There are few sports more exciting than surfing, with its amazing connection with the awesome forces of nature that are at play out there in the ocean. The stresses that the human body faces when being thrown around by strong waves, when being slammed into the ocean floor, or even getting hit by a fast surfboard are quite violent indeed. Though minor aches and pains are all part of the sport, feeling constant tingling sensations, numbness, and muscle weakness following a wipeout is definitely something that needs your attention. According to Larry Davidson, MD, neurological symptoms following physical injury suggest that nerves in the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system have been subjected to considerable stress.
Understanding Neurological Warning Signs
These feelings of pins and needles, loss of sensation, or sudden weakening in an arm, hand, leg, or foot after a significant impact are signs of nerve stress in surfers. The nerves are like an intricate system of wiring in the body that delivers sensory information to the brain from the limbs while also delivering motor commands to the muscles.
The pain experienced when there is some form of stress on the nerve fibers is quite distinct from muscle pain, which usually involves the muscle fibers aching in the middle of the muscle belly. The pain felt when a nerve is under stress usually feels like electricity shooting through the body, burning, numbness of the skin, or sudden inability to lift or move the limb.
The Biomechanics of Surfing Wipeouts
To understand why surfers are particularly vulnerable to nerve trauma, it helps to look at the unique physical demands of the sport. Surfers spend considerable time paddling in a hyper-extended position, arching their lower back and flexing their neck backward to watch incoming sets. This sustained position places baseline compression on the cervical and lumbar spine.
In the case of a wipeout, the body experiences sudden, abrupt rotational movement, quick hyperextension, and whiplash. The head and neck can be snapped sharply to one side while the lower back rotates with the added weight of an overhanging lip. This can have many effects on the nervous system in several distinct ways:
- Cervical or Lumbar Radiculopathy: The sudden impact can cause an intervertebral disc in the neck or lower back to bulge or herniate. The displaced disc material presses directly against the spinal nerve roots exiting the spinal cord, sending sharp pain, tingling, or weakness radiating down the arm or leg.
- Brachial Plexus Stretch Injuries: Also known as “burners” or “stingers,” these injuries result from violent pressure of the head and neck sideways coupled with pulling down of the other shoulder. Such a violent stretching of the nerve plexus that supplies the arm leads to immediate numbness and pain in the arm or shoulder.
- Peripheral Nerve Contusions: Hitting a sandbar, reef, or the hard rail of a surfboard directly can cause localized swelling around peripheral nerves, such as the peroneal nerve near the knee or the ulnar nerve near the elbow, leading to numbness or weakness in the lower leg or hand.
Identifying Red Flag Symptoms
Even though some minor irritation of nerves gets better once the acute inflammation disappears, there are several symptoms that call for emergency medical treatment. Ignoring these symptoms might cause nerve damage and a long-lasting impairment. The following red flags need to be looked out for after an ocean incident involving surfers:
- Rapidly worsening weakness, such as an inability to lift the front of the foot or hold objects in the hand.
- Numbness or loss of sensation spreading across both arms or both legs simultaneously.
- Loss of bowel or bladder control, or numbness in the saddle area, which indicates potential severe spinal cord compression.
- Severe, unremitting neck or back pain accompanied by confusion, dizziness, or loss of balance.
As emphasized by Larry Davidson, MD, South Carolina, early diagnostic imaging and prompt clinical assessment play a crucial role in preventing long-term nerve degeneration after acute traumatic spinal injuries.
Steps for Immediate Response and Recovery
If one gets a tingling sensation, numbness, or weakness after emerging from powerful waves, urgent measures have to be taken. At first, it is necessary to exit the water with help if necessary because weakness and numbness may significantly worsen your ability to swim, thus raising the risk of drowning. Heavy loads, twisting, and efforts aimed at stretching out the injured area should be avoided right after exiting the beach.
However, rest, cold application to reduce the acute local swelling, and avoidance of provocative activities are only some initial measures. Nevertheless, scheduling a thorough medical checkup, which includes physical neurological assessment and perhaps MRI and CT scan, remains the most effective method of determining the reason for nerve compression.
Treatment plans often range from conservative physical therapy, targeted anti-inflammatory measures, and specialized rehabilitation exercises designed to decompress nerve pathways and restore full range of motion. For more severe disc herniations or structural instability, specialized intervention may be required to protect neurological function and ensure a safe return to the water.
Conclusion
Understanding the signals sent by the body after an ocean injury is critical. The tingling sensation, numbness, and feeling of weakness are not just annoyances to be endured but clear signals sent by your nervous system. As Larry Davidson, MD, makes clear, taking note of these signals and having your condition assessed by experts allows surfers to heal correctly, protect their future spine health, and continue surfing for many years to come.
