Ask Dr. LJ (srsly)

So something went b'doink in a non-TMI region of my body. Coincidentally, I have a physical coming up in a couple of weeks. I am looking for confirmation that it's OK to wait for that, or if I should run-not-walk to the doctor's office to escalate this.

Since Saturday afternoon -- so, for three days now, without letup -- my right forearm has felt somewhat numb and rather painful, from elbow to fingertips. The pain recedes for several hours whenever I eat ibuprofen, but the numbness stays: an unpleasant tingle, especially on all the affected area's skin. It feels especially weird on the inner surfaces of my fingers.

The pain arrived in a sudden rush while I worked on Saturday, and has remained since. But I otherwise feel great, and my arm is fully functional, with no muscular weakness or anything. So: thoughts? Meh wait it out (with a doc appointment after two weeks), or holy shit, jmac, pick up the phone now?

Cause and effect!

(Tyiping this with left hand only.)

Bless all of you, and especially cnoocy for coming down hardest on forbidding me to type or mouse with my ouchy hand until I talk to a doctor. I have spent the last six hours playing xbox games, then board games, then Wii Fit. Arm still feels weird, but the pain is already mostly gone! Not gulping pain pills any more. I suspect a causal relationship.

Arm is less numb per se than sunburned-feeling. Kind of interesting.

Tomorrow, asking recepetionist at docs office where I should go for fast advice. One sick day is OK but i really cant stay off the keyboard for very long. A little antsy already. As you may have ascertained.