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)

My left arm, outer part past the elbow towards the hand is numb plus my ring and pinky finger are numb and feel weird moving. All my other fingers move normal. Never had this before and it is freaking me out and I am just trying to ignore it for now. It's been two days almost and still the same.

I am really getting irritated at this at this point.

Don't blame your irritation, there. Do you have any MRI's coming up? Or do you know, if the location of your lesions could be what's affecting this area of your body?

Do any of our neuros, take a brain model, and then point to the various locations of what section affects what functions, and then explain the location of lesions? Is that even possible? ((wondering out loud , right here..))

The ulnar nerve enervates the pinky finger and half of the ring finger. The median nerve enervates the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger.

I'm trying to remember the anatomy I learned in the medical terminology courses I took a few years back for a job I never got to do because of the stupid MS. Been kind of interested in the nerves of the hands since I had carpal tunnel surgery. (which I think I might not have needed. Think it was MS causing that problem)

I know how irritating it is. My hands have been varying degrees of numbness since July of last year. I'm still waiting for that damage to heal. I started out not being able to move half the fingers on my hands, and things were really really numb. It's gotten better, since I can type and crochet/knit again, and things aren't as numb, but it's still altered sensation. It's pretty much pure torture. Right now my left elbow has been numb and ITCHY for the past week. That is making me nuts.

It really does make me wonder who I wronged in this life to deserve the torture of MS.

I am using a wonderful product for my hands. I have very stiff and often swollen fingers, so working on the computer has been challenging lately.

On PN here we use topical magnesium for pain, stiffness and burning. Inflammatory events often disrupt the micro circulation and prevent the magnesium you may supplement orally or eat from getting to every necessary spot.
Magnesium is the "relaxer" in muscle functions. Calcium is the contractor and magnesium the relaxer. Also magnesium works at the mitochondria membranes to enable energy transfer, so things work properly. And thirdly, magnesium is an antagonist to the NMDA pain receptors. When these are overstimulated by aspartate or glutamate, (MSG is one culprit) magnesium can calm this down.

Here is the item to try. Morton's Epsom Lotion.
http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-h...-epsom-lotion/
Now available at WalMart for $5.98, and for $2 more on Amazon.
This is a reformulated version of CVS epsom lotion which didn't sell enough for them to continue offering it.

For hand use I'd use a quarter's diameter dollop 1/2 on the back of each hand, and inner wrist, and up the inner arm. This will get into the blood vessels quickly and relax the circulation and improve mobility. You do not lather this on like a cosmetic moisturizer... a little goes a long way.

I use this every day. It has the added benefit of reducing any high blood pressure you may have as well. It will dilate things, to a more normal state, which may be contracted by your disease process. Those of us with PN in the feet also apply this to the tops of the feet and around the ankles. Applied at night or in the evening, it will help you sleep better too.

This is a wonderful product and you will be amazed at how it helps! Many of us here on NT are now using it. (non greasy and fragrance free).