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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by partlycloudy on March 30, 2005, at 15:02:15
In reply to Ok, I'm a bit scared, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 12:43:22
I think I'd start with the family doctor since it hasn't been "formally" dx'd yet (although you said that you've got a family history of it). Is it possible that it's a complication of diabetes and not carpal tunnel? I'm not trying to make your day here, just throw out possibilities.
My sister had carpal tunnel and went through physical therapy and wore a wrist support (day and night if I recall), but did NOT have surgery. She was a chemist working for a large pharmaceutical company at the time. The whole experience was "on campus" at the company's facility. I will ask her about the process, though.
Do you use a wrist pad support for the computer keyboard and all that good ergonomic stuff?
Posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 17:20:59
In reply to Re: Ok, I'm a bit scared » Dinah, posted by partlycloudy on March 30, 2005, at 15:02:15
No, I suppose I need to look into all that. Maybe I'll wait till I'm diagnosed though, as it all sounds so annoying.
Maybe they make better wrist supports than the one I'm using, because typing in that one does not seem at all feasible. I think I'd rather have the surgery. :)
Oh well, I have an appointment with my internist on the nineteenth. Now what I need to do is to not let these little spells derail my work so much.
Posted by rainbowbrite on March 30, 2005, at 21:33:37
In reply to Re: Ok, I'm a bit scared » partlycloudy, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 17:20:59
I think that is a sign of carpal tunnel. you may have been resting your wrist in a position that caused the nerve to be cut off...the weakness. Try using a brace for part of the day...it may help, or at night.
if you want to get an idea if you have it....take your elbows and rest then on a table or arm rest of chair, then let your hands fall to a 90 degree angle (so you look silly :-) )and count to 60. Tell me how your wrists and fingers feel after and Dr rain will give you your diagnosis.
:-) Im serious BTW
Posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 22:27:18
In reply to Re: Ok, I'm a bit scared » Dinah, posted by rainbowbrite on March 30, 2005, at 21:33:37
Immediately after - palm and outer three fingers feel tingly.
A minute or so after that - thumb and forefinger feel like they can't grip.
Did I do it right?
That was the right hand, the left hand felt fine.
I guess it's possible that I moved when I laughed, and cut something off. It was so weird to be writing and then lose the ability to write mid sentence.
Carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't sound bad. I can live with that. But I'll have to find a better brace. I really can't type with the one I have.
Posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 22:28:31
In reply to Re: Ok, I'm a bit scared » Dinah, posted by rainbowbrite on March 30, 2005, at 21:33:37
My hand still feels funny like it did earlier, so I guess that's it after all. :)
Posted by rainbowbrite on March 30, 2005, at 22:48:14
In reply to Thanks Dr. Rain :), posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 22:28:31
Diagnosis: Carpal tunnel Syndrome.
It isn't fun! it does sound like thats what it is though.
try using a brace for sleep only at first,when we sleep we tend to curl our wrists which exacerbates the symptoms the next day. see if it helps. It would be hard to wear one all day. Pain in the butt
:-)
Posted by rainbowbrite on March 30, 2005, at 22:52:26
In reply to Allrighty, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 22:27:18
yeah you did it right. Very carpal tunnly sounding, but still go to doctor cause my expertise is not transferable to real life LOL. well actually Im pretty well known so your doc may know me...and accept the diagnosis...never know :-)
Also try typing with your left hand only :-) and a plus I hear it is good for the brain to use our less favored hand....challenging I guess
Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 0:10:59
In reply to Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel?, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 12:52:28
It doesn't seem a bad thing to have - atleast not too bad. A simple surgery will relieve the pressure on the wrist.
Ask your GP to direct you to a neurologist? And have that EMG stuff done?
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:10:59
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by pinkeye on March 30, 2005, at 13:20:08
If it's carpal tunnel, I'm not worried. Six of my mom's family has had surgery for it. It just seemed weird that it should be triggered by laughing, like it really seems it was this time.
Then I start getting all hypochondriacal and worry that it's something neurlogical. :)
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:00
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » pinkeye, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 13:51:25
Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:00
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » pinkeye, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 13:51:25
Did you have that EMG test done? What did it say?
Posted by Tamar on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:00
In reply to Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel?, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 12:52:28
It might also be diabetes-related. Did you get any numbness or tingling?
Mind you, what you've described sounds like exactly the sensation I used to have before getting a migraine. And migraine can be diabetes-related too, as far as I know. Also, not everyone gets the headaches with migraine (lucky so-and-sos).
How's your glucose control?I hope you find the answer.
Tamar
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:00
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by pinkeye on March 30, 2005, at 14:14:27
The EMG is nerve conduction? I had one scheduled for my feet, but solved my problem by ditching my beloved Reebok hitops in favor of keds. I can no longer wear ankle constricting shoes, I guess.
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:00
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by Tamar on March 30, 2005, at 16:10:15
No tingling or numbness. Just a clumsiness and weakness. It seems to last the exact same period each time, give or take a minute or two. About twenty minutes. I have trouble gripping a pencil, and if I do grip it, I have trouble forming letters. And not just that fine motor control either. I tried to do something requiring not nearly as much dexterity and couldn't do it. And just the right hand, and maybe the lower right arm.
I guess carpal tunnel is still the best guess. But it's weird that it happened when I laughed. Right when I laughed. And that the duration is so steady. Twenty minutes give or take a minute or two. And that there's no pain.
I'm just being a hypochondriac, I'm sure. The first one was a month or so ago, I guess, and I'm still alive and well.
Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » pinkeye, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 17:09:54
Nerve Conduction can be done for hands also to determine if it is carpal tunnel. Maybe you should get that done.
