Ask EU (Medical Division): Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[Rosalind Mitchell]

Yes, of course I will see the doc.

But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?

I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.

Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?

Roszz

[LFS]

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?

I have nothing to offer on this (I'm the wrong sort of Dr) but I hope
you can get it sorted easily.

These days I'm just delighted when I wake up in the morning if
everything that worked when I went to sleep is still working.

[Btms]

Post by LFS

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?

I have nothing to offer on this (I'm the wrong sort of Dr) but I hope
you can get it sorted easily.
These days I'm just delighted when I wake up in the morning if
everything that worked when I went to sleep is still working.

I can’t comment on diagnosis but mil had it. Was operated upon and the
problem was much improved.

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Post by LFS

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,

I had what I was told might be it (though I don't like having a
"syndrome"), a decade or two ago - I don't remember that much pain
though; more like intense and continuous pins and needles, and a certain
numbness. I don't remember bits not working, though there might have
been actions I avoided doing because they made the discomfort worse.
The doc (I think it was a doc) suggested I just try using my other hand
for the mouse, which I did (I'd been using my left), and he'd look into
doing more if that didn't sort it - which it did, so we didn't look
further.
I think there was some overlap with RSI. But the CT was definitely
mentioned: it's where the nerves go into the hand. When he described it
to me, I said it's a bit like where/how the wires go into a plug: he
seemed a little surprised at the analogy, but agreed it is similar!

Post by LFS

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?

_Is_ there a repetitive movement you do a lot? (Maybe related to
piano-playing?)

Post by LFS

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?

I have nothing to offer on this (I'm the wrong sort of Dr) but I hope
you can get it sorted easily.
These days I'm just delighted when I wake up in the morning if
everything that worked when I went to sleep is still working.

Aw!

[Penny]

On Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:38:17 +0000, Rosalind Mitchell

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?

Doesn't sound like CTS to me. I suffered for years and gave up knitting and
crocheting because of it until I discovered the Alexander Technique and
learnt how to 'ask it o go away'.

My symptoms have never been as you describe which sounds more like cramp (I
get a lot of that too - not just in hands and feet).

[BrritSki]

Post by Penny
On Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:38:17 +0000, Rosalind Mitchell

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?

Doesn't sound like CTS to me. I suffered for years and gave up knitting and
crocheting because of it until I discovered the Alexander Technique and
learnt how to 'ask it o go away'.
My symptoms have never been as you describe which sounds more like cramp (I
get a lot of that too - not just in hands and feet).

My symptoms are phlebitis and gout, both explained by a recent stay in
ospedale for an op on my nasal polyps. Well worth it for the ability to
breathe through my nose again, and both conditions are almost gone. Hope
yours do soon too.

[Steve Hague]

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?
Roszz

It's not neccessarily age related. A young woman (28) I know had an
operation for CTS earlier this year. She had her arm in a sling for a
couple of weeks, but her hand is fine now, which is just as well since
she's a graphic artist and keyboard player.
Steve

[Kate B]

Post by Steve Hague

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?
Roszz

It's not neccessarily age related. A young woman (28) I know had an
operation for CTS earlier this year. She had her arm in a sling for a
couple of weeks, but her hand is fine now, which is just as well since
she's a graphic artist and keyboard player.
Steve

Indeed, my sister, a nurse, had it in both wrists and had them both
operated (one after the other...) and is absolutely fine now. The
symptoms though were slightly different - wrist pain, then numbness and
pins-and-needles rather than intense pain on the back. But nerves are
tricky things and inclined to referred pain, where the pain is not
necessarily where the problem is. If you have arthritis in your toes you
may well have a bit in your thumbs. Are you going to have it scanned or
x-rayed?

[Chris McMillan]

Post by Steve Hague

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?
Roszz

It's not neccessarily age related. A young woman (28) I know had an
operation for CTS earlier this year. She had her arm in a sling for a
couple of weeks, but her hand is fine now, which is just as well since
she's a graphic artist and keyboard player.
Steve

LFF is yer woman, not that we see her here these days.

Sincerely Chris

[p***@never.here]

On Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:38:17 +0000, Rosalind Mitchell

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?
Roszz

Can't help directly but maybe a link like this will:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/

hth

[Fenny]

On Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:38:17 +0000, Rosalind Mitchell

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?

My arthritis in the feet manifests in struggling to walk when I first
get out of bed. By the time I've hobbled to the toilet and bathroom,
back to the bedroom, then downstairs, it mainly wears off and walking
to work is less painful.

The pain in my thumb is apparently down to my tennis elbow. I get
more elbow and forearm pain, but when my thumb hurts, it really lets
me know about it. My osteopath tells me to extend my arm and bend the
hand down at the wrist to ease it. Sometimes it works, other times, I
just swear a lot.

Lack of movement in any joints makes me hurt. If I don't get up and
move from my desk regularly to walk to the printer, I seize up, which
isn't any good for kicking people!

[Marmaduke Jinks]

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?
Roszz

Did anyone suggest Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Jinks.

[Nick Odell]

Post by Rosalind Mitchell
Yes, of course I will see the doc.
But meanwhile, do any of you know anything about CTS? And if my symptoms
include intense intermittent pain across the back of my hand, and
my thumb and index fnger sometimes refusing to behave themselves,
might CTS explain it? If not, is anything else a likely culprit?
I get something similar with my toes not behaving too, but in the night
not the daytime like the hand. I know about the arthritis in my toes and
the sciatica pains and I don't think they are related.
Am I just getting old and starting to fall to bits, do you think?
Roszz

Short answer:dunno.

I'm suffering from bouts of hand-cramps for which Google has numerous
suggestions for the cause including CTS but also Parkinsons, MS and
dehydration. I'm going to self-diagnose dehydration and ignore the
others while I drink lots of water. Ibuprofen (it says) may help. Not
for immediate cure of the symptoms but to relax the muscles and reduce
tension afterwards.

HTG

Nick