Problems with hands - among other things
 

Hi Everyone.

I'm wondering if others have the same issues that I do.

I'm increasingly been unable to control my hands. Picking up small things - like a bobby pin, typing is affected, shaking and the feeling of being unstable/uncontrollable. This is really starting to become a concern.

I've been having problems remembering things. For instance, we had a family gathering this weekend. My husband and I talked about what we were going to bring to contribute. I went to the store to get those things. I came home with something totally different. I honestly forgot what I was to get. Another example, I needed to run by the bank - 2 minutes before I said that I needed to do this - 5 minutes later I'm on my way home... I don't remember what I was going to do.

Also, I've noticed my eyes are affected - I have a haze over my eyes - one eye will be blurry, but the other isn't, 1 side of 1 eye is blurry. I wear contact and specifically asked my dr if it was my contacts. She said, no they look fine - it must be your vision.

I've also noticed more often that I'm studdering. I repeat 2 letters either at the beginning or mostly at the end of a sentence.

Do I have the medication to blame? My concern is that it's not the medication.

Do others have these issues?:(

Hi,
 

The hand issues could be the TOS. I drop everything. I dropped something on my sister's foot while she was here. It takes me several times to pick small items up when I drop them on the floor.

My memory is extremely bad. I can't remember what I am going after from one room to another. I make a grocery list and forget to take it with me.
I get home and think about the things I was suppose to do when I was out.
I honestly don't know what it is from for me. I chalked it up to my depression.

My eyesight is really blurry also. I can't see far off nor close up at times. My sister did our driving after the first day here because I pulled out in front of a car I didn't see. A friend of mine says it is from Fibromyalgia. I am going to get my eyes checked soon to see what the Dr. says. She said they told her they couldn't do anything about her glasses because her eyesight wasn't due to them but the Fibro.

I think also it could be from the meds. I'm not on as many as some so I don't think that's it for me.

I don't know wheather to chalk it all up to RSD or other things that we are dealing with.

Ada

Memory is often an issue. I had trouble with it even before I got on medication but it seems everything that helps the RSD hurts memory.

Dealing,
those sound so much like my RSI/TOS sx that I had in the beginning.

I thought I was getting Alzheimer's, ADD and my eyes got noticeably worse as far as reading vision was concerned.
And I couldn't turn/use my wrist/hands in certain positions or pick up small items at all for a time - i would get very sharp cramps {zingers} in the back of my hands.

Members TOS sx listed-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=5618

Thank you for responding.

Sometimes it's hard to know if the pains, etc are from RSD or from TOS. I forget that I have TOS because of the problems with RSD. Plus the RSD is visible, the TOS isn't. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not.

I am thankful that I'm able to function as a somewhat normal adult. But, to be honest, it's really getting hard. I mean really hard. I tried to vacuum last night. Not with my bad arm, but with the other. I just can't do anything anymore. I feel horrible that my husband has to do everything. He came down and "yelled" at me - well not really "yelled" but told me I shouldn't be doing that. I just feel so bad. He's getting the last bedroom done in our basement for our son and - on top of that - needs to do the laundry and other things.

Do others go through this? I feel like a slug for not helping. But at the same time just getting to work every day is hard - and increasingly painful. He doesn't ask for me to help.

I went grocery shopping this weekend. I came home in tears. Horrible pain. I am just trying to do too much...

Hi Dealingwithtos,
Yes I Feel The Same Way, And Sometimes I Hear The 'i Hate Doing This' In My Husband's Voice And It Makes It Worse. We Have To Let Go Of So Much Because Of The Disabling Aspects Of This Problem. And What We Do Manage To Do We Need To Do In Increments.
I Would Think The Studdering And Mamory Are Related To The Meds Although I Do Not Know What You Are On. Do You Research Your Meds? You Should. Doctors Don't Always Know All The Side Effects Of Things.
I Try Very Hard To Stay Positive. I Go To Therapy. I Take Vitamins And I Have Lost Weight, And Eat Healthy. I Do What I Can, And I Rest When I Need To. It Is Hard To Do All This Because People Sometimes 'expect' More Than We Can Give, And We Can Also 'expect' More That We Are Capable Of.
Don't Be So Hard On Yourself. You Did Not Ask For This. It Is Just A Fact, You Have It.
Please Do Something You Like Today ... I Try To Do That Every Day, Just One Thing That I Like That Is Just For Me, Sew, Garden, Crochet, Read, Play With The Cats, See The Grandchildren ... Things I Love. Or Just Come On Here And Chat.
There Is No Cure, And People Get Frustrated, But We Can Help Just Be Being Present Here And Showing Each Other How We Cope.
Joan

Hi Dealingwithtos,
 

I also know how you feel. As you know I lost Bill almost 9 months ago and he waited on me pretty much. He was disabled also but he really stepped in and did everything for me.

