Hi everybody,

Many of you know that I am not a novice when it comes to MS symptoms. But for the past year or so I have had more weakness in my hands, and I work with my hands. And now, at work we do most of our sales and orders on big ipads that have heavy cases for scanning UPC codes. So I'm having bad pain and spasticity in my hands but it is just made worse by carrying the ipad all day at work. I have a new local neurologist now and I know he would likely give me an RX for any med that would help.

BUT, I work all day and have classes as well, so I need something that will not affect my energy or concentration. So what is your opinion for spasticity meds if I should need to go that route? I took one in the past and can't remember the name right now.

I also ordered some hand and wrist braces from amazon because those might help. At night I clench my hands into fists and I wake up in pain because of it. I'm hoping the braces might be enough? Thanks in advance for any advice you might have.

Love to all of you... my dear friends.

Can they provide a carry strap for the ipad so your hands aren't getting strained too much from the weight??

I clench my fists too...when I wore braces it helped.

I think a strap for your Ipad would be an excellent idea...

Also, during the day, do some exercises. stretch your fingers, then bend the fingers down to the second joint. Next bend the fingers all the way into the hand. then straighten them again.
Also get some of that putty that PTs use, or a stress ball and squeeze. It helps loosen up the muscles and ligaments in the hands.

Sorry you're feeling poorly, dear friend

half my arm and two fingers on the same hand went numb yesterday....freaked me out. I noticed just two fingers move slow and the others move normal....on the same hand.

Scares me.

We do have the shoulder straps but then I think my left shoulder and back would hurt where I have an old injury. But maybe I'll give it a try anyway. I know that typing long documents when I get home from work and on my days off doesn't help either.

It was baclofen that I used to take, just remembered this morning. I might need to try that again if they other things don't help. Last night I wrapped my left hand to keep it stable but then kept waking up because I couldn't bend it. Sheesh!

I think medical cannabis might help with stiffness too and also my stress when I get home at night. Maybe it will be approved here in Illinois.

Which fingers went numb? If it was the outer part of your arm, and the pinky and ring fingers that went numb, it's your ulnar nerve that's got issues.

If it's your thumb, index finger, and middle finger that went numb, it's the median nerve. (the nerve that's usually to blame for carpal tunnel syndrome)

It sounds like it might be repetitive motion related, and/or the static holding & carrying postures/positions, and not just MS related.

You might explore our thoracic outlet syndrome forum's useful sticky threads for therapies and treatment that might be helpful.
You might have developed some triggerpoints that can be resolved with manual therapy even a friend can learn to do it.

Whole body posture is very important long term, and upper body alignment is important because the majority of nerves and blood flow go thru the upper chest/neck area. If that area is closed down with a head forward /shoulders forward posture, it kinks the supply lines and causes problems.