I wish I had noticed your question earlier!

I'm a chiropractor and I can tell you without much doubt at all that you are in need of chiropractic care.

A chiropractor treats the spine and other joints in the body to restore proper function of spinal vertebrae and other joints in the body. Every tissue in the body is negatively effected when joints become either fixated (stuck) or misaligned. Nerves become inflammed and don't send the proper signals to the tissues they innervate. The numbness in you toes (unless you were diabetic or had some other major organic problem) probably indicate that you have injured your back, most likely in the accident you spoke of and are further exacerbating it each time you work out. The problem will almost never resolve on its own.

Your wrists may have weaknesses that are permanent--however there is a problem we refer to as "double crush syndrome". One can have some pemanent nerve interference in the wrists that cause no symptoms--but if you were to have some nerve interference in the nerves that feed that area from a more proximal position in the neck in addition to what exists in the wrists, it can act as "the straw that broke the camel's" back--and cause the pain you describe. My guess it that may be your problem there too. The way you do the exercises in your chest routine may need to be modified.

Until some of these problems are addressed. Heavy lifting will not be a good thing for your body. I would stick to walking--and get yourself to a chiropractor soon!!

He/She will also be able to advise you on which exercises will help to speed your healing. And then on the timing when it would be safe to add the exercises you have been performing back into your routine.

One very important thing. Ask around your city and find people who have had good results with a certain doctor and be selective. Don't go for the one with the biggest yellow pages ad!! As in every profession there are masters, those that are average, and those that don't have a clue!!

Marj

I understand the "phobia". Many people are afraid of the type of adjustments that make a "popping" sound. The sound is not the "cracking of bones" as many think but only the gas escaping from within the joint space, a phenonmenon called "cavitation". Most people experience this release as pleasant--not uncomfortable.

However--the even better news is that there are techniques of treating problems such as your that are called "low force" They involve no forceful manipulations at all and the treatments are great for those who feel the way that you do. In fact that is what I prefer myself. One of those techniques is called "activator" and a web site is available with lots of information including a directory of doctors around the country that are qualified in the technique. I would recommend one with an advanced rating.

http://www.activator.com

Good Luck!
Marj