Painful Forearm Strain

[Jacko77]

Hi there. Newbie here.

MaleForearm.jpghammercurl.jpgSwiss-ball-bicep-curl-II.jpg1. 'Red area' 2. Hammer curl 3. Standard curl (ignore the swiss ball)
6'0
76kg

I have done a bit of searching across google and this forum, but haven't found anybody with a similar issue to mine!

During some sport a few months ago, I assume I did some damage to my forearm. I'm not sure exactly how, as it was only after the sports session (Judo) that it started to ache.
As shown by the attached picture, the area of concern is the inner side tissue that runs along my ulna bone.
Whenever pressure (such as propping my hand on the floor as a support to stand up), lift weights or grip something tightly, the red area starts to ache/burn. Interestingly, the ache is nowhere near as bad if I lift weights with a 'hammer curl' rather than a a standard curl. Also, please see the attachments.
Also interestingly, if I massage this 'red' area, I find that to touch; I can feel individual strands/strings of thin tissue running down my arm, adjacent to one another, as opposed to my healthy forearm which has none of these. Perhaps an area of muscle has ripped apart leaving these strings?
Unfortunately, I'm finding this injury very very slow to heal, as I always seem to re-injure it on a day to day basis, with something as simple as lifting a shopping bag. Can anyone suggest a method of support, such as a good brand of compression bands or any other therapy?

Also, has anyone found 'rolling' knotted injuries on a mat or a tennis ball to be useful? I have a few other strains/knots on my back, which could do with ironing out.

Apologies for the long post!
Any help would be appreciated!

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[physiobob]

Hi Jacko77, thanks for your post which is interesting. It does appear to me like you need to go into a clinic and be physically assessed. Your observations about hammer curls being less of an issue is a useful on as there is very little demand on the forearm flexor muscles when doing a hammer curl compared with a normal barbell curl. This is as the forearm is in a neutral position as opposed to a supinated one.

I would suggest first assessing the proximal (near elbow) radio ulnar joints & the nerve tracts from neck to hand (including the neck itself) to clear other areas referring symptoms to the medial forearm area. If cleared then a muscle assessment to check strength and possible a diagnostic ultrasound if things are positive for those tissues.

Do post a photo comparing your forearms flexed if you can as that might show some observable signs between the two sides.

[Jacko77]

Many thanks for your informative reply. I'll book into the doc's soon and try arrange some physio.
Please find attached the two pictures, I don't see much difference between them, but I'll leave that to yourself!
Again, many thanks bob. Much appreciated.20130407_105706.jpg20130407_105721.jpg

[physiobob]

Any reason the right one is pink and the left not? If this is not just a photo exposure issue then it may indicate a neural/vascular issue on the right side. We really would want a clenched fist and a flexed wrist to see the flexor muscle bellies popping out to compare visually.

[Jacko77]

Prior to the image being taken, I was wearing a makeshift compression band around my right forearm. The following pictures are the best I could do by myself (by balancing my phone on the edge of a table!), I have not been wearing a compression band for some time in the pictures either. If the pictures aren't adequate, let me know and I'll retake them.
Cheers mate

20130407_201857.jpg20130407_201918.jpg

EDIT: It may be worth mentioning that occasionally, the pain/ache spreads to my elbow.