I had Susan as a caregiver so she helped with the dishes, vaccuming and making beds and so on but Bill did all of my shopping and went to pick up my meds. Now I am trying to do it. Susan does some of it but I have to do some myself. I try never to lift bags with my right hand but sometimes it can't be helped.

What I see of you is that you have a great husband that is willing to step in and do all he can for you. That's love girl, be ok with it.

I know it's hard at times though. I too felt guilty a lot because I couldn't do anything for myself. I'm that way with my caregivers. I find myself at times trying to help them make the beds or put away laundry. I'm ok until I lift my arms over my head. I've already had 4 surgeries on the right arm so I am trying very hard not to mess up anything more.

I'll be 56 this month and I still have trouble dealing with the fact that I can't work again. It's very hard on us to accept where we are at this time in our lives.

Like Joan, I keep busy with my grandson's, I want to start sewing soon and making some jewelry. I try to keep busy with things I enjoy.

I am in councelling, I try hard to watch my weight and am trying even harder to enjoy what I have in my life that is good.

Don't let this get to you. You are doing all you can and you have to learn to be ok with it.

Like Joan, I too spend a lot of time on here. Since losing Bill it's been even harder to keep going but I'm working at it.

Hope you feel better soon and enjoy doing just what you can do.

Ada

Joan and Ada,

Thank you so much for your reply. I agree with everything that you say. And, yes, my husband loves me very much - and me with him. I'm 36 and he's 41. So, I'm young to have this - although I think of Alison alot. Alison is another person on this board - her mom writes recently - Alison is 12. So, I need to count my blessings and be thankful that I'm able to work.

I have not been going to counseling. I don't go to physical therapy. To be honest, we don't have the money. I spend alot on medications. My husband's daughter just got her license. The cost of the car and insurance is horrible. So, compound that and the fact that we have a large mortgage and 2 new cars, we are strapped to say the least. It's almost like "Ramen anyone? Chef Boyardee Anyone?" That's what we can afford. Ok - well not quite that bad, but close.

I wish I had "time" to focus on myself. I really don't. I come home from work by 5:00 or so and then there are sports on the week nights. My son is in karate - Oh, I forgot that expense...

Ok - I need to just stop.

Thank you so much for your replies. I really need it right now.

Beth.

During the worst times when I was still working I was only able to make it to work and home - then I would collapse in the recliner with ice on my arms. {extreme RSI- before I knew about TOS}

I had the kids start doing their own laundry for themselves {ages 12 and up} and they still do. T shirts, jeans and socks and underwear so all pretty basic laundry wise.

they did the sweeping /vacuuming - since then we got rid of the carpeting and have laminate floors now.

At that time we ate a lot of take out/frozen or sandwiches - I missed cooking the most and eating my home cooking:(

If some of your sx are from TOS there are things you can do at home to help hold some of it at bay.

video link of Foam Therapy Roll = use & techniques-
the final part is what the adv PT suggested for me to do opens chest/pecs and drops shoulders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pQkgyYeV30

other therapy videos- explore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAjIH...elated&search=

Sharon Butlers book {in libraries} or online download programs- RSI & TOS {under 30.00}
Her main starting point is to just lie flat on the floor and learn to breathe from the diaphragm and relax totally - lets the chest open and shoulders drop back and down after a day of use and work postures.

If you can do those things a couple times a day you may see some relief from any TOS aspects.

Also If your work postures require arms up or forward often do opposite postures during the day to gently stretch- same can be done for sitting & back postures - opposites to stretch those out too.

Sometimes you have to make time- it's for your health.

dealingwithtos,
Everything you listed I dealt with way before I ever had RSD. Due to Fibromyalgia. Dxed with it in 1989. Had a hard time picking up little things, would drop things from half gallon of milk to pins. Would slide right thru my finger tips more or less. Numbness & pain in muscles, fingertips to toetips *LOL* Memory problems like really bad. I was 32 I believe when dxed with Fibro. Was decided I probably had been born with Fibro. My Mom used to describe how I didn't like cuddled or touched a whole lot as an infant, especially when I was sick. Now that doesn't sound like a normal infant does it??? I imagine I was in pain from touch & that is why I preferred to be left alone when ill especially. There were other things as a child that led the doctors to believe I have been suffering from Fibro all my life too. Then RSD came into my life & just made the pain so much worse. Today is a Fibro day. The pain meds that work on RSD do NOT work on the Fibro pain much at all. Sad isn't it??

Anyway I think pain causes so many of our problems whether it comes from TOS, RSD, Fibro, Sjogren's, arthritis. Doesn't matter. Our nerve responses don't work right, & that is that.

