oh now what??!!! - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

mel1977 · 08-25-2008, 10:22 PM

If you remember me, I am one big muscle knot. I was sitting in class tonight and my neck really started to bother me. Then, my wrist/thumb area started hurting and actually quite a lot! I was surprised to notice it seemed to follow the pain in my neck and traps. Anyone know if these can be connected?? I will ask a doc as soon as I can-I mean, I can only imagine this what carpal tunnel might feel like. But, it was in the left hand/wrist. I am right handed and don't spend much time typing. There is NO KNOWN reason for this pain. It was pretty bad. Just another thing to add to my growing list. Sheesh-any thoughts would be great.

Mediocrates · 08-26-2008, 05:09 AM

Sounds like carpal tunnel to me.

I'm no expert on it, but, like you, I am currently being "schooled" in the condition. There are good info sites out there on it, but I can't post them here.

Mine has been with me for a week now, but I'm holding off on a doctor's appointment. Go to a drug store and buy a wrist stabilizer; I bought one yesterday and it helps the pain quite a bit. Also, you may need something for the pain and inflammation; be sure you take an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen instead of something to just hide the pain.

Will this go away eventually? I'm wondering.

paula456 · 08-26-2008, 05:56 AM

Mel, I've had hand pain that was related to a pinched nerve in my neck that was not carpel tunnel, nor was it a permanent problem. Sometimes just the posture required for sitting in class or at a computer can cause it. Try some basic neck stretching exercises to see if they help. Look online for "computer neck" and you should find lots of simple exercises.

I do hope this helps and I hope you feel better soon!

Tazzee77 · 08-27-2008, 11:39 AM

I had CTS in both hands and it is very pain full . the only way to know for sure is to have a EMG done and it is'nt fun. thats when the doctor put eletric probes on all your fingers and thumbs then the middle of your hand and forearm then before and after your elbow then bicept then neck . if you have it both hands like i did it is not fun at all. the whole point of the proceder is to find where the nervr blokage is. mine was 70% block in left hand and 60% in right hand. my hands would fall asleep cramp when ever i would use them . and at night when i would be sleeping my hands would start to fall asleep and cramp so bad it would wake me up every 45 mins or so . i would have to shake them to get the feeling in them again. so i had both opt on and it fixed the that problem. and its been 10 years now and still doing good. another sign is constent numbness in fingers and thumb but only on the palm side and it never efected the little finfer. i hope this helps a little. now im haveing some mager back issues. i'm going to have rods and fusions done in the lumbar part of my back. if i dont one good fall and i will lose the use of my leggs. i fell once about a month ago and lost then for a week and that scared the hell out of menow i got 2 broken bones on bothe sides of my L-5 to S-1. poped the disc . its 25% out of plce. enough about me . i let my CTS go for over 5 years and paid the price. ask your doctor about theEMG test and he will tell you your optins. hope you can take care of this and i hope this his helps you.

Tazzee77

chefjosh · 08-27-2008, 11:53 AM

Probably best to settle down and not jump to any conclusions. I had a c5-c6 fusion done about 4 years ago, and since then, maybe once a year, I get the very pain you are talking about. I too was sure I has carpal tunnel. It always goes away on it's on...sometimes after a couple hours, sometimes after a week or so. This is a very common symptom of a pinched nerve in the neck. I certainly think you should have it checked out if it doesn't take care of itself, but please don't jump to the CTS...that is probably not the case unless you are typing all day or something similar.

Hope you start feeling better shortly and don't give up hope.

-josh

"keep on keepin' on..."