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Pins and needles - 8/3/2006 6:58:31 AM

subedana

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So for the last couple of months my little finger and ring finger in my left hand has been numb. I can still feel and move them, they just feel like they are asleep all of the time. It's quite nerve wracking. So, I go to my Doc, and he sets me up for a nerve study. Has anyone been through one of theise? What can I expect? What are they like?.
He's also saying I may have to have surgery on said hand. Joy of joys..

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/3/2006 7:43:54 AM

stef

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If they're testing for peripheral neuropathy, there are several tests they might use. Before I freak you out unnecessarily, you should ask exactly which tests he's planning on employing.

~stef

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/3/2006 7:49:20 AM

alwayshis1

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i will freak you out. i am leary of any dr that mentions surgury before test have been run. lots of nerve issues are missed dx, and often most surguries do little in a way of help. get the test, but never get surg without lots of education and a second opinion

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/3/2006 8:17:25 AM

subedana

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He's thinking it's the Ulna(?) nerve that's damaged. Hence the appt for a "study".

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/3/2006 9:22:44 AM

LittleOso

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got the same situation. like when you whack the funny pone in elbow. Dr. says probably hyper extended the elbow and pinched the nerve.

Have a chip in left heel that has the achilles tendon all swollen and trying to resolve that first since the chip shows on Xray.

Not sure would do surgery on the tingling. may turn out the cure is worse then the problem

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/4/2006 10:45:39 AM

WayWardSoul

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I fell a sleep one day with my right arm and hand under my chest. When I woke up my hand felt as you say like it was being poked with pins and needles. I could not even clench my hand into a fist, could not even pick up a pen off the desk. That was 2 years ago, my hand is just about 98% normal now. It will still cramp up now and then, when I grab things. I never did go see a Dr. and I am NOT telling you don't go to see a doc. What I'm telling you is an operation should be the last resort, after everything else has been done to make it right.

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/4/2006 10:51:04 AM

mistoferin

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The classic symtoms of the beginnings of carpal tunnel is numbness in the pinky, ring finger and the anterior side of the middle finger. I have had the nerve studies and the surgery. The nerve studies I did not find to be all that bad...although the doc said some find it horrible. The surgery which I had done on both hands did help with the numbness some...but they do still go numb and my hands are far weaker than they ever were. I don't imagine they will ever be the same as they were pre injury as it's been nearly 10 years now.

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/4/2006 10:57:46 AM

WayWardSoul

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mistoferin

The classic symtoms of the beginnings of carpal tunnel is numbness in the pinky, ring finger and the anterior side of the middle finger. I have had the nerve studies and the surgery. The nerve studies I did not find to be all that bad...although the doc said some find it horrible. The surgery which I had done on both hands did help with the numbness some...but they do still go numb and my hands are far weaker than they ever were. I don't imagine they will ever be the same as they were pre injury as it's been nearly 10 years now.

One thing you can do to help, before you go get this type of operation, is get a strap that wraps around your forearm about 2-4 inches below the elbow. It will help hold down the tendon, when you open and close your hand.

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/4/2006 11:08:12 AM

mistoferin

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quote:

ORIGINAL: WayWardSoul
One thing you can do to help, before you go get this type of operation, is get a strap that wraps around your forearm about 2-4 inches below the elbow. It will help hold down the tendon, when you open and close your hand.

That works sometimes for tendonitis...but it will not help carpal tunnel.

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~erin~

There are no victims here...only volunteers.

When you make a habit of playing on the tracks, you thereby forfeit the right to bitch when you get hit by a train.

"I did it! I admit it and I'm gonna do it again!"

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/8/2006 7:51:18 PM

StrongButKind

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mistoferin

The classic symtoms of the beginnings of carpal tunnel is numbness in the pinky, ring finger and the anterior side of the middle finger. I have had the nerve studies and the surgery. The nerve studies I did not find to be all that bad...although the doc said some find it horrible. The surgery which I had done on both hands did help with the numbness some...but they do still go numb and my hands are far weaker than they ever were. I don't imagine they will ever be the same as they were pre injury as it's been nearly 10 years now.

This is not correct. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, and does not innervate the pinky. The symptoms described above could indicate cubital tunnel syndrome or another ulnar nerve disorder but are not consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome alone. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve, which innervates the thumb, forefinger, middle finger, and some of the ring finger.

Please take this as a compelling reason to not get medical information from Internet chat rooms.

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/8/2006 8:00:29 PM

CassandraAlexis

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of course follow through with your doc, but you might want to check out your chiropractor too. The pinky and ring finger are connected to something in your elbow. I used to have the problem when I used to read a lot laying on my tummy on the bed, turns out it was the nerve(?!?) in my elbow and once the chiropractor did some adjusting it would go away in an hour or two.

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/8/2006 8:16:07 PM

StrongButKind

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quote:

ORIGINAL: subedana

So for the last couple of months my little finger and ring finger in my left hand has been numb. I can still feel and move them, they just feel like they are asleep all of the time. It's quite nerve wracking. So, I go to my Doc, and he sets me up for a nerve study. Has anyone been through one of theise? What can I expect? What are they like?.
He's also saying I may have to have surgery on said hand. Joy of joys..

If you have an ulnar nerve issue, which would be on the face of it and given this extremely limited information potentially consistent with this symptom, surgery might generally be indicated in the case of significant disease progression involving muscle wasting or in the case of nonresponsiveness to other treatment. Some treatments depending on your diagnosis may be very simple and noninvasive, such as wrapping a towel (not too tightly) around your straightened arm while you sleep. I would strongly suggest seeing an academic orthopedic or plastic surgeon specializing in hand surgery who should be reluctant to suggest surgery unless it is indeed indicated to prevent progressive damage.

Your profile says you are in Raleigh, North Carolina, so that's good news -- see a hand surgeon at Duke or UNC.

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/8/2006 8:20:40 PM

mistoferin

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I stand corrected....thank you. My injuries were complicated and I had multiple things going on that made my entire hands numb. I mistakenly thought the carpal tunnel was related to the outer portion instead of the inner portion.

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Peace and light,
~erin~

There are no victims here...only volunteers.

When you make a habit of playing on the tracks, you thereby forfeit the right to bitch when you get hit by a train.

"I did it! I admit it and I'm gonna do it again!"

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RE: Pins and needles - 8/8/2006 8:35:04 PM

StrongButKind

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mistoferin

I stand corrected....thank you. My injuries were complicated and I had multiple things going on that made my entire hands numb. I mistakenly thought the carpal tunnel was related to the outer portion instead of the inner portion.

It gets complicated. I am sorry to hear of your difficulties and hope all goes as well as possible with you. I mean no criticism -- you are not a physician, and I'm sure desire only with the best intentions to share your experiences with others who may benefit from what you have experienced. Please don't take my comments to be critical of that; it's just that many people get bad or incomplete medical information on the Internet, and it can adversely affect their health. Communities like this are tremendous for support, but terrible for medical information. Best to you in all things.

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