mid forearm pain

I'm not sure if this is related to biking or not. May be related to typing. Every now and then out of the blue I get this horrible pain stabbing through the middle area of my forearm, on the outside (pinkie side) of the arm. Sometimes the right side, usually the left. It takes my breath away, and then it goes away. Typically I get a series of pains for a day or two. This has happened several times this year.

I've browsed through WebMD and other sites like that but have not found a description that seems familiar. Anyone have any idea what it might be?

The reason I suspect biking or typing is because once it happened the day after I rode an ill fitting recumbent, and I had spent the 2 hour ride reaching up at an angle. Another time it happened after I did a yoga pose that had me holding my arms up at that same angle. And a couple times it happened after I'd done a lot of typing, using my favorite chair which I know is too low.

Do you just have pain, or is there any tingling or numbness? Might be tendinitis, but if it's in both arms, I'd also have my neck looked at.

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Originally Posted by snapdragen

Do you just have pain, or is there any tingling or numbness? Might be tendinitis, but if it's in both arms, I'd also have my neck looked at.

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Just the pain. Sometimes it's in one arm, sometimes the other. What would be in my neck that could be causing this? I wondered too because in some respects it is similar to sciatica that I've had in my legs. Only not as sharp & piercing, a little more dull.

I had pain, but with tingling and some numbness - it turned out to be compressed discs, narrowing of the spinal canal and bone spurs.

I'd get checked out for tenidinitis first.

Does it feel sore when you massage the area? I have pains in my arm due to typing. It is tendonitis in my wrist AND elbow, and the muscles in between are often all knotted up. I went to PT for a few months and had hot parafin wax baths, heating pads, massages, and ultrasound. Now I just do the heating pad and massages on my own, and it helps to wear a tennis elbow band. I also sleep and type with a wrist brace--not for carpal tunnel (since I don't have that), but because I sleep with my wrists all scrunched up. I've also trained myself to use my computer mouse with my left hand, and I am careful typing and try to minimize it.

All of what Snap said, plus Ulnar Compression from holding your elbows bent. Could be a number of things causing it. I'd be talking to a health pro.

When you are reading things on the computer, do you prop your chin on your fist, elbow on the desk? I tend to do that, and it has contributed to my problems in my elbow-to-wrist area. I have to be very aware of my posture or else I fall into bad habits.

All that sounds familiar. It's not sore when I massage it. Nor does massaging it help. Starting in June I'll be working for the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine--sounds like more their specialty so maybe I'll wait until June to get it checked out. In the meantime I'll try to be careful about my posture & how much time I spend at the computer.