Need Help For Numb Fingertips
 

Hi Friends,
I am still having trouble with my extremities being numb. Moving up from my feet and fingers into calves and forearms. I have read that MS does not directly cause this...but, I don't understand what is causing it. My neuro is aware of it, but doesn't really comment a lot on it. At first he thought it was after effects of my spinal fusion. But then when I went back I told him it was getting worse and he didn't really comment a lot on it.

Any ideas what could be causing this and is there anything I can do about it. I fear what might happen if it just continues to get worse. Right now I can still move my fingers and toes, just can't feel much when I walk or use my fingers like for typing, etc.

Any comments from my wise neuro friends would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.:hug:

Wow.. I've never heard or read anything that said MS doesnt directly cause numbness in the extremities. My neuro told me that my current whole-left-side-of-my-body-from-the-neck-down numbness was caused by a spinal lesion...probably at C4. (we know I had one there in 2006...)

Where did you read this?

as for suggestions on what to do for them...got none. I just did a 2wk taper of oral pred, hoping that my left side would wake up, or at least the hand would, and it did nothing, nada, bupkiss for the numbness...at least I dont feel like my hand is being crushed anymore. The pain was pretty bad, and I know it was nowhere near as bad as it could have been.

I could barely move my fingers at the worst of it...at least now I can crochet some, knit some and type fairly well. (actually have more problems typing than I do when I do yarn-y stuff...)

I don't have ms, but my cns lupus shares a lot of similarities with it.

I also have peripheral neuropathy, which in my case has caused numbness in my extremities. My feet and lower legs are very numb, and according to my nerve studies it won't be long before my hands are effected as well. I also have motor symptoms (loss of function), but with PN it is not necessary to have motor symptoms as well.

There is a very active peripheral neuropathy forum on this site with people in it who know a LOT more about it than I do, you may like to post over there for more information.

hth
raglet

Not sure why you're getting this sxs...but I sure hope that you can get some answers soon...:grouphug:
Keep us up to date on what's going on, dear...

Erin, I'm not sure now where I read it. I'm probably imagining it or dreamt it.Sometimes my hands feel really numb and sometimes they feel very very sensitive. Sometimes they feel very cold...sometimes hot like burning. That probably sound weird. Maybe I'm losing my mind! not sure of anything these days.
thanks

Something else weird
 

is that when I bend my neck I'm getting shooting pains of some sort down my whole body. Not sure what that is about. I guess I'm just in a whiney mood today. Soirry.

Hi Friend,
The pain when you bend your neck might be L'Hermittes caused by a spinal lesion. Lots of us have had it before, it seems. I had it awhile back for maybe a week or so then it went away. Don't feel bad for venting to us here. We're all in the same boat. This time of year with the seasons changing always seems to be particularly hard for me. Hang in there. :hug:

F2U - we both have the very same sx's. Both my feet and both my fingers are numb. My feet can feel incredibly cold but the skin is warm.

Numbness has advanced over the past few years, left foot is more numb and right foot is less cooperative, does not move as well.

left hand is more numb than the right.

I am PPMS so there is nothing other than living with the sx's and just hoping it goes slowly rather than quickly.

Both my pinkys are numbish and creaping from pinky towards thumbs.
Cant sense remote control buttons like I did.
Forearm by elbo.
Tops of hands tingly.
Right thumb muscle gone, left has started to follow since Jan 09
Bend neck to look hard down and forearms tingle (this was 1 neuros test)
Paraplegia since 89, MS diagnosed 06

For the last many months I have been fearing that I am progressing into SPMS. I haven't had a giant relapse for more that a couple of years, but everything seems to be steadily worsening. I have had this thing in my neck before like even over twenty years ago and just thought it was my discs in my neck. But at this point, after what you said, I'm pretty sure it is the ms. I've never mentioned this to the neuro, but I think I will next visit. Do you find all of your sx worsening gradually? You PPMS, how long have you been dx?
Thanks for you input

AND THANKS TO ALL FOR YOU COMMENTS IT HELPS TO TALK... :hug:

Long time, no see ... friend!

L'hermittes is what you are experiencing with the zapping down from your neck. That is from damage to the C-spine, and the damage could be from any number of things, including a MS lesion.

The numbness in your hands is from the same thing. As the picture (of the full body) on this site indicates, it has to be going on in the upper C-spine to affect the hands:

http://www.aqavic.org.au/sci_facts/whats_sci.html

That pic shows all the sections of the body that can be affected, BELOW the area of spinal cord injury/trauma/lesions.

Cherie

Good to hear from you Cheri. I've been lurking and reading more than commenting these days. Thanks for the webpage. I'll talk with my neuro about this, but won't see him for a couple more months. It's nothing real new, just getting worse.
Thanks.:hug:

I think a call to the neuro office is a good thing. With my doctor office, it goes to his nurse practitioner/co-worker/I have no idea what her title is and do not really care because she is the person that listens and relays the information.

I just know her name is Lynne!

But call because you feel your situation is progressing and that, in itself, is your reason to call.

Doctor's decision from that point on. He may want to get an MRI if you have not had one in a while.

I was dx'ed in 2005 but I had sx's for quite a while, I was told long ago that I had arthritis in my neck so I attributed some sx's to the faulty dx. Not that it really mattered, MS is MS. IMNHO.

I am now walking with a rollator. Since walking is slow and laborious, I got a prescription for an electric vehicle. I chose a wheelchair that breaks into pieces so that we can pack it in the car trunk for outside excursions.

But I am still walking around, just not hiking any trails.

Call your doctor and let him/her know you think you are progressing. That's my thought.

Aarcyn,
 

I too am using a rollator now, especially when I leave the house. At least at home I know all the places I can hold on and catch myself. But I just can't keep my balance anymore. I have to use an electric cart if I go in a store.

I am going to give myself the rest of the week and see how it goes. Then If I need to I will definitely call my neuro. I just know my only option he gives me may be steroids and I only want to do that as a last resort.

Basically, it sucks...doesn't it. I'm always telling myself that things could be a lot worse. And I know they can... many patients and caregivers on NT can attest to that. But some days it doesn't help much when we are going through what we are going through.

Kinda a gloomy day for me! :o Thanks for the input.:hug:

(((((((((Friend2U))))))))

Sending you good vibes and a pocketful of hope.

I feel so 'well' and able these days that I feel a bit of a fraud for being here but I've been where you are. Phone your specialist I reckon.

F2u
 

Yes, it sucks and viewing through the lens that it could be worse does not help the present condition.

I am mentally sometimes "better" at presenting a positive outlook but there is not one moment in my life that I don't wish I could go back to the time when MS was an illness that I was vaguely aware existed as opposed to my reality.

I am still the ONLY person I know with this disease if I disregard NT and any group or event in my area.

I have a few friends that have survived breast cancer. No friends that have MS.

All my friends are still physically fit.

I do not wish anyone ill. Rather, I am envious and jealous. I keep my personal demons from them.

I can get pretty dark!!!