Uncertain of my hand - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

NeptuneAngel · 05-31-2001, 09:28 AM

Hi all, I have some problem with my right hand, I hope that you can help me with it.
Firstly, some history about my right hand.
I've been using the mouse with it for almost 9 years. ( with an average of 4 hours per day.... maybe more ) And about one and a half years ago, I slept on my right hand as well. Upon waking up, my lower right hand is totally numbed, and was swinging like a pendulum ( ~200 degres ) Upon realising it, I rubbed it with my left hand, and luckily I can feel my left hand touching it, I rubbed it for a few seconds and it swinged back in its' upright position. After that day, I still use my right hand for my mousing needs and everything seems fine until about 3 months ago. I started to feel my hand going numb with the pins and needle feeling after a long session with the mouse. I began to use my left hand to control the mouse for normal gaming and surfing, however ocassionally I'll still use my right hand for some sensitive mousing work. At that point I only felt the pins and needle after a long mouse session. About 1 week ago, I decided to do one of the CTS tests. I bent my palm down as far as possible and held it for a few minutes. I did the same with the palm facing up. After doing it, I felt some numbness across my fingers and palm too. Also after doing it my wrist feels really tired. The numbness and tiredness remains after I've straightened my wrist. After a while I did the test again, this time I bent it a little bit further by pressing my right palm with my left hand. This time I felt a pain in my upper arm. The upper arm pain remains after I've straightened my wrist also. At this point, the symptoms are monumental pains in the pants, the pain is not awfull, it feels like a tiny ant bitting me. And I've only detected such pain in two parts of my hand. The upper arm and the area at bottom of my palm. However the symptoms appears at one moment and at others it'll totally go away. And I've also felt the tiredness ( maybe it's pain ) in the surface of my thumb.
I've been taking vitamin Bs for 3 days.... and it seems to be providing some relief, . But the problem is I'm not sure if I'm CTS positive. The symptoms just started, can you tell me how did your CTS started ?
P/S the pain and numbness only started after my self test.
Could I possibly injured my nerve doing it ?
Thanks n advance

NeptuneAngel · 05-31-2001, 09:44 AM

Hi again.... there is something else I was wondering about carpal tunnel syndrom.. If i were to rest my right hand for a long long time, would the tenosylium ( the part that sweeled ) returns to its' original size ?
Thanks again...

Carol · 05-31-2001, 07:46 PM

yes, this sounds like CTS to me. My hands used to fall alseep and have pins/needles at night,pushing my daughter's stroller.....the only way to be sure is to have an EMG done to test the nerves. no, i don't think you caused the problem by doing the test. I wish you luck and go get the test done...

NeptuneAngel · 05-31-2001, 11:49 PM

Thank you carol for the reply.
But what do you mean by your hand falling asleep ? When I lay down in bed for a long time without moving, while trying to sleep. My arm and my legs will go numb too... is this what "falling asleep" means ? And I woke up today feeling fine. My wrist "tiredness" is gone, and my palm feels great too... It's just that when i typed, my fingers starts to feel uncomfortable and tired too... the pain's gone. But the tip of my fingers is a little bit numb though. And if falling asleep means the hand going totally numb/asleep i haven't experienced it yet. Anyway... i've been using my right hand for a long time now, and reading through others posts, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I'll give my hands its' much needed rest. I'll rest them for a month, hoping to see some improvement. How would you rate my CTS ? mild, moderate or severe ? I can sleep through the night without any pain.. there might be pain though but i guess it's not bad enough to wake me up... about the EMG test. Right now the pain is few and far between and even when it strikes it's only a mere nuinsance, I'll rest my hand and couple it with vit b6 (50mg) and we'll see how it goes, if it gets worst I'll get the test done.

Hi Carol, i've finally got the time to read through the past posts, yours included. Sorry to know you're having them again.
Seems like resting for 5 years didn't help much in your case, did u do anything wrist intensive during the 5 years ? and could you tell me more about non-surgical methods to cure cts. What does aspirin actually does to help curing cts ? does it reduces the inflamation of the tendons ? Can you recommend any anti inflamatory drugs ? My left hand seems to show some symptoms too... the tip of the fingers tingles at times... but no wrist pain from it yet.
Thanks in advance +)
Really appreciate it.

[This message has been edited by NeptuneAngel (edited 06-01-2001).]

Carol · 06-01-2001, 08:01 AM

yes, the falling asleep means numbness. I always had pins/needles and also a burning but the burning went away w/surgery. I also had the tired feeling in my hands. But you say your legs fall asleep,too? i would have that checked,it could be something.

I didn't have any relief from anything other then surgery. aspirin and even arthritis pain medicine didn't help me. I even tried the vitamins,no luck for me. I would say go get the test done before you do more harm to yourself. if it gets too far it will be too late.