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by pinkeye on March 30, 2005, at 17:21:23
I suppose when I see my doctor on the nineteenth she'll schedule something along those lines.
Sigh. Daddy was right. Turn forty and you fall apart.
Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » pinkeye, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 17:26:31
You could ask to have a referral so you could do this sooner if you are concerned about it. Why wait till the 19 th to get a referral and then wait a week or two to schedule one?
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by pinkeye on March 30, 2005, at 17:32:35
I might. But... will I quit worrying? Even if I do have carpal tunnel, that might not convince me that these spells are part of it.
Sigh. I can be a real hypochondriac.
Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel?, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 17:34:33
Once they rule out other things in nerve conduction, atleast you can be assured it has nothing to do with your nervous system. Taht will relieve a major worry for you isn't it?
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by pinkeye on March 30, 2005, at 17:43:40
I think my fear is that the problem is on the sending end, not the receiving end. The first time it happened, I had the very calm thought "Oh great, I'm having a stroke.", and wondering whether I should bother my husband with it. :)
So I guess I'm afraid it's in my brain, not my hand. Ok, I know I'm being silly now.
Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » pinkeye, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 18:05:02
Maybe you are mistaken about EMG/Nerve Conduction? I would guess that it checks both the sending and the receiving.
I don't know for sure, but I think it should check both. Besides if there is a problem in the brain and you think it is possibly a stroke, talk it out with your Dr and see if you can schedule something like an MRI or brain scan? I don't know enough about all these, but if you are constantly afraid, and if your Dr thinks it is worthwhile, you could be tested for it you know?
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 0:11:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by pinkeye on March 30, 2005, at 18:12:11
I daresay by tomorrow I'll have forgotten all about it till the next time it happens. :)
Posted by gardenergirl on March 31, 2005, at 9:27:17
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel?, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2005, at 19:19:19
Dinah,
You might try this: press the backs of your hands together, kind of like a reverse prayer position with your elbows sticking out to the sides, and hold that for up to 60 seconds. If you get tingling, numbness, or pain (stop). That is another indicator. Time this, and note what time the symptoms occur. The faster they occur, the more likely you are to have carpal tunnel, and the more severe. I've done this with really severe folks who can barely stand to even touch the backs of their hands together.
Another test is to take a pencil with a good full eraser end, and tap the eraser on the wrist area near the center of the inside of your wrist. Tap firmly and quickly. dot dot dot dot dot. More like a poke, but not so it hurts. You want to do this in the area about a half inch to an inch diameter in the center from the wrist crease on the inside. (Can you picture that?)
Anyway, if you get numbness or tingling, it's likely you might have carpal tunnel. That is the area that the median nerve, implicated in carpal tunnel and the finger tendons all pass through the narrow opening called, guess what, the carpal tunnel.
This area is small, and often more so in women. The brace helps because it keeps your wrist in a position that keeps the opening as wide as possible. When I used to work with folks with this, I would give them the standard wrist brace, but I would step on it first, to put it in a more neutral position, versus the wrist slightly cocked back position. There is more room in the carpal tunnel, actually, with your wrist in neutral, or straight, then with it bent slightly back. You're right, it is a bit hard to type and work with, and it's even harder in neutral. But it's better for the median nerve.
Also, I forget which B vitamin is good for nerve growth, either B6 or B12, but often the ortho docs would put patients on this as well. I think it would help reduce the inflammation. Perhaps Lar would know. (actually, there's probably no "perhaps" about it, I'm sure he knows.)
And ibuprofen or other anti inflammatory meds can help, although with all the hoopla that came out since Vioxx and heart attacks or strokes, you want to be cautious.
Good luck.
gg
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 9:27:18
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » Dinah, posted by gardenergirl on March 31, 2005, at 0:12:13
Thanks gg, for all the good info!
About 15 seconds till it felt tingly, so probably not too bad. I woke up with my hand feeling weak though, despite the brace, so maybe I need to look into the anti-inflammatories right away. Can't afford to rest the darn hand, with being so behind in work. :(
So lots of ibuprofin till my next Dr. appt on the 19th. And I'll look into the B- whatever.
God doesn't want me to keep my job, I think. :)
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 31, 2005, at 10:44:40
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » gardenergirl, posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 9:25:15
> Thanks gg, for all the good info!
>
> About 15 seconds till it felt tingly, so probably not too bad. I woke up with my hand feeling weak though, despite the brace, so maybe I need to look into the anti-inflammatories right away. Can't afford to rest the darn hand, with being so behind in work. :(
>
> So lots of ibuprofin till my next Dr. appt on the 19th. And I'll look into the B- whatever.
>
> God doesn't want me to keep my job, I think. :)
That's vitamin B6. But don't just use B6. Always use a B-complex, then add in some B6 on top of that.Ibuprofen is a good idea. Inflammation creates a vicious circle of inflammation within the carpal tunnel itself. It is actually your body's response to irritation of the nerve which is causing all the symptoms, not the irritation itself.
There is a fairly strong correlation between hypothyroidism and carpal tunnel problems, which may reflect your family history of this disorder. Or, it could mean God just gave y'all smaller carpal tunnels to work with.
When you get the numbness, focus on the little finger. Is it affected, too? It actually is connected to a nerve that is separate from the carpal tunnel. If it is affected, it might be a more general peripheral neuropathy. An EMG study will sort that all out. It's a weird experience, but it gives them hard data about the ability of the nerves to do their job. Comparisons above and below the carpal (wrist) bones tell them whether the problem is associated with that structure, or not.
I thought I saw you mention somewhere that you also get forearm symptoms? They could not be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, except via referral. Anyway, the EMG people will sort that all out. You get a thorough exam, and nothing should be overlooked.
Best,
Lar
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