Anybody with DYSTONIA in hand or thumb-in-fist posturing...

[tjj3761]

Hi everybody,

I have a question for all.

I have had this for awhile, but have never said anything to neuro about it.  I have noticed that my right hand when not in use or just resting, my fist is clenched tightly around my thumb and it just does it on its own.  This also is the most comfortable position for me.  I have no pain at all, but most of my problems are on the right side of my body, except for my neck and head symptoms.

My left hand does not do this at all.

Does anybody have this and is this part of dystonia?

Terri

[Rachelinpain]

my left hand usually rests in a clinched fist position as well but i think becasue it is just comfortable, i never have problems straightening in, although i do get spasm in that hand which make it cling tighter at times, but i dont think it is anything serious for me, not sure about your situation.  

as far as the fingers curling in there is a condition called dupuytrens contracture which can casue curling of the fingers and it is caused by  a tightening of the elastic fibers in the palm of the hand...perhaps this is what is going on with your hand...you may want to look at the link and see if it fits your symptoms. it has nothing to do with dystonia or MS.   i hope you get some answers and that you can get some releif.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00008&return_link=0

[jensequitur]

>  Would it dystonia if the effected part didn't return to normal posistion?

I think so, yeah, but I'm not sure.

[cydpink]

Would it dystonia if the effected part didn't return to normal posistion?

I only ask because I've got two fingers on my hand which began to curl in towards the palm and then stayed that way frozen.
Even under a general the orthopedic surgeon couldn't straighten them!

My (ex) neuro suggested it was through lack of use! Funny how they're on my right hand and I'm right handed!

[jensequitur]

Just trying to think... I researched dystonia because I was having some involuntary movements, and it looks like it's caused by damage to the basal ganglia - the gray matter of your brain.  This is typically not an MS symptom, as MS is more about the white matter.

At least according to current conventional wisdom about MS.  With MS iron deposition in the gray matter, there's evidence that we can have affected parts of the brain in both white and gray matter.  But you won't get the neuro to acknowledge it, sadly enough.  Unless he/she is really cool.

My symptom turned out to be spinal myoclonus, not dystonia, because I would convulse, then relax.  

I think the question would be if your hand does this because it's more comfortable, or if it's doing it involuntarily.  For example, I turn my right foot out because walking on it is more painful when the foot is turned normally.

Definitely tell your neuro about it - it's another piece of the puzzle!

[supermum_ms]

Hi Terri,

I'm not confident to say, if its part of dystonia or not, it does ring a bell in the hollow corridors of my brain though. I dont have the odd curl position of my hand but i do in my feet. My bad side (left) would curl up and rest on the outer edge, (10 - 15 years now) then about 5 years ago i started doing it on the right. I never notice it but my dh has been flattening out my feet cause it makes him uncomfortable just looking at them.lol.

Cheers......JJ