Issues with hands/arms - Numbness and loss of use
 

I wake up almost every morning and my arms and hands are completely numb, but it hurts, if that makes sense. It is both arms and it covers all fingers, I know my doctor has mentioned that if it isn't my pinky then it is most likely carpal tunnel (which I have had while pregnant, before TBI). This is both hands, I know that I often sleep with them in a fist as they are cold.

I have also started to notice that more often I am dropping things without any control, especially if I am tired or having trouble functioning (ie. should be resting but life won't allow it at that time, kids need to eat, etc.)

The Dr at the brain clinic told me it was likely a neurological issue but left it at that. I asked my neurosurgeon but he brushed it off.

KOM,

A couple things for you to consider.

Get some soft chenille stretch gloves and try to sleep with them. I did this very successfully years ago. The soft feeling made my hands feel super comfortable so my hands could relax.

Consider your head and neck posture. The low C (C-4 to C-6) and high T (T-1 and T-2) all are involved with nerves to the arms and hands. I would use a vibrating massager against those vertebra to help them settle into place. Sort of a mild chiro massage. It helped.

I had to learn to not sleep on my side where I would lay on my arm. I put a pillow under my knees so I could be more comfortable on my back. It helped me not turn over in my sleep. I would sleep with my hands laying on my belly. I learned this first because I had to wear CTS splints on my hands and wrists at night. I was trying to avoid Carpal Tunnel Surgery. The numbness was so bad that the doctor really wanted to due CTS surgery right away. But, with these techniques, I have been able to avoid it for 25 years.

When I woke up, I would wash and massage my hands and wrists in warm water. This stimulated blood flow to the area and helped.

I know a lot of my symptoms emanate from my upper back, lower neck, so being disciplined with posture has helped.

Hope you can find some help with this.

My best to you.

chiro
 

i had a similar issue but nothing showed up on xrays. i went to a chiropractor. it worked. it takes time, but it is working and i am going once a week now. i was very surprised, and even while it's working i'm still skeptical (i'm stubborn) but the pain is diminished quite a bit and i'm getting strength back in my left hand and arm. i could not even open a water bottle before going. i don't carry insurance, and i pay cash. in dallas, tx, the cost of one adjustment is $45 dollars. i can afford that. i hope, if you try it, it works for you as it has for me. good luck and best wishes.

Chiro can be helpful but many chiros are too aggressive, especially with the upper neck. There are gentle techniques such as Activator, NUCCA and Atlas Orthogonal.

I have the same issues. Mine were attributed to damage in my neck. (Whiplash is very common in head injuries.)

Did the neuro test your grip strength, check your finger wiggling speed, give you a peg board test to measure dexterity and/or do a nerve conductivity test? When your knees are tapped, do you kick like a chorus girl? You might want to advocate for an MRI of your neck.

In my case, the damage was deemed too dangerous to address surgically, so I just have to live with it. I had occupational therapy and have a lot of useful aides, like oversized pens and cooking utensils. Thanks to therapy, I also regained the ability to button (slowly) a shirt and tie my own shoes. I still can't cross my fingers. That must explain my bum luck.

That said, as the swelling subsided in my neck, the pressure came off the nerves and some things improved. However, I still tingle (pretty much everywhere) and have very little strength and mobility in my hands. I also have moments where my hand will just fly open. It always seems to happen when I'm holding something hot, sure to stain or fragile. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the advice Mark! I am going to try some gloves, I do notice it can be worse if I sleep on my side or I am extra tense. I seem to clench my fists really tightly when I sleep, probably the stress which is lessening now as life is starting to adjust to my new normal.

I have been seeing my chiro for years, even before my TBI. I am going to talk to him more about this and see if there is anything else he can do.

No my neuros test nothing, it is so frustrating! How many years do I need to be like this before they start actually testing me?

I have this too!!!! I did not understand why it was happening. The MRI scan of my neck was normal. I could not use my arms/wrists for few months (could not even lift a fork and had to use a plastic one). I suspected that it was carpal tunnel, although I didn't understand how it could have developed out of the blue, as I was not doing anything due to PCS/TBI. I am slowly gaining back the strength. I look forward to the day when I can play the guitar again.

I have had this too in varying degrees of irritating and mildly weak hands to incredibly painful and useless hands. It was of course blown off or misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel as I have positive nerve conduction tests. My new and amazing physical therapist says it is because of the compression of nerves between the collarbone and the 1st rib. From what I understand it is a very small area for the nerves to pass through and of course with the head injury we have neck and upper body injury. When she works on me she can actually restore my grip for a few days. Anyway hope this helps a bit. It's incredulous how our symptoms are so often blown off. I'm sure if I hadn't had positive nerve tests I would have been diagnosed as anxious even though my hands could not make a fist!