Do I have it, or not? - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

mugwump · 06-15-2004, 06:56 PM

I've been having aching up and down my inner forearms from my elbow to my pinkie side of my wrist, numb fingers at night occasionally (usually the pinkie and ring fingers but also the thumb, index and middle fingers sometimes), burning elbows, and sometimes my hand is weak and limp. So I finally went to the doctor. The family practice doctor thought I have "golfer's elbow". Then I went to a physiatrist who thought I have carpal tunnel, or cubital tunnel/ulnar neuropathy. So I got a NCV test and an electromyogram, and the doctor said I have no nerve damage. Then today I got a PVR, to see if I have thoracic outlet syndrome. My hands were frozen the whole time, and so I thought maybe the test would show something was wrong, but they said the results were normal. So, if all the tests were normal, does that mean I don't have carpal or cubital tunnel? Or do I, but it's just not bad enough yet to have caused nerve damage? I start physical therapy in a couple days for a month, except I'm going on vacation soon for 2 weeks so I don't know if physical therapy will do much good since my arms will get a rest from being off the computer while I'm on vacation anyway. Oh yeah, another weird thing is that my arms have felt better ever since the NCV/EMG test. I don't know if it's because they told me there was no nerve damage, and I felt better mentally, or if poking needles in my arms was like acupuncture or something.

julesmba · 06-16-2004, 01:27 AM

Dear M

I don't know for sure, but your experience does not sound like my experience of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

I would say that you should go for physiotherapy with an open mind - who knows it might work and all you really want is relief from your problem, as long as the pain doesn't return of course - but then again with some luck you can manage it well with the physio.

Good luck

Jules

mugwump · 06-17-2004, 04:04 PM

Well, I went to a hand therapy specialist today, and it didnt' seem all that helpful. He didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. He gave me printouts of hand and neck exercises, some of which I've already been doing or have seen on the internet. He was supposed to make me custom splints, but he didn't do that because he was acting like the splints I bought at the store are probably as good as any splints he could custom make. He thought the problem is probably in my neck and told me to not slouch. But the doctor had written down carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel and he kind of ignored the cubital part until I asked about my elbows. He suggested I wear elbow pads and not lean on my elbows, but I already put padding on my chair arm rests. Plus the doctor had written a prescription for a month of therapy, and the therapist was acting like there was nothing else he could do really besides ask me if the exercises help, so I don't know if I will even go back. He thought I shouldn't come back for at least 3 to 5 weeks because the exercises might not help very quickly. So now I don't know what to do because I've basically already tried everything that was suggested pretty much. I guess I will do what he said anyway and see if it helps any.