I also wonder --do you use braces for your hand?

Continued imbalance of the flexing of only some muscles will
eventually lead to the tendons on one side shortening. When that happens it is very difficult to get back to normal.

I'd really find another doctor --perhaps one who is more trained in metabolic issues, to determine if you have a calcium problem.
If you are not taking some magnesium with all that calcium, then I'd consider it. Calcium is used to contract and magnesium relaxes. The imbalance of the two, may lead to tetany.

Search that word too. --tetany.

If you want me to look up drug depletions for you...either PM me
or put your list here. It is possible a drug you are using is contributing to this problem.

hi there

I wear full resting splints at night (they stretch my fingers out fully) to prevent contractures forming. During the day I have wrist splints to wear on an as needed basis. I have asked about splints to help straighten fingers during the day, but honestly I totally agree with my OT's statement that 'they are not anything you would want to wear!"

The reason for all the calcium I take is bone protection as I am on long term prednisone. I will add in some magnesium and see if that helps - thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks a bunch

raglet

Make sure and I learn this from Mrs D it is a good absorbed magnesium. Not the oxide form that does not do as much. I order mine online gylcinate but I know Mrs D often mentions slowmag.I would go to the endocronolgist.Mine didn't do much for me though she did the 24 hour calcium testing and for other missing minerals. She ordered another bone density and I have osteoporosis but this is seperate from the pain condition. Feel beeter

Prednisone is a huge depleter of nutrients from the body.
Most of the side effects are due to this action of changing nutrient status.

In addition to calcium it alters/depletes:
MAGNESIUM
ZINC
Selenium
Potassium
Folic acid
Vitamin C
Vitamin D

I sure hope you are using Vit D with that calcium.

I really think you should get your electrolytes tested. And get a Vit D test as well. You might be able to help those spasms.
Potassium can be had from high potassium foods.
One can of V8 has as much as an RX capsule! Cantaloupe is also very high. Next comes bananas, oranges, potatoes, most vegetables like beets, beans, some greens. 1 cup of yogurt=625mg! 1/2 cantaloupe= over 1200mg! The new daily intake advisory for potassium is 4500mg a day. (it used to be lower).

Steroids exert alot of damage to the body while they are used for inflammation. Most doctors pay no attention to this fact!

This website has more information:
http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/ABSTR...steroids.shtml
(the data is taken from the reference book I also use here!)

My right is like yours bending of the wrist & fingers & my left is at the curled finger stage.

Update on my hand:

My doctor recently rx-ed an anti spasticity drug for my hand - Norflex. I actually asked for baclofen, but he said that would be problematic given interactions with other meds I am on, and he thought that I would have better luck with norflex. He suggested that I try half a tablet and see how I responded. He also said I may become too floppy as parts of me have been weakened by my neuropathy.

Well, how I responded was I became silly as a chook, felt totally stoned and lay on the couch laughing. the kids said 'what are you on, and can we have some' hahaha. Hate to think what would have happened with baclofen!

But, what it did for my hand was wonderful. My fingers uncurled, and I could use my hand in a fairly normal way. It was wonderful. The downside also included not only feeling very stoned (which lasted for 24 hours - work was a nightmare) but it also meant that my weakened left leg kept threatening to collapse underneath me.

So, it is not going to be a drug that I can take long term, but the thing that I am excited about is that it seems to me that it confirms that the problems with my hand are caused by spasticity. I will investigate a more localised treatment - botox injections in the spastic muscles - and see if I am able to recieve these. I guess I will have to ask my neuro about this.

cheers

raglet

Botox injections for spasticity are a fairly new and experimental use. 90% of patients see a benefit to the treatment, but 10% don't.
My son, a quadriplegic, goes to Kennedy-Krieger in Balto for therapy. The very best in the world for spinal cord injuries. He had the injections in his legs and fell into the 10%. Set him back over a year's work of intensive therapy. He was so weak he couldn't feed himself anymore, something that had been a major accomplishment in the initial 4 moth period.
Just be forewarned- it works 90% of the time, but............

Do you use a magnesium supplement?

I'd really try one if not. You can see a hint to whether you need it by soaking your problem hand in some epsom salts. If it is better, then that tells you you need more orally. Tepid water, 1 or 2 oz of epsom salts to a dishpan of water and soak at least 30 minutes. This will also help Raynaud's symptoms.

Carpopedal spasms can be due to low magnesium.

Steroids used in therapies for reducing inflammation, deplete magnesium as a side effect.

Raglet, I am by no means suggesting that you have a certain disorder or disease, BUT I have seen similar stricture of the hand in my mother 10 or so years ago. She was doagnosed at the Mayo as having Shy-Drager a Parkinsons-plus syndrome. It is now called Multiple System Atrophy. She had it for 17 years and ultimately her hands began to atrophy with her fingers curling inward. At that time Mayo was beginning to do clinical trials with a new drug, now known at Botox. They gave her injections into the muscles of her lower arm and hand which allows the muscles to "relax" for a few months at a time. She said, however, that the inections were painful and she ultimately stopped. But that was a long time ago. Perhaps you could ask your physician if they're doing that regularly. I know that aside from Hollywood A-lister getting their faces injected to stop the "worry lines" and "frown line" that it's being used to prevent migraines, stop or reduce excessive sweating and has several benefits.
Botulinium toxin, hey, it's "natural".