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Old 09-15-2009, 09:05 PM #1
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Default Suggestions??

My left hand has been numb since last week. It's getting worse tho.

Weird part is, the index finger and thumb feels fine, it's the pinkie and ring finger that are the numb, weird feeling ones. The numbness runs down the ulna side of my arm.

It really itches on the forearm, and my hand is starting to really hurt (pain from the wrist into my middle and ring finger). Typing is getting interesting. Any suggestions on what to do about the pain in the hand? I'm pretty sure I'll just have to deal with the numbness, or go get some more steroids, but it's numbness, altho my fingers feel really weird when I move them. I know numbness is kind of a benign (ha!) symptom and you should save the steroids for the big stuff like vision problems and paralysis.

I'm just bummed out. I crochet and knit to keep sane, and it's driving me insane trying to crochet or knit with a numb hand.

Geeze, why does MS have to be so $%^&*ing annoying?????
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Old 09-15-2009, 09:56 PM #2
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Erin could the numbness and pain be from knitting and crocheting? Like a carpel tunnel effect?

If I use the mouse clicker too much I feel shoulder pain. It's a nerve for me that was damaged from a long time ago when I had C.T.O.S and surgery.

Sometimes these MS sensory symptoms hang around (a lesion). There might be residual damage, if it is MS related.
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Old 09-16-2009, 01:20 AM #3
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I havent really been crocheting and knitting that much lately. Havent felt all that great. Before my hand went numb, I started a really easy crochet poncho, that I got a good bit done on before the numbness hit...now I cant even get thru an entire round of the pattern before my hand starts to hurt more.

I just tried knitting on a simple garter stitch scarf...it's only 30 stitches wide. I got about halfway thru one row before my hand started to hurt. Usually I can deal with numbness, but this is seriously screwing around with my favorite hobby.

I tried some neurontin today, to see if that would help the itching arm-on-fire sensations, but didnt notice anything helping it. Took some ibuprofen, didnt help much.

I even tried some capsaicin ointment on the burning spots...that actually seemed to help a little bit.

I'm just getting tired of the MS screwing around with me this summer. I'm still waiting to see what the "remitting" part of the Relapsing Remitting MS is like. Right now it's more like Relapsing Repeatedly MS.
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Old 09-16-2009, 10:30 AM #4
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It really sounds like it could be ulnar nerve entrapment. You should look into that before you just resign yourself that it is the MS. It's easy to blame it on MS, but it could still be something easier to fix!
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Old 09-16-2009, 12:44 PM #5
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yeah, I'm thinking I'm going to call the neuro's office and see if one of them can look at my arm. (my regular neuro is off this week)

My fingers are cold this morning. My arm is itching like crazy. Fingers hurt.
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Old 09-16-2009, 01:25 PM #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin524 View Post
My fingers are cold this morning. My arm is itching like crazy. Fingers hurt.
My right hand has been like this for nearly two years now. It's just permanent nerve damage from one of my severe flares.

At first my hand was useless but I've learned how to use it again.....somewhat. I don't dare trust myself to hold anything in it like a glass, though. I've learned to write legibly again....but that's arguable. I'm not sure everyone can read my writing.

I just use it as much as I can but towards the end of the day my hand is really throbbing and I have what feels like electric shocks in the ends of my fingers.

It's not pleasant.....but it's what I have to deal with so I just figure out a way.
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Old 09-16-2009, 01:38 PM #7
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This better not be permanent.

I called the neuro's office, just waiting for one of them to call me back now. I wish my regular neuro was working this week. (I think he's semi-retired, he's a zillion years old.)

It seems like all the numbness starts at the elbow. That's where the pain seems to be coming from too.
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Old 09-16-2009, 02:11 PM #8
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If the numbness starts from the elbow, I doubt it is spinal lesion causing this or it would be the whole arm. Google ulnar nerve entrapment - it usually starts at the elbow where the ulnar nerve can get compressed.
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Old 09-16-2009, 02:19 PM #9
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My right hand has been doing this since March. it's just my ring finger and my middle finger all the way down to my elbow. But, since steroids don't work for me, the neuro says there is nothing she can do about it. You might try an NSAID, they seem to work a little better than the standard ibuprofin.
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Old 09-17-2009, 11:49 AM #10
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Default Ok, this makes me feel a little better..

Went to the neuro this morning. (not my usual, he's off this week) and the neuro told me that it was epicondylitis...which is a fancy name for Tennis Elbow. (but...I dont play tennis...)

He told me "you have two problems, neither of which are your MS...". Then explained where I have inflammation in my elbow in two spots. Told me to take ibuprofen. (ok...not sure I want to do that...still have tummy problems from the steroids I had in July)

I think it's from all the crocheting and knitting I do, sleeping exclusively on my left side....and maybe the marathon sessions of Sims3 might have something to do with it too. (I sat for 6 or 7hrs the other day playing that...my bad )

I feel a lot relieved...because if it's Tennis Elbow, that means it'll heal eventually...if it's MS, there's a chance it wouldnt heal...so whew!

I just hope this goes away soon. I'm getting tired of the numbness...it's bad enough that the MS can make things go numb, now I have to worry about my posture and arm position doing it too.

Ohnoes! This means NO crocheting OR knitting!!! Eeeeeeeeeeek!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can do without my Sims, but not my yarn!

argh! ~grumble, grumble~

Oh well...I guess I can use this time to do other things...like watch tv...take a walk...go absolutely insane because I cant crochet. :'(
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