My hands started getting numb a few years ago. I've had an MRI of the
thoracic spine
which didn't show anything, another MRI of the cervical spine which
showed "a lot of arthritis",
in the words of the neurologist. That neurologist also said that the
arthritis in my neck has
nothing to do with the numbness in my hands. She did an EMG and said it
showed Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome in both hands, and Ulnar nerve damage in my right
elbow. I've had
another EMG recently and was told that there is poor conductivity not
just in the nerves
in my hands, but other nerves coming from my neck. The doctor doing
that test said
if I had surgery for the CTS, it might not help. So I am supposed to
get tests for
hypothyroid, diabetes, and I don't know what else. I am fed up with
doctors, their tests,
and their guessing. Meanwhile I have trouble buttoning my shirt and
tying my shoelaces.
I was once told by a neurosurgeon that I had a ruptured disc in my
neck. I asked him if
that could be causing the numbness in my feet. He said: "how could
that be, your neck
is up there and your feet are down there". (This was before I had a dx
of TM.) Now forgive
me but I think it;s true that if nerves are damaged in the neck,
anything below that level
can be affected. But what do I know.
Kevin
Sandy Heidel wrote:
My TM lesions are in the C3 and C1. I have all kinds of numbness,
tingling and weird feelings in my hands. None of them are genuine.
Things that should cause pain do not and so on. But it may be a sign
that you are having some lesion activity higher up on your cord. I
would call and make an appt and get an MRI. They should use the
contrast dye and it will make any active lesions light up.
Good luck and don't delay,
Sandy
In snowy, snowy Wisconsin.
----- Original Message -----
*From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*To:* tmic-list@eskimo.com <mailto:tmic-list@eskimo.com>
*Sent:* Sunday, February 25, 2007 12:31 PM
*Subject:* [TMIC] numb hand
*Has anyone woken up at night with a numb hand?*
Twice in the last week, I've woken up during the night with my
left hand numb. The first time I just chalked it off as being b/c
I'd fallen asleep laying on my back on an ice pack for a couple of
hours. But when it happened again last night, I got a little more
concerned. Part of what makes me more concerned is that for the
last couple of weeks, my upper spine has been feeling a bit
weird. My TM lesion is T6 - T8, but now I'm starting to worry
about something higher in my back.
Now that I think about it, when I was jumping (lightly) on the
little trampoline at PT, I felt this funny feeling in my upper
spine (like maybe it was sort of jamming together). Then at water
exercise, I've started participating in the jumping jacks that
sort of does the same thing to my upper spine. Of course, it's
not like jumping on the ground b/c the water cushions the
movement, but maybe my body isn't ready for this.
Any experiences with these kinds of things?
Sally