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Do you ever feel like you have rubber gloves on?
Your hand, I mean...not the other type of rubbers :-)
I noticed it this morning when I took my shower. The fingertip of my right middle finger feels like I'm wearing a rubber glove, or like it has dried glue covering the fingerprint area (I'm not the only one who put glue on their hands as a kid & let it dry, am I? LOL). I can still feel, but it is dampened. To a lesser degree the pointer and ring fingers feel the same too.
I had this happen a bit over a year ago, saw a hand surgeon who sent me for a nerve study which came back slight carpel tunnel. I was told to wear a brace at night, and if it doesn't help then they will probably want to snip the muscle. I never wore the brace (I was not able to take care of the baby overnight wearing it, and since she was waking up 3+ times a night, it was easier not to use it at all). After about 2 months the feeling faded and went away.
It is now back. The PA at my neuro's office had told me that carpel tunnel would not just "go away" and maybe it was an MS symptom. Have you guys had this feeling? It is not overly bothersome, but I did get it checked out the first time because I had cut my finger while chopping veggies and didn't feel it, had no clue until I was bleeding, it never hurt at all!
In other news: The SS nurse just left about an hour ago, and I took my first dose of Copaxone. It went smoothly. A minute or so after, she saw me scratching the area (I didn't even realize I was doing it LOL) and I did have a bit of redness. It went from itching, to the bee sting feeling, then felt a bit warm, but now is fine again.
~Jess
I noticed it this morning when I took my shower. The fingertip of my right middle finger feels like I'm wearing a rubber glove, or like it has dried glue covering the fingerprint area (I'm not the only one who put glue on their hands as a kid & let it dry, am I? LOL). I can still feel, but it is dampened. To a lesser degree the pointer and ring fingers feel the same too.
I had this happen a bit over a year ago, saw a hand surgeon who sent me for a nerve study which came back slight carpel tunnel. I was told to wear a brace at night, and if it doesn't help then they will probably want to snip the muscle. I never wore the brace (I was not able to take care of the baby overnight wearing it, and since she was waking up 3+ times a night, it was easier not to use it at all). After about 2 months the feeling faded and went away.
It is now back. The PA at my neuro's office had told me that carpel tunnel would not just "go away" and maybe it was an MS symptom. Have you guys had this feeling? It is not overly bothersome, but I did get it checked out the first time because I had cut my finger while chopping veggies and didn't feel it, had no clue until I was bleeding, it never hurt at all!
In other news: The SS nurse just left about an hour ago, and I took my first dose of Copaxone. It went smoothly. A minute or so after, she saw me scratching the area (I didn't even realize I was doing it LOL) and I did have a bit of redness. It went from itching, to the bee sting feeling, then felt a bit warm, but now is fine again.
~Jess
Stocking-glove paresthesias are certainly well-described in MS.
Also, although the vast majority of carpal tunnel involves the medial nerve to the hand (thunb, and fingers to the ring finger - either side), in unusual cases it can involve the ulnar nerve and cause the sensations on the pinky and one or both sides of the ring finger.
Q
Also, although the vast majority of carpal tunnel involves the medial nerve to the hand (thunb, and fingers to the ring finger - either side), in unusual