Anyone with Carpal Tunnel?
 

I just got word back from my nerve conduction that I have median nerve slowing. So, they are saying my left arm troubles are from carpal tunnel.

I didn't get to talk to the doc, he just left it in a message on my voice mail because I cancelled my follow-up appt, but wants me to call him back. So, I'm trying to figure out whether all of my arm sx make sense as carpal tunnel so that I can ask him the right questions.

I figured that since this is such a common problem that someone on here has to have this problem and might be able to help me sort this out.

My biggest issue is really more up in my bicep and shoulder area. I always thought carpal tunnel was more of a wrist / hand issue. I do have problems there and am certain that there is a carpal tunnel problem.

However, the worst part of this is the repeated sudden and quite painful tightening of my bicep muscle that happens all through the day whenever I use the arm too much. Can that be a part of carpal tunnel, too. Or, is it a separate problem?

I had CTS surgery on my right hand in the early 1990s.

The pain from CTS ran all the way up my arm. From the wrist up into the shoulder. So, I'm not surprised your upper arm hurts.

Good luck asking the doctor question.

I'm getting the test for carpal tunnel done again in April, my arms have been going numb when I sleep a lot. The neuro said he thought that was CTS instead of an MS thing, so I'm getting the test done on my next neuro visit.

There is a thing called "double crush" that can happen, usually with thoracic outlet syndrome {TOS}.

you get upper back, neck, shoulder, arm, hand symptoms of TOS {tightness, spasms and/ or nerve pain} plus definite cubital {ulnar}and/or carpal tunnel symptoms.

here's a link to our TOS forum and RSI {subforum}there -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

We talked about the difference between Carpal Tunnel and 'MS-type of Carpal Tunnel', in the attached link:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread40394.html

"Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve becomes compressed. The median nerve is a large nerve that travels down the centre of the forearm to the skin of the thumb, the index finger, the long middle finger and half of the third, or ring, finger. It also supplies sensation to the muscles of the base of the thumb.

Warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome?

- Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect one or both hands.
- The first warning signs are pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers. Usually only one side of the third finger, also known as the ring finger, is affected, and the little finger is not affected at all.
- If you have carpal tunnel syndrome you could also get the feeling that the fingers are ‘full’ or swollen. There may be pain from your hand up your arm, perhaps all the way to the elbow.
- The pain, tingling and numbness are usually worse at night and when the affected hand is warm.
- Your hand can become weak, and it may be harder to do certain things such as picking up and holding objects.
- The muscles at the base of the thumb may become smaller than on the other hand or than they used to be."

There is more information in the attached link:

http://www.arthritis.ca/types%20of%2...al/default.asp

Cherie

I'm actually a little baffled now. If I look at Cherie's list of warning signs, I don't really fit.

My first signs had nothing to do with my fingers - they are only recently affected. The first signs were in my shoulder / bicep. It's like it is travelling down my arm.

I'm not sure if that would be more like TOS or not. I must admit that I don't entirely understand that syndrome. Would signs of that show up in the NCV?

I do not have a lot of pain. It is just painful with the tightening / spasms in my bicep. I have no pain in my hand / fingers. This is also not worse at night. It is only worse when I am using the arm too much.

In one of the posts on the other thread, something was said about waking at night and that is what the doc and the tech doing the NCV both asked about. This doesn't wake me up at night.

I must admit that I don't understand entirely what is going on. I do wonder if some of it has to do with spasticity. Could spasticity cause the nerves to compress temporarily?? One thing is that I feel like this is one of those things that they may never completely figure out with me.