Originally Posted by abbyrition

I was diagnosed by my primary care doc with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy of the large intestine. (though there have not been any tests done that confirm this, so I'm not confident) I struggled with pain, negative tests of all kinds, situational depression and anxiety, exploratory surgeries, and a whole slew of doctors that didn't care to listen to me. Finally, when my primary put me on Cymbalta I found some relief. I changed my diet to a vegetarian one and have been able to manage my flairs without meds for two years... Until new stuff popped up. I nev had the tingling or numbness so many on the board mentioned, until now. I took my youngest to see Wicked - the musical. It was wonderful, but the seat was tight. I had my legs crossed and arms resting on the arm rest. My legs started to fall asleep, so I had to keep changing positions. Then my arms started tingling from the arm rests. It became quite uncomfortable to sit through the show. The tingling became intermittent throughout the rest of the weekend, and when I went to work Monday it became painful. I use tweezers in a repetitive motion for detail work. I called out of work to let my hands rest. I only use the tweezers in my right hand, but both were tingling and painful to use. After a few days the tingling lessoned, but then my thumbs lost all function in both hands. I couldn't use them. I called and scheduled an appt with the neurologist. I have a nerve conduction survey & EMG scheduled to provide more answers. The use came back in my thumbs, I was fired, and now I'm just trying to keep my hands rested to not destroy the nerves any more than I have.
The girls know I don't go to work anymore, and they know I am having issues with my hands. (I will often have them wrapped in ace bandages, as the compression seems to help when the pain is bad.) I haven't given them any more info, as right now I just don't have it myself. On another thread someone mentioned that my newest symptoms sound like HNPP, I checked the info on that, and almost describes my new symptoms to a T. So, I will wait on the tests before I tell the girls anything else, or even get worried about them. HNPP is hereditary, and I am uncertain on my feelings of testing them if this is my diagnosis. Right now, I'm taking one day at a time. Concerned about any future employment prospects if my hands aren't reliable. Also, therer's the concern of pushing myself too far and doing permanent damage if I can try to gain employment again. I'm concerned the tests the neurologist is about to do will show negative, and I'll have no reason, or explanation for my issues, as has been my past history.
I'm sorry I didn't have an easy answer to your question, I'm just not that far along in the process with this new symptom. I assume that's also why I asked this question of this forum. Without a clear diagnosis yet, I am simply a jumble of symptoms, and fear. I don't want to transfer fear inadvertently to the girls in trying to explain something I just don't have the answers for.