Hi all,

I have severe ulnar neuropathy. My pinkie and ring finger are beginning to claw. I have mentioned this before and got great feed back. Well now I am diagnosed.

Since early December things are progressing way too rapidly. I have lost grip strength, muscle mass on the outside of palm and now I am losing muscle mass in the forearm.

The nerves are dying very quickly.

Question: Should I waste precious time wearing a splint at night to see if it heals or do any of you think that I am just going to lose more use of this arm? It is my decision on what I should do. Mayo would have kept testing and treatment for at least another week but I do have a great ortho here.

I really need to know if any of you have been in this situation. I feel that the nerves are too far gone and that I should ask my ortho surgeon to go over my emg and other tests to determine if surgery would even be beneficial.

I talked to him on the phone yesterday and he is quite concerned that I have irreversible damage, but he needs to see my mayo paperwork.

Can anyone give me a clue to what I should do next. I really would like to salvage as much of this arm as possible (silly me) and I feel that time is not on my side.

Thank you to anyone how knows first hand what I am dealing with or has seen this type of neuropaty and knows what I should do at this stage of the game.

Jude

Dearest {{Jude}}
I went through this same thing about 2 yrs ago..
Do you have pain in your elbow?
I had pain behind my elbow and major tingling/numbness in my last {3} fingers.
Sorry i dont know all of your story..
I ended up having ulnar nerve transposition done on my right arm.
It was not an easy recovery..I had to learn to use my left hand for a while!
But i made it through and am glad i had the surgery done..
I still have a stiff feeling in my hand.But no more numbing and tingling.
I have full use of that arm now as well.
IMHO..If i were you.I wouldn't wait any longer.
I cant tell you what you should do,only what i would do!
As for wearing the splint at night.Dont change that!
Also when your on the comp it might help.If your not doing so already.
Take care and let me know if i can be of help to you.

any physical therapy or exercises to do? What kinds and how often?
I ask because IF muscles and tendons go unused for any period of time they tend to contract...resulting in the 'claw' situation.

Here is one site w/exercises that seem gentle and safe, but check w/your doc and ASK/DEMAND pt first...be sure you get the OK before starting..
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_tennisel_rex.htm

web up 'Post surgery hand exercises', 'hand rehabilitation exercises' and you will probably find resources...usually in the realm of 'sports therapy' and at times stroke rehab that are useful to your goals of regaining some use. As long as tissues are healed after a surgery, a therapy program can be started.. My only word of caution is to go SLOW..once you reach the HURT point, back up a bit and work your way just up to that point and stop.

Also try: http://www.stretchnow.com.au/exercises/hands.htm and
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide...?printing=true

These exercises look silly or simplistic, but they are hard to overdo or do wrong. Hope these help! - j

PS I've done these all and others in PT, wish I could remember them all!

Kel and dahlak,

You both gave me the info that I need. I am already beginning the clawing, if I don't pay attention to the two fingers they automatically turn in towards my palm. I try to remember to continuously straighten them and flex them. I will put my hand on a solid surface and press gently down to keep them straight.

The skin is beginning to feel too tight for the fingers. I am afraid that the nerve damage may be permanent. I will be seeing my ortho next Monday.
I do think I will opt for the surgery if he thinks it will be beneficial. When I spoke to him on the phone and described things, he stated that the surgery may not even help because I have lost muscle mass in the palm and all the way up the forearm. This has all happened since mid-November.

My fear is that I may lose all use of the arm. So I will heed the advise of both of you and after I see the doctor I will have some big decisions to make.

There are other factors to be considered. Will he do it while I am on the prednisone for one. That drug has caused me to now have exogenous diabetes and cushing's, plus Mayo found calcification in the aorta right next to my heart. So we will see how much risk this puts me at for surgery. There are other issues that may not make me a great candidate for an operation.

Thank you two for giving me your input. I so appreciate it.

Warm regards,

Judy