scotland79
08-28-2003, 01:28 PM
Hi, Just wanted to ask if my symptoms sound like neuropathy.
I am female 23 and for a while now i have been getting totall numbness in my ring and pinky finger on both hands when awakening. It goes away after a few minutes. Other mornings when my hands arent numb they feel swollen yet they arent, just a tight feeling as though filled with fluid. I also have sponginess when walking, like the floors moving, bit like walking on a moving floor. Its very annoying. Oh and one morning when i woke my big toe was numb too, but again, it went away after a few secs. None of my GP'S or any doctors know whats causing this. I have had a normal brain MRI result and i am not diabetic. I suffer no pain except a slight tiredness in my legs when kneeling down, quite uncomfortable. Just wondering if this sounds like neuropathy? And can people get it for no reason without diabetes? I have been referred to a neurologist but its an 11 month wait!!!! too long!!! any help would be greatly appreciated.
I am female 23 and for a while now i have been getting totall numbness in my ring and pinky finger on both hands when awakening. It goes away after a few minutes. Other mornings when my hands arent numb they feel swollen yet they arent, just a tight feeling as though filled with fluid. I also have sponginess when walking, like the floors moving, bit like walking on a moving floor. Its very annoying. Oh and one morning when i woke my big toe was numb too, but again, it went away after a few secs. None of my GP'S or any doctors know whats causing this. I have had a normal brain MRI result and i am not diabetic. I suffer no pain except a slight tiredness in my legs when kneeling down, quite uncomfortable. Just wondering if this sounds like neuropathy? And can people get it for no reason without diabetes? I have been referred to a neurologist but its an 11 month wait!!!! too long!!! any help would be greatly appreciated.
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dwpavlik
08-28-2003, 04:37 PM
Hi
Just a side note to one of your questions, Diabetes is not the only cause of neuropathy. So it can be that you have the illness, (Neuropathy) but it would be caused by another situation. Your neurologist will be able to give you, hopefully, the answers you need. Sorry to see the appointment is so far off in the future. Try not to use the effected appendages that are numb when they are affected. You can loose balance or injure parts of your body that have little or no feeling. Hope this answers some of your questions.
Don
Just a side note to one of your questions, Diabetes is not the only cause of neuropathy. So it can be that you have the illness, (Neuropathy) but it would be caused by another situation. Your neurologist will be able to give you, hopefully, the answers you need. Sorry to see the appointment is so far off in the future. Try not to use the effected appendages that are numb when they are affected. You can loose balance or injure parts of your body that have little or no feeling. Hope this answers some of your questions.
Don
scotland79
08-29-2003, 06:30 PM
Thank you for your reply. I do not get numbness during the day at all. just when awakening. Then it goes. Someone told me that "sponginess" when walking is the first symptom of neuropathy and the pain follows. I have no pain but the sponginess. Is this true? also what other things cause neuropathy? ive had all bloodwork done and brain MRI. All fine. Thanks in advance
riceneuroni
08-30-2003, 05:03 PM
Hi, sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Thought I'd offer some ideas.
Since the finger numbness goes away after waking, you might try a different firmness mattress. Numbness in those specific fingers (and I wouldn't be surprised if it is only the outside of your ring finger) is frequently caused by a nerve pinched in the spine.
You might also try wrist braces when sleeping. Try some that are very long, comfortable, and that you can straighten the metal rib inside completely.
I think the sponginess can also be caused be caused by pinched nerves in the spine, but I don't have experience with that symptom myself. If you can check with a chiropractor or two you might be able to get help sooner than 11 months. I can't imagine an 11 month wait, you poor dear.
Keep asking questions here and around the Board. You'll likely get many suggestions. Hope this helps.
Since the finger numbness goes away after waking, you might try a different firmness mattress. Numbness in those specific fingers (and I wouldn't be surprised if it is only the outside of your ring finger) is frequently caused by a nerve pinched in the spine.
You might also try wrist braces when sleeping. Try some that are very long, comfortable, and that you can straighten the metal rib inside completely.
I think the sponginess can also be caused be caused by pinched nerves in the spine, but I don't have experience with that symptom myself. If you can check with a chiropractor or two you might be able to get help sooner than 11 months. I can't imagine an 11 month wait, you poor dear.
Keep asking questions here and around the Board. You'll likely get many suggestions. Hope this helps.
scotland79
08-31-2003, 05:53 AM
Thank you for taking the time out to reply to me. I will go to a chiropractor and get advice. Its just that it costs so much to go to one of these but i'll make a point of going. Thanks again
Lyndsay
Lyndsay
LuvMyLilDoggie
09-05-2003, 02:44 AM
lyndsay, I don't know about the spongy feeling in the feet. But I DO know about the numbness upon awakening in the ring and pinky finger. I have had that for a few years in both hands. Mine has gotten worse since I was diagnosed. I have Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (also known as Ulnar Nerve Entrapment). It's similar to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome except it's in the the inside part of the elbow. You know the pain you get when you hit your "funny bone"? That's actually the ulnar nerve. It is very close to the skin and easy to irritate. When you lose feeling in the outer fingers (it's probably just the pinky finger side of the ring finger), the ulnar nerve is irritated. This happens when you keep your elbow bent more than a 45 degree angle (elbows straight down to your side and hands at elbow level) for a long period of time. Mine started only when I woke up but now it happens during the day sometimes too. Taking anti-inflamatory drugs until you see the doctor can help reduce the swelling of the nerve. Also, avoid bending the elbow more than 45 degrees as this is what causes the irritation if, in fact it is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. I am not a doctor but I hope this information is helpful to you. Ask your doctor to do a nerve conduction study as well as an electromyogram (EMG). In the meantime, try the anti-inflamatory drugs. It should help. Good luck to you. :)
Barb
Barb
chknmama
09-05-2003, 02:47 AM
Maybe you can find a doc who understands Fibromyalgia .They know and understand neuropathies.
