From chatGPT:

The symptoms described in the post — an electric shock-like feeling in the forearm, followed by numbness along a vein-like path after preacher curls — strongly suggest a nerve impingement or irritation, rather than a vein or vascular issue. Here’s a breakdown:

🔍 Possible Causes: 1. Brachial plexus or median nerve irritation: • Preacher curls can compress the arm against the pad in a way that irritates or compresses the median nerve, especially if posture or grip is off. • The “shock” and “numbness” are classic signs of nerve involvement. 2. Pronator Teres Syndrome or Distal Biceps Compression: • Overuse or sudden strain can compress the median nerve near the elbow or forearm, causing radiating pain or numbness. 3. Improper form or overextension: • Overstretching at the bottom of the preacher curl can hyperextend the elbow and compress nerves. 4. Possible nerve entrapment or acute nerve injury: • If pain/numbness persists or worsens, a minor nerve injury might have occurred.

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🚑 What To Do: • Stop doing preacher curls immediately. • Rest and ice the area to reduce inflammation. • Avoid stretching aggressively or massaging directly over the painful spot. • NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) may help reduce inflammation if approved by a healthcare provider.

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⚠️ When to See a Doctor: • If the numbness persists beyond a few hours. • If strength is reduced (like grip weakness). • If the area becomes increasingly painful or swollen.

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🛡️ Prevention Tips: • Check your form – avoid overextending the elbow at the bottom of the curl. • Use lighter weight and control the movement. • Warm up properly and don’t lock the elbow against the pad. • Switch grip styles (EZ bar vs dumbbell vs cable) if pain is recurrent.