hi i just joined site

i have secoundary sjogrens and was wondering if anyone can help me with a question about my left hand/arm

my fingers go tingly and numb and everytime i use my left arm i get like an electric shock down my arm into my hand, my arm also feels very uncomfortable like its out of place.but its not.

can anyone give me there thoughts on this could it be pn?

many thanks

chell

chell,

Welcome to this community.

To me it sounds like you have nerve entrapment, where the nerves to the arm and hand are being compressed where they pass through joints. You may have entrapment in two places: the carpal tunnel, and where the nerves pass through the shoulder. A neurologist can give a definitive diagnosis by testing nerve conduction speed and strength in the arms and hands. If it is nerve entrapment causing your problems, physical therapy, the proper exercises, and yoga with a very knowledgeable teacher could completely fix the problem by relieving the pressure on the nerves. There are other cures such as surgery, but usually entrapment in the upper body can be remedied without it.

If entrapment is the problem, prolonged pressure can damage nerves, and can even cause permanent damage. When your hand falls asleep or you get the shock feeling it is important to relieve the pressure on the nerve by changing position. If your hand gets numb, relieve the pressure on the nerves by being sure the wrist is straight rather than tilted. For your arm, try holding the shoulders down and back, with the shoulder blades supporting the back ribs and the arms hanging straight down. A physical therapist or yoga teacher can give you exercises to open the upper chest and increase the room for your nerves.

I spent several years as the computer guy in a midsized company and attended workshops on ergonomics. Be sure while typing that your feet are flat on the ground, that your thigh is parallel to the ground, that your back is straight up and down and the lumbar area is supported, that the upper arms hang straight down, and that the forearms are parallel to the ground or tilted slightly down from the elbows. Support your hands with a keyboard pad and/or wear a wrist brace if necessary so the wrist is absolutely straight to relieve carpal tunnel restriction. Your head should be level and the top of the display should be even with your eyes and about 18 inches out. Here are a few links on the subject: http://www.typingweb.com/knowledge/questions/43/ , http://www.type-smart.com/ergonomics.html , http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/KOPYKIT/ergo.htm , and http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html .

Most desks are too high and most chairs aren't adjustable. Investment in a good business type desk chair that is completely adjustable and a keyboard tray that goes under the desk surface if needed can save you from a lifetime of problems. Adjust the computer display with books to raise or lower it as needed.

Whatever, don't let this on for a long time without getting it diagnosed and treated to relieve the cause. We get used to whatever our situation is. In your case nerve damage can occur if it goes on for months or years.

Hi,
I have secondary Sjogrens also probably from a rheumatoid disease I am glad to "meet" you and will be glad to give you the link for a good Sjogrens info site and forum. Just Private Message me (upper right hand corner) if you need it.

Billye

chell,

Another piece of advice is to acknowlege responses. It takes time and thought to answer, so a simple "thanks" or continuing the discussion is simple courtesy.

Hi--

It's important that you keep in mind that just because you have Sjogren's doesn't mean you can't get any other things wrong. As my neuro says, you can always have ticks AND roaches. (He's got a way with words!),

So,while Sjogren's can be associated with neuropathy, a symptoms as limited as yours could easily be a compression symptom. It's important to notice which fingers tingle, what part of the arm, and is it related to position.

Sometimes the ulnar nerve gets caught at the risk, but sometimes the median nerve gets caught somewaht higher. Having bodywide inflammation from an autoimmune inflammatory disease can make tendons and arteries and vessels feeding them swollen and just out of their own comfort zone. If your symptoms fit one nerve (google dermatomes for a map of nerve distribution), it's really possible that this is compression.

There are bodyworkers who are quite good at hands-on techniques that free up adhesions around vessels and nerves, and put things back where they belong. For a long time, for instance, I had thoracic outlet syndrome, from nerves being compressed att he armpit. This was fixed by myofascial release massage, and made a great change in my functionality. Prior to the bodywork, lifting my arms for any length of time, say looking at high clothing racks in a store, or washing my hair, would fatigue my arms and they'd get numb and leaden.

I just suggested to someone else who clearly has median nerve damage of some sort in the upper arm to try a few sessions of myofascial release, and THEN, if that doesn't help, go to an MD who will order nerve conductions and such,but end up without a treatment plan, just a diagnosis. you might consider this. If it does look like it's nerve compression.

lizajane

thanks all for replys sorry i havent answered earlier i have flu,
also i am going to hospital monday about my arm, will let you know outcome

thanks again

chell