People that also might have chronic RSI's or Thoracic outlet syndrome often have issues doing hair and holding arms up for very long.
Always good to make sure there is no secondary condition or misdiagnosis.
With TOS and chronic RSI's nerves can be affected, and sometimes the blood flow also as both fit thru a crowded area in the neck/collarbone/ top ribs.

For more info see our Thoracic outlet syndrome forum & sticky threads there.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

Hands-free computer . . .
 

For those having difficulty typing or operating the mouse etc. - have you considered trying 'speech recognition software' ie: software that enables you to operate a computer with your voice.
There are some available online (some are even free downloads) I'm sorry I can't tell you if they're any good - but there will be evaluations posted by others.
Hope this suggestion may help.

Many computers & laptop usually have speech recognition included in the operating system now.
Then all you need is a microphone, laptops may have that already if it has a built in webcam.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...#1TC=windows-7

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202584

I have trouble with holding my hands above my head too, my hands go numb right away when washing my hair, putting on makeup, anything like that. Of course at my age I do less of that then I used to. When it first flared up suddenly on me about seven or eight years ago I went to physical therapy and it did help me regain some strength. If it is CMT the gain won't be permanent but I certainly helped me a lot at the time. My current situation has come on more gradually, and is just expected progression. In my experience sudden changes in strength or balance respond to therapy or are the cause of medication like statins and improve if the drugs are discontinued. Gradual changes are permanent.

I have always been clumsy and poorly coordinated, walking on the insides of my feet as a child. The numbness started in my early 30's with my toes. It really got my attention about six years ago as I began to lose my balance and sense of where my feet where, also I had no sensation of temperature or pain and I could no longer move my toes. It has continued to advance and a lot of my sensory symptoms, burning, etc are at thigh and hip level now. I have always had some leg pain but that got much worse a few years ago too. I walk with a hiking pole and have a wheelchair for things like museums and airports.

My sons are 28 and 30. One has numb toes, the other has weak ankles and both have hands and arms affected as you describe but neither has pain at this point.

Good luck with the neurologist.

do you know what you have? it sounds genetic, because your sons are also experiencing some neuropathic symptoms, around the same time you first noticed yours.

I have the same problem with elevating my arms with my SFN. Also with holding the iPad, numbness, pain-in hands, wrists, elbows. It feels like an overwhelming painful weakness and it can even make me feel like I could pass out if I hold my arms straight up over my head for more than a few seconds. For a while, it was impossible to put dishes away in the middle and top cabinets. I can do it now but it has to be quick and not more than a few things.
I'm wondering if any of you have terrible neck spasms and shoulder pain with twitching and buzzing. That is one of my most major problems.

Yes, I know exactly what I have, it is CMT type 2. I do not know the variant because my neuro at Hopkins advised against further testing as it is untreatable. I wasn't asking for help I was simply answering Emily's specific question.
I have received enormous help and support from this forum, but I came here with a diagnosis.
My symptoms actually began in childhood. Only my eldest exhibited symptoms then just a tendency to roll on his ankles and a slapping gait.

I am fortunate that I do not at this time have any trouble when putting my hands over my head, washing my hair, etc. Not to say that I will not have trouble sometime in the future. But no trouble now.

I never was clumsy or had trouble walking or any of that. Not until much later in life. Also, at this time my hands are not affected.

But then with CMT symptoms vary greatly even within the same family. And there are so many types of it. I have one of the most common types.

Thank you so much for following my post and trying to offer me advice and support, Susanne. It really means a lot to me!! I was going to PM you with a couple additional questions, but felt if someone else is going through something similar it would help them seeing these posts.

I cannot remember specific weakness or abnormalities through childhood, except me easily twisting my ankles. I was a gymnast from 5-16, so I was pretty coordinated and flexible. I am double jointed in my arms if that means anything...

These symptoms have came on pretty acutely, with the exception of the burning feet at night and maybe an alcohol intolerance. The burning feet had been going on for 6-8 months, maybe. I was likely tired and fatigued during that time too, but no huge red flags. The constant burning feet began Jan.26, within 3 days muscle weakness in upper arms and hands, and extreme fatigue, hard getting up stairs, etc. etc. The next couple weeks burning moved into my hands. I have the same issue with putting up dishes. It has gotten better because I trust myself to put them up now! I was making my husband put them up because I love my new, nice dishes from our wedding shower and would hate for my clumsiness to cause them to break! ;) I rest my arms, while using a computer/tablet by fully extending them. This seems to relieve the pain somewhat and I just switch arms every few mins in order to use my devices. I am not going to cause more damage by using them, I hope?

Within 1-1.5 months I started having all my symptoms.
Is this common in a CMT case? I thought symptoms came more gradually?

My next question is, will a neuro take this serious? Do you think in my case he is going to look deeply into my family history (my grandmother and dad are both in terrible shape and suffer from neuropathies, as far as I know both are idiopathic). My grandmother has hammertoes and dad has dropfoot (he has had surgery on his foot). Will a NCS/EMG show CMT or does this require genetic testing?

Thanks again to everyone for your continued support!

ive had PN for 14 years now almost. Large fiber confirmed via emg/ncs, most likely with small fiber involvement now too, though ive never been tested for that. From the beginning my arms would get very tired and heavy very quickly if they were raised at or above the shoulder level. i have to put them down for a few minutes to finish what i started. i might have to do that several times. i also drop things all the time now. I know mine isnt TOS because i have the same thing in my legs, quickly tired and heavy walking up stairs, running or walking any distance.