RATS!!!, I just realized I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my GOOD arm!!

I have been waking at night with horrible numbness and pain in my right [good] arm and kind of blamed it on the MS. Yet I knew it was a different type of numbness. My MS numbness is just 'there' but not painful.
This was [is] painful!

When I was at PT on Saturday, something the therapist mentioned and bing a little light bulb came on in my ever so slow brain ......carpal tunnel.

I see my neuro next week so I will have him evaluate and then get the PCM to put in an ortho consult.
Meanwhile, I dug out the old brace and am wearing it and it seems to be helping....so I haven't completely lost my diagnostic skills!!!

I have had a carpal tunnel release on my left hand so I know it is not too painful but my concern is how can I doing much of anything while my good hand is rehabing??

Going to be an interesting spring around here!!

My right hand has been numb since October 2007. My Neuro tested me for carpal tunnel but I don't have it. This is purely from the MS. And I have pain (lots of it, too, sometimes) in my fingers. My hand feels tight - almost like it's swollen. I've gotten back a lot of use but still have the numb sensation. In October I coulnd't use it at all. It was kinda scary.

Carpal Tunnel (which I had when I was pregnant with both kids) can cause intermittent numbness, but the numbness is specific to certain fingers:



MS spinal lesions (C-spine, I think) can cause a very similar sensation, but it often gets all the fingers, and often on both hands. Hence, whether it is actually carpal tunnel, or just something similar, seems to be up for debate:

"Medical Conditions that contribute to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

People with diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, hypothyroidism, or multiple sclerosismay be more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. These conditions affect the nerves directly, making them more vulnerable to compression."

http://www.mamashealth.com/bodyparts/carpal.asp

Then again, this PubMed article seems to suggest they are different conditions:

"We describe 12 patients with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in whom carpal tunnel release was unsuccessful and another neurologic disorder was diagnosed subsequently. Final diagnoses included polyneuropathy, radiculopathy, motor neuron disease, spondylotic myelopathy, syringomyelia, and multiple sclerosis. Sources of error by the electromyographer and treating physician were identified. Care must be taken to avoid an inappropriate carpal tunnel operation when clinical or electrodiagnostic features are atypical."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10761498

And a discussion I've read on the possible connection:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/281502

Cherie

I had surgery for carpal tunnel about 3 or 4 years ago....only it didnt make the numbness go away....when I was diagnosed last year and they put me on IV steroids the numbness went away...so apparently its not carpal tunnel but the MS for me....

Again - ya'll are good! I have been wanting to ask about this but just not gotten to it yet! I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel as well as MS but have been trying to figure out how to tell the difference! I do not have pain but the feeling that my fingers/hands just don't work right. I have gotten used to the idea of scissors (bags) or just handing off to someone else. My doc ordered physical therapy for Carpal Tunnel but insurance.....and well I just never got around to setting it up. Maybe a good idea? But again - no pain..... What do ya'll think?

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/c...pal_tunnel.htm

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/carpa...article_em.htm

It feels the very similar actually, except that CT doesn't effect the baby finger so if you are numb there too, it's the MS-type (of carpal tunnel, or whatever they'd call it).

When I had CT (in my pregnancies), it wasn't constant and it only effected the tips of my fingers (as I recall). With MS though, it is constant, my entire palm & every finger is numb, and my wrists are sore (like a pulled tendon feeling). The numbness doesn't hurt, but my hands feel stiff/swollen, and cold/hot sensations aren't pleasant.

Cherie

I had myself diagnosed with CPS, and all but booked in to have a surgical release, before I realised that my worst affected fingers were my ring finger and my little pinkie!!

The symptoms struck me quite suddenly just before Christmas 2006, and I daresay the suddeness should have been a dead give away, but it took a while for my grey cells to click!

My daughter was visiting for Christmas, and as my dominant hand was affected, I couldn't even cut up my meal on Christmas Day. T'was a tad embarassing when she kept asking if she could cut my food for me, or even worse.....feed me!

Full feeling did return after about 3 weeks, and I didn't go to a doctor because I was so sure I had CTS that I didn't even get a course of steroids.

I daresay I was another that confused CPS with MS, and it's not that hard to do in this case, I can assure you of that.

Hi,
I'm new here. I found your post quite interesting. I was diagnosed with MS about 12 years ago. I have migraines and quite a large brain lesion showed on my MRI. Over the years, there has been no change in the lesion. It's still the same size (as of 6 years ago) and no others were seen. This past November (2007) I got a sudden "issue" with my left hand. Two of my fingers got huge, had some numbness and pain in both hands, then severe burning in my right hand. I'm left-handed. I assumed it was arthritis and/or carpal tunnel. I've been seeing a rhumotologist since January. He tried one treatment of steroid injections in those 2 fingers. I did get about 20% relief. Now, I'm wearing wrist splints (my idea). I do sleep somewhat better at night wearing the splints, but the problem still exists. I am WAY behind on my regular daily tasks, etc. I've found that driving causes the most pain, burning and numbness. I have a special needs daughter and I homeschool. Both of us have several appts. a month. The driving is killing me! After a day on the road, I'm useless for 2 days. I hate living like this. I can't take the pain and I don't have the time to live my life this way.
I hope you're soon feeling great. Any ideas or comments are highly appreciated.

Yes! I often feel this way too!