Severe hand pain
 

I have severe hand pain. I grasp letters at my job all day. My hands cant straighten up. Thee fingers just want to curl up. Both ring fingers have trigger finger and the palms of my hands are so sensitive to touch. And i have weakness like you won't believe. Seeing an ortho on the 24th of april. I have already had both carpal tunnels, trigger finger in two other fingers, CMC thunb joint replaced with tendon from my arm. This is the longest I have had pain and that nothing is helping. They gave me at the hospital wrist braces and anti-inflammatories. Has anyone else had this happen to them? I have other issues with my body in the past two years and my neuro is leaning towards MS. I have 5 symptoms of that.

Good to meet you!!
 

Hello Strhuntrss!
 

I'm so very sorry about these awful symptoms you describe! I can see how this would directly affect your day to day tasks.
I wish I had something to offer, other than my support, but I'm not very familiar with this condition. I hope your Ortho comes up with some answers for you.
I see you've been posting in some of the other forums, so hopefully you are getting feedback and meeting people with similar symptoms.
NT is full of understanding people.

It's great to have you here!

Caring,
Rae
:grouphug:

With your work, do you also have to reach out or up and lean over quite often?
Is your head and/or shoulders forward of the center of your body from a side view? From the side - generally the ankles, knees, hips and shoulder/head should all line up fairly straight.
Do you have any neck pain or ongoing tightness, any upper back pain or tightness?

If so you may want to visit out TOS forum ( Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) it is often a factor with multiple/ongoing/chronic repetitive injuries.
useful info sticky thread -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html
main TOS forum threads -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

There is a overlap of some of the sx of MS also with TOS as the nerves are affected, but a different causation.

Hand Pain
 

Thank you Jo Mar for your help. I will check out the TOS forum. I just want them to find the problem, fix it if they can and if not, let me know how to help myself to live wtih it. Again thankyou so much!:hug:

A couple of things I've found that help: A) I place my braces on the dash of my car when it's sunny out. They feel so good when they're warm inside. May sound a bit odd, yet it seems to ease the pain; B) paraffin wax bath. One of the best investments I've made. It feels good to also squeeze the warm wax after removing it (from my hands and wrists).

I also have bilateral CT. My neurosurgeon actually defined it as "double crush syndrome" (since my C-spine to bum bones are also messed up, thanks to Ankylosing Spondylitis).

Severe Hand Pain
 

Here is an update from my April 24th Ortho appt.

Dr says that I definately have trigger finger in both ring fingers. They were both locked up so he was able to see what they looked like. My right(dominate) is worse than my left.

They gave me an EMG test in both hands and arms. Nerve conduction came out semi-positive for the startings of Carpal Tunnel ( I had CT surgery back in the 80's, he said it can come back (not bad though for 26 years later). He wants me to wear a splints for that. Dr gave me steroid injections in both hands at the base of the ring fingers. He also said that the base of my left thumb is probably going to have to have the same surgery for CMC joint replacement like my right thumb had 2 years ago. He will keep an eye on that.

As of now, light duty for 3 weeks with a follow up. Also was given a TENS unit for pain. That is one cool unit. Maybe that can help me better than the drugs. I take Neurontin for my legs (rls),Lodine for my hands. Ultram only if I need it and I have to watch taking other NSAIDS with it. Well for now, I can get the rest my hand needs from work. I just hope this works and I can get on with life.

Tomorrow ... Appt with Neurologist for my other issues. I will update him on the findings today and see if anything is related and if he can help me. I just wish they can find what is going on. I can live with most of what is happening to my body, its the Optic Neuritis and its lasting affects is what I am having a hard time living with. Oh well ... I guess that too I will get used to and learn to live with.

Thanks for listening ...