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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on March 24, 2005, at 20:07:05
Add one more piece of falling apart body. I had a scary incident a couple of weeks ago where I lost the strength in my right hand. It just happened again, and this time I had the presence of mind to pay close attention to what was happening. I looked up the symptoms and it looks like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Most of my mother's brothers and sisters, and my mother, have had to have surgery for it. I'm nowhere near that yet. But I'd better go get one of those snazzy fashion accessories, the wrist support.
My father was right. You do start falling apart at forty.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 24, 2005, at 20:42:42
In reply to All this and carpal tunnel syndrome too, posted by Dinah on March 24, 2005, at 20:07:05
Hi Dinah. Have you had an endocrine workup recently? I have been having a lot of symptoms suggestive of thyroid dysfunction, so I've doing doing some reading about thyroid disorders. Apparently, in many cases. there seems to be an association between carpal tunnel syndrome and hypothyroidism. There is an excellent website on thyroid disorders at About.com. I will look for the correct web address for you. In the mean time, I suggest that you not rush into surgery until you've ruled out possible underlying causes.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 24, 2005, at 21:39:31
In reply to Re: All this and carpal tunnel syndrome too » Dinah, posted by Sarah T. on March 24, 2005, at 20:42:42
Hi again. I don't know why I asked whether you've been to the endocrinologist. I've read that you've recently been dx'd with diabetes, so you must have had numerous exams. What I meant was, did the examinations include thyroid tests?
Posted by Dinah on March 25, 2005, at 9:41:42
In reply to Oops! Of course you've had an endo exam -Dinah, posted by Sarah T. on March 24, 2005, at 21:39:31
I know the most recent one did, and it came back ok.
I got one of those splints to wear at night. I know I flex my wrists at night, and this should stop that source of compression. I can't type with it on, though, so I won't be able to use it at the keyboard.
I read that there's a strong genetic component in that some people have narrow carpal tunnels or something. Six of the eight siblings (including my mother) in my mother's family have had surgery for it. Apparently they compare scars. :)
My mother's family has passed down quite an assortment of genetic ills. Mental illness, diabetes, carpal tunnel, familial tremor - probably a few more I can't recall off hand. :) On the other hand, they live forever. My father's family on the other hand died so young of alchohol related illnesses that I have no idea what they may have developed.
Carpal tunnel doesn't look all that bad. If the splints don't work, and I can't use steroids because of my diabetes, I should at least be able to have surgery and be ok.
And I'll have another thorough checkup whenever I can get an appointment with my doctor. Maybe even the nerve conduction test my doctor wanted. I am sooooo angry with my body for betraying me.
Posted by Tabitha on March 26, 2005, at 15:10:08
In reply to Re: Oops! Of course you've had an endo exam -Dinah » Sarah T., posted by Dinah on March 25, 2005, at 9:41:42
I've had on-and-off symptoms for many years. It did improve quite a bit since I've added the thyroid hormone. It seems to help water retention and general inflammation. A good keyboard helps a lot too, and I need it to be lower than a typical desk or table-- basically just above my knees.
This is the end of the thread.
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