I was recently diagnosed with SFN via skin punch biopsy after 4.5 years of bilateral hand pain.

Recently my motor skills to operate a mouse, e.g selecting text and double clicking, have deteriorated.


Anyone else experience this?

I sure understand what you are going through and it is very frustrating to say the least ! I've gotten to where I actually stay off the laptop for a few days at a time and when I go back on it seems better. The typing itself gets me too.

I have SFN also. Started in the feet and has moved up to hands and upper right arm within 18 months. Lucky us

Take care,

Debi from Georgia

Same here. It got so bad three years ago that we bought an iPad, which works better for me, but has its own problems. My hands still go numb after a while, and holding it has never been completely satisfactory, but I was unable to type or use a mouse without pain and numbness so this is much better.
We were able to talk to a salesman at the Apple store whose wife has MS, with very similar symptoms and limitations to mine, and he was able to answer all my husband's questions about capabilities and ease of use compared with a laptop. He even recommended a certain case ( not an Apple product) which props it at different angles for hands free use.
It is not a solution for serious professional use, but unfortunately this seems to be a common symptom of advanced SFN.

My left hand/arm drives me nuts holding my iPad. I have it in a cover which enables me to "prop" it and with juggling and balancing act I can get it to sit landscape style but not vertical. I'm constantly shaking my arm and waving it about to try get relief. I've tried not using the iPad but I've become such a 4 wall prisoner in my home that the iPad is my lifeline to activities outside. I do go out on occasion if I have a destination but never go out just for the sake of it, not even to sit in the park across the street anymore. PN, Chronic Pain and Depression sure do suck the life out of you don't they.
Can I ask what was the product he recommended, I can't sit at my desktop anymore and we are considering updating our computer so maybe the tablet he told you of will be a mutual solution for mine and my husbands use....

I am sorry if that was confusing- I just have an iPad. The case was what the salesman recommended and it sounds like yours- it has an easel built in so that it can stand up, horizontally, but it isn't very stable, so I usually lay it on my lap.

Hi,
I just stumbled across this post and wanted to know if hold and swiping tge tsblet caused burning in elbows. I have a strong burning in elbow and upper arm muscles from using my tablet along with numb fingers. Any indication what may be causing these symptoms? Thanks,
Emily

Emily, I have been following your posts and you have a lot of the same symptoms that I do. I can only encourage you to follow up with a neurologist and get a skin biopsy but given your family it sure sounds like hereditary neuropathy.
There are two main types, the first and most common affects the myelin sheath first, the second affects the axons. I have type 2, with severe SFN and muscle wasting. I get exactly the same sensations holding the iPad so I rest it in my lap.

Is the numbness more prominent along the last two fingers and up the arms? That is usually the first to go. Have you had an EMG/NCS?

Just to add that thumbs really do waste as do all of the fingers.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply Susanne. I have not had an EMG/NCS yet; I go to my first neuro appt. on April 27. Hoping that he starts to get the ball rolling once he hears my symptoms and how long they have been going on and not improving. It seems as though the numbness is in all fingers, but it's the pain that always catches my attention the most along with worn out wrists. I try to stay off my laptop because is really strikes the symptoms, but it is hard to stay off my tablet! I read, talk to friends, etc. on it. We can't just stop our lives completely! Drying and fixing my hair is also really tough, makeup is even rougher (lifting arm motions). What symptoms do you experience in your legs/feet?

Emily

My grandmother has lost use of all of her fingers except her thumbs. It is amazing, and such a blessing, otherwise she would be almost helpless. I am not sure if this is from the PN or RA. She is very stubborn and has just started talking about her symptoms to me since I have been so affected by this illness.