[totanaca]

hello to all,
I landed on this site quite by accicent, but now that I found it, I could use some help.

Recently, I noticed that the fingertips of my left hand felt strange. I seem to have lost some feeling in them, but my right hand appears ok. The condition comes and goes. At first I just put it down to many hours every day at the keyboard. But I see from reading other medical sites that I could have a neurological disorder.

If I understand what I've read so far, there may not be a way to figure out what I have. In other words, it may be an unknown ideopathology. I have had recent blood tests that would have ruled out diabetes.

I live in Mexico and have a local cardiologist, but have not sought his advice yet. His English is of the basic variety and my Spanish is likewise. Before I go to see him I wanted to get more information. I have found it best to be prepared with written questions so I usually try to produce a Spanish translation before I go in.

I have asked on another medical site about another unrelated problem with my diaphragm which is paralyzed in the up position. I believe the doctors in San Diego traced this problem to a damaged phrenic nerve that was severed by a surgeon during a mini-maze operation. I need to return to the US and have this evaluated for possible corrective surgery, but I cannot find a referral to a qualified neurosurgeon. The ability to re-connect nerves has apparently only been perfected. A doctor practicing in Houston would be the most convenient.

Any suggestions for both my problems would be appreciated.

[Abbie]

Hello and Welcome to Neurotalk!!


I'm sorry to hear what you are going through.... I wish I had a suggestion as to what might be going on. I don't.

Hopefully someone will be along shortly that may have an idea.

Please feel free to roam around and join in anywhere.


If you need any help or have any questions please let us know... someone will be around shortly to help you in any way we can.

Hope to see you around...
Abbie

[AfterMyNap]

Hi Totanaca! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

It sounds like you might want to see a neurologist. Blood tests won't reveal anything neurological per se. Have you been tested for carpal tunnel?

[DM]

Hello totanaca and another Welcome to NeuroTalk here. Please make yourself at home and glad you found us. Sorry I can't help w/your questions, but if you check out some of our many informative and caring forums, you may find someone who can give you some advice.

Look forward to seeing you join in.

[watsonsh]

Hi Totanaca,

Welcome. Glad that you found us. Can you tell us which fingers go numb? Could certainly be related to your keyboarding. is your set-up ergonomic?

Here is the link for our Thoracic Outlet syndrom (TOS). Many of the members in this forum have similar symptoms and some directly related to too much computer time.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

TOS is a type of nerve compression sydrome. It can also be vascular in nature.

But some of the nerves of your brachial plaexus could be compressed. Many TOS patients also have phrenic nerve issues since it runs close to the brachial plexus.


We have a list of surgeons at the top of the forum in the stickies. I believe the doc in Houston is Dr Nath?

Good luck and see ya around the boards.

[jefferson]

I found NeuroTalk because I was looking for information on the Neupro patch. I have neuropathy (might be from diabetes, but might be idiopathic.) Also seem to have RLS. Just wondering if anyone uses this patch for neuropathy?

I have other questions too, but I will look at the boards and maybe someone else has posted a reply that addresses them.

Accepting any comments that might apply

[watsonsh]

Hi Jefferson,

Welcome! You can use the search function up in the tool bar to do a search for the Neupro patch.

Here is a link to what I came up with.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/se...g_searchinfo=1

Seems like a lot of the activity is in the PD forum.

Good luck with your search and let us know if you need any help navigating the boards.

[totanaca]

Originally Posted by AfterMyNap

Hi Totanaca! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

It sounds like you might want to see a neurologist. Blood tests won't reveal anything neurological per se. Have you been tested for carpal tunnel?

This thing with the numb finger tips just started. So I am just trying to feel my way and find a direction to go. I mentioned in my post the other problem I have is a severed phrenic nerve on my left side. Since posting here I traced a Doctor Abbot Krieger who was featured in a New Scientist article to his practice in Los Angeles. I am writing to him ask about a consultation. He is actually a plastic surgeon, but I will try to also see a neurologist in Los Angles.

I mentioned blood tests, because diabetes can also cause numb fingers. I'll need to confirm that my standard blood tests I have done every six months check for diabetes. I'm not so sure now.

[totanaca]

Originally Posted by shelley

Hi Totanaca,

Welcome. Glad that you found us. Can you tell us which fingers go numb? Could certainly be related to your keyboarding. is your set-up ergonomic?

It seems to be worse in my left hand and specifically in the index and middle fingers, but I have to say this is a very subjective judgment. My hands seem to have a pinkish caste to them.

I spent over 30 years as a professional tech writer (please don't abuse me for your terrible manuals and guides, it ain't my fault). In all the places I worked I pestered managers to give me an ergo working setup. I made a thorough study of ergonomics and invented a quality wrist rest and manufactured them for a while in my garage.

I use a Logitech Revolution mouse, which I think is well designed. It fits the hand very nicely.

Now I am retired, I may actually spend more time at the keyboard compiling research and writing freelance articles than I did as a tech writer. I would have had breaks away from the keyboard to attend meetings, work in the lab and do other things not associated with text entry or research.

So, yes it could be related to my computer use. So far as I know, my setup would pass ergo inspection, but ironically I don't have one of my own wrist rests because of short sightedness. There is a box of them stored in San Diego in my storage locker.