledge to the table. Sometimes it takes finding the right person in the right method.

Anyway, some things to keep in mind:

1) No therapy or medical intervention always works 100% of the time.
2) Some physical problems do resolve on their own over time, regardless of treatment chosen.
3) Some physical problems will resolve on their own but can heal more quickly or pain us less with the proper treatment.
4) Some physical problems do NOT resolve on their own over time and MUST require treatment.

I have experienced all four scenarios.

Lastly, I would recommend people like susan peplow to possibly find an Active Release Technique provider for their pinched or trapped nerve issues that have become so long-lasting. Providers are typically chiropractors, but sometimes PTs, DOs or LMTs as well. You can find a provider in/near your area at http://www.activerelease.com.

FWIW, things really have changed lots in medicine since 20 years ago. MRI (albeit expensive) allows you to see amazing anatomy without a knife. Diagnosis by self, minus a good physical exam without testing is doing yourself a disservice. Having seen the results of a variety of folks diagnosing themselves via the internet, beware. Many things sound similar but are actually distinct entities. If you're concerned about something, see someone who actually knows what she/he is doing.