DebbyV

Jo55,

Yes, that's exactly what I do. I get home from work and I'm absolutely exhausted. I come home and sleep. The kids take turns emptying the dishwasher, loading it, vacuuming, etc. My son is 11 and my step daughter is 19. I just see something that needs to be done around the house and it's hard to just let it go.

Desi,

Thank you for the kind words about my husband. Yes, he is wonderful to me.

Debby,

Pain definitely controls my life. I find that stress significantly affects my pain levels. When I have alot going on and I'm stressed, I am in a lot more pain.

Beth,
i don't know how you do it ... to work with this pain. i never went back once i got rsd, but i also had a bad hip put in and got nerve palsy at the same time too, so with all that, i was done ... pain is exhausting, so God bless your effort to keep working. try to at least stretch before you get out of bed in the morning. it helps.
joan

I am thankful i am not losing my mind.....
 

I really thought on top of the TOS and RSD i was losing my mind.... Then I came across this post... I use to be very reliable and always remebered everything... A bit **** you could call me... Lately, i can be told the same thing 10 times and not remember.... Or try to think of a word and its at the tip of my tounge but can get it...Ie. The color green... I was looking at the lawn and could not think of the freaking color... I really thought i was losing it... Now i feel better learn that forgetting things is a part of this condition... I was really feel down about it.... Just one more thing to get use to...

Dealing.... I am new at this as well... I am glad you have found this site i learn something new every single day!!!!

Also, as i said above i have both TOS and RSD.... I forget about the TOS because of the RSD pains and symptoms... My RSD is not visible... I have temp change and buring pain deep in my bones... and the blocks did help... I always ask people how do i know what condtions is causing what... Its hard! We all feel down that we can do things.. But dont let it get the best of you... Its learning a new life styel... I am only 21... Its hard!

It sounds like you have a good support system at home... I am glad you have someone special and he sounds like a great man!!!

Pain free hugs!:hug: :hug: :hug:

Pain free hugs foreveryone :hug: :hug: :hug:

Beth,
I also feel the guilt of not being able to do the things I did before. I had always taked care of my family. You need to go to counseling. I can't afford it at all, but you can find a place that works on a sliding scale. They only charge what you can afford. I started 3 weeks ago and it really helps. Memory is a big issue with me and half the time I don't even know what I have said. Hang in there.

Sue K.

Hi Beth,
 

I wanted to say how much I admire anyone who keeps working through all you are going through with the RSD and TOS.

I wish you could get in PT. I know with the TOS the posture is all messed up.
My neck is still messed up. I hold my head wrong. Also my shoulders are up to high. I am better though after having the therapy.

They stretched my arms and fingers and worked on my ribs. The way I looked when I got the TOS is that I was afraid of everything. I looked like a shriveled up old woman. One Dr. even referred to me as having the body of an 80 year old. The more I think about it that's how I looked before therapy. They worked on my neck, and back also. It took a lot of therapy to get me better so I know for you it would be expensive. There might be a place tied in with a hospital near you that will go by your income. We have one here like that.

I don't know what kind of job you do but if it's repetitive or typing it only makes the TOS worse.

To me the TOS is just as bad as the RSD in a lot of ways. The pain from TOS is horrible as anyone with it knows. After my surgery on my right side I am much better but I still have it on the left side and I have to watch what I do.

As far as councelling, I am so thankful for it because it helps me to accept where I am at and to deal with anything that comes up. It also gives a person someone they can confide in and know it won't go any farther. It helps with self esteem and being ok with where a person is in life.

I know though that when a person has no insurance it's very hard. i went 5 years with any so I did without meds a lot of the times. I didn't know at the time that companies will furnish meds that a person can't afford.

I hope you start seeing some better days soon. You are a very strong woman.

Ada

Hi Everyone.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write.

Joan,

Thank you. To be honest, it sucks to be working - and that's putting it mildly. It's scary to know that this isn't going to get better and there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

Wildberry,

I'm glad that you found this post also. Atleast you have some sort of piece of mind that you aren't the only one. I have a really hard time with finding the right words. It's embarrassing in a business environment. I'm not sure if it's the medications or the RSD. To be honest, I'm not sure it matters. I'll never be off the medication and I'll never NOT have RSD... Yes, thank God I have my husband. I'm not sure what I would do without him...

Sue,

I agree. I've always just cleaned what needed to be done. Picked up my son's "things". I try to still do that, but any other cleaning I can't do. I don't want to loose the "mom" things... Not sure if that makes sense.

Ada,

As with my PM, Thank you.

All, I need to get back to work... I've spent just about an hour posting...:eek:

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

Beth.