Ulnar nerve severed in Oct 2000... now entrapped???? - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

Lynn893 · 09-08-2002, 10:14 PM

Hello... haven't been here in awhile. Hopefully someone can help with some information.
First, some background...
Oct 2000 I severed the Ulnar nerve in the palm of my left hand just before it branched into the hand. It has slowly healed up to a point then stopped. I have little to no feeling in my pinky... some feeling and tingling in my ring finger... I cannot spread my fingers or close them (the way Mork did {na nu na nu}... I can grasp and make a fist though. I was in OT for 5 weeks and did strengthen my hand a bit, then they told me that was all they could do and told me to stop going...(I liked going, it made me feel like I was doing something for my hand!)...
anyway... over the last two months or so.. my arm has been bothering me... like a low grade headache that just won't go away... radiating down from my shoulder - through my elbow - down to my hand. then I seem to be clenching my hand more (maybe due to the pain?) and then my hand begins to bother me also. This constant pain is starting to wear on me... I'm taking way too many tylenol extra strength pills, I'm getting cranky at my family, I'm getting angry at myself because I feel helpless against something that should be better by now!!! It's going to be two f**ken years next month!!! When will this ingury heal and let me get on with my life???

Sorry for ranting as well as asking for help.
Any replies will be greatly appreciated.
Anyone else here going through the same or near same thing?

{{{peace }}}

Jay Tor · 09-09-2002, 10:37 AM

Sounds like phantom limb syndrome. This occurs when the nerve pathway has been disconnected or damaged and the brain is receiving and sending scrambled signals.

Here's a link:
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/amputees.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/amputees.html[/url]

Lynn893 · 09-09-2002, 05:54 PM

Thanks for the info, Jay... but I honestly don't think that that is what is bothering my arm.

I went to see a doctor today, and he thinks a nerve in my arm is inflammed (personally, from researching on the internet... I think i have ulnar nerve entrapment... I have all the symptoms) Anyway, he gave me a prescription for an anti-inflammitory... apo-naproxen 500mg 3 times a day. if it's not getting better, go back within two weeks.

Thanks for caring enough to post. Appreciate it.

peace

mothmin · 09-14-2002, 08:09 PM

sorry to hear it. 2 things, if it is inflamation, you need presciption strength ibuprophin. I suffered for six months taking over the counter stuff, then 2 days on prsciption strength TOTALLY took the pain away. also I found out the sleeping on my stomach made both hands go completey DEAD! after about a week of not sleeping on my stomach, it never happened again, about 5 months now, my DR. also confirmed that stomach sleeping is bad for the neck/nerve root. do you go on the spinal disorders board? good luck.

Lynn893 · 09-15-2002, 03:52 PM

mothmin... I am on a prescription to help with the pain... but on a few sites that I've visited, it gave me some helpful information that I've been trying to do... such as... not sleeping on my stomach (usually your arms are bent and that can inflame or entrap the ulnar nerve), taking care when on the computer to try not to rest my elbow on the arm rest or when on the phone to switch hands often so the elbow does not become tired (when your arm is bent, the ulnar is most likely to become entrapped or inflammed)... also, try not to hold your head up with your hand!! (rest your chin in your palm), try to keep arm extended and not bent when possible...

all good advice that I think has been helping. but I'm going to go back and see MY doctor and get him to refer me to a specialist again... I want a re-assessment done on my nerve... how much it's recovered, if I'll ever get total feeling back, stuff like that.

thanks for your concern and your responding to my posting. it's very much appreciated!

peace