Hand problems, pain and other issues.

[Stone]

Me again. The same thing's happened on the other hand

My lovely OT at UCHL said she thought I'd ruptured the attachment between the extensor tendons of the first two fingers so it could be the same again...symptoms being sharp stabbing pain in the knuckle when moving it (more pain extending than flexing), and the tendon is 'falling off' the knuckle towards my little finger when I flex it. Another thing to add the list, I suppose...

Stone

[Rosebud]

My hands are always achey from writing. It used to be only when it's cold outside or during exams etc when you write for long periods, but now it's there even if it's not long essays that I'm writing. I'm curious about that fancy Y-shaped pen earlier in the thread... Any more reviews on it?

[Retro]

All writing aids (pens and pencils) have been moved to the relevant thread.

Lindsey
Site Admin

[iNeko]

Hi everyone, something weird just happened to me. I closed my left hand tightly into a fist (to click my fingers and to get them moving again, as sometimes they lock up) and I felt a really, really sharp pain in the back of my hand (as in it made me scream ). Now, when I flex/move my fingers or my hand at the wrist, I get the same sharp pain again and my fingers (middle, ring and little fingers especially) are really weak. My hands ache anyway (hence all the clenching into tight fists) but I've not come across this before!

The pain is almost unbearable, plus as I have cross-dominance it's going to be weird doing everything with my right hand luckily I'm off to the doctors on wednesday, so I can ask about it then. Any ideas what it could be? It doesn't feel like a sprain or a sprung metacarpal, which I usually get...
modnote: merged with existing hand pain thread

[Stone]

Whereabouts is the pain? Sounds like you may have trapped a nerve (I'd guess radial) - are your fingers weaker in extension than flexion (or vice versa)?

Stone

[iNeko]

Hey Stone, the pain is in the back of my hand, running along from the wrist to my knuckles. The pain is intense whichever way I move my fingers or wrist and the "lower half" (my ring finger/little finger and the part of the hand they attach to) is really weak, as though the tendons or something are really loose and floppy. I've bandaged it up for the time being, it seems to help, but I still make the mistake of trying to scratch my head/use it which results in rubbery fingers with no grip and lots of pain! Luckily I'm in the frame of mind where this is "oh typical" and I just roll my eyes!

[nemonie]

I think I sometimes get this. Does it feel like a 'sharp, burning' pain in a kind of spasm. Whenever I get it, it's when my elbow and wrist are playing up as well, as seems to be due to a trapped nerve as Stone said.
Fortunately mine just seems to resolve on their own fairly quickly, but last time it was a good month before it fixed itself. That time my elbow (although it hadn't been hurting at the time) suddenly crunched unpleasantly when I was stretching and my hand and wrist suddenly felt better.

I found that those little heat packs you can get that fit in the little hand bandage things were very soothing. Thermacare I think they are or just strap a heat pack to your hand.

[BendyPam]

Oh geez! A beautician with hypermobility syndrome? Now, that's just awful.

I feel for you, hun. I'm a graphic designer and I have trouble doing ANYTHING with my hands because of this. I'm constantly having to take frequent breaks and I have actually missed out on very important deadlines because of the pain.\

The difference between you and me; however, is that you're dealing with immediate cases. You can't really take long breaks -- so it's gotta be SO agonizing. I am so sorry. Hopefully, a little prayer and a little hope can keep ya going. I make sure to keep that hope beside me everything -- seeing as art is my livelihood, of course.

God bless ya, sweetheart. Just keep calm, cool and collected.

[Stone]

Hey Stone, the pain is in the back of my hand, running along from the wrist to my knuckles. The pain is intense whichever way I move my fingers or wrist and the "lower half" (my ring finger/little finger and the part of the hand they attach to) is really weak, as though the tendons or something are really loose and floppy.

That sounds like the ulnar nerve (it controls skin feeling on the two smallest fingers and the little-finger side on your middle finger, not sure about the muscles though). When it gets trapped it's usually at the elbow but it sounds like you might have squashed it in the hand somewhere.

When I get these things I'm usually b****y minded about it and force my hand into different positions until it goes 'ping' and it released but maybe you shouldn't try that until you've seen a doctor Hope it works out for you, anyway.

Stone

[cavemonster]

Hi,
You mentioning the ulnar nerve has reminded me of something that's happened a few times, and I'm not sure if I should worry...I think it happens when my arms get cold - i.e. out walking in less than warm weather with a sleeveless warm vest thing (Gillet) on and only thin sleeves underneath...as I swing my arms each time the arm swings forward I get a sharp pain down my arm into my little and ring finger. This also happens if I swim in very cold water (in a wetsuit)...is it something to worry about? Or just continue to ignore, as it goes away once I warm up again?
Always appreciate your lot's opinion!
Jen

[Stone]

The unhelpful doctor voice in me says, "stop doing it then!" but that's not much use! Do you get Raynaud's ever? Could be that your nerves don't like being stretched, maybe ask a physio? Have you ever had a nerve conduction test?

Stone

[cavemonster]

hi - I don't think I get raynauds but my feet do go dead if I swim in very cold water quicker than my friends...(I know - stop doing it!!)

I've never had a nerve condyction test - I might mention it to my GP next time I see him - but I don't want to push it as he's been great about getting me refered elsewhere...don't want to take the mick!! Would there be any benefit to knowing? (if you see what I mean)

Jen

[Stone]

Well, I guess if you've been tested and there's some nerve compromise showing, there is an op they can do which relocates the nerve in front of the humerus instead of behind it - which puts less strain on it. I think we should have been designed that way in the first place, really It also makes it impossible for you to bang your funny-bone. Whether it's a good idea for you is up to you...

Other than deciding if any intervention's justified there doesn't seem much point in having an NCS. Mine resulted in little more than shrugs

Stone

[Chloe♥]

^Not an argument in support of evolution you usually hear!

Also, there's a medblog I follow that goes on at length about tests only being ordered if they're justify. Never order a test 'just to know'; you should always be able to say what you're going to DO with that information.

No, I've nothing useful to say.

[iNeko]

Well, it turns out my pain is a trapped ulnar nerve! His advice was either heat or cold compresses and when it's not hurting so much give the bit of my hand that connects to my wrist "a wiggle" as one of the small bones has more than likely moved!

It still hurts like a b***h, but I'll do what the doctor said. He also told me to pad the palm out some as it will help with moving the bone back to where it's supposed to be! It seems over the last year or so these dislocations/bone slippings/nerve trappings/etc are getting much, much worse

Sadly, the only bandage I have I either put on too tight or too loose as it's difficult to do on my own! I'll get mum to do it for me tomorrow I think!