Good Luck
Good Luck
scotland79
09-05-2003, 06:51 AM
Thank you both for your replies.
Bosmom, i think what you have said may be right. Although i dont think i have what you have, i think i may just be sleeping in a wonky way with my arms up or something since its only when i wake up. I dont have any problems with my fingers during the day.
Thanks for the advice
Bosmom, i think what you have said may be right. Although i dont think i have what you have, i think i may just be sleeping in a wonky way with my arms up or something since its only when i wake up. I dont have any problems with my fingers during the day.
Thanks for the advice
LuvMyLilDoggie
09-15-2003, 01:47 PM
lyndsay, that's how mine started. I would wake up with some numbness in those fingers that would stop as soon as I got up. Then, as it progressed, I began feeling it during the day. I tend to lean on my elbows a lot. If I'm like that for a while or if I'm talking a long time on the phone, it comes back. Anything I do now with my elbow bent more than half way causes this. That's because bending the elbow more than half way puts pressure on the ulnar nerve. So your symptoms just may be the early stages of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.
Try getting an extra pillow. Lay on your side. Put the pillow between your arms. Keep your arms as straight as you are comfortable with. This has helped to aliviate some of my symptoms. It's difficult to keep your arms that way while you're sleeping. But the more you can, the better off you'll be. I noticed a difference the first night I tried that. It doesn't cure it. But it helps to slow down the progression. Try it and keep me posted on how it works for you.
Barb
Try getting an extra pillow. Lay on your side. Put the pillow between your arms. Keep your arms as straight as you are comfortable with. This has helped to aliviate some of my symptoms. It's difficult to keep your arms that way while you're sleeping. But the more you can, the better off you'll be. I noticed a difference the first night I tried that. It doesn't cure it. But it helps to slow down the progression. Try it and keep me posted on how it works for you.
Barb
LuvMyLilDoggie
09-15-2003, 01:48 PM
lyndsay, that's how mine started. I would wake up with some numbness in those fingers that would stop as soon as I got up. Then, as it progressed, I began feeling it during the day. I tend to lean on my elbows a lot. If I'm like that for a while or if I'm talking a long time on the phone, it comes back. Anything I do now with my elbow bent more than half way causes this. That's because bending the elbow more than half way puts pressure on the ulnar nerve. So your symptoms just may be the early stages of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.
Try getting an extra pillow. Lay on your side. Put the pillow between your arms. Keep your arms as straight as you are comfortable with. This has helped to aliviate some of my symptoms. It's difficult to keep your arms that way while you're sleeping. But the more you can, the better off you'll be. I noticed a difference the first night I tried that. It doesn't cure it. But it helps to slow down the progression. Try it and keep me posted on how it works for you.
Barb
------------------
"Life, for all its agonies...is exciting and beautiful, amusing and artful and endearing... and whatever is to come after it-we shall not have this life again."
Try getting an extra pillow. Lay on your side. Put the pillow between your arms. Keep your arms as straight as you are comfortable with. This has helped to aliviate some of my symptoms. It's difficult to keep your arms that way while you're sleeping. But the more you can, the better off you'll be. I noticed a difference the first night I tried that. It doesn't cure it. But it helps to slow down the progression. Try it and keep me posted on how it works for you.
Barb
------------------
"Life, for all its agonies...is exciting and beautiful, amusing and artful and endearing... and whatever is to come after it-we shall not have this life again."
LuvMyLilDoggie
09-15-2003, 01:50 PM
sorry for the double post. wasn't sure if it went through the first time
scotland79
09-15-2003, 02:51 PM
Thank you for replying to me. Can i just ask, do you have neuropathy? if so do you have pain along with it? and whats causing it? sorry for all these questions!!!
LuvMyLilDoggie
09-15-2003, 09:35 PM
My doctor says he doesn't think I have neuropathy. But as for the pain in this neck and shoulder of mine, whatever it is, it sure does hurt! And when it hurts, it feels tingly and cold. I think it has to do with the c-spine. Although the herniated disc they found late last year was going into the left neural foramen. It showed nothing going towards the right. So I really don't have a totally clear picture of what's going on here. I'm getting another doctor next year. I'm changing insurance next year. No more HMO! I have to let the doggie outside. She's been sitting next to my chair. Now she's begging. SOOOO CUTE!!! :)
Barb
Barb
bme1361
09-16-2003, 11:36 PM
Hi Lyndsay, I do have neoropathy. All the test they did on me came back normal. I was told that there were many causes of neuropathy, including injuries. I believe that is what happened to me. My doctor told me that they may never know exactly what causes neoropathy in some patients. They just try to ease the pain with medication. Good luck to you.
Bev.
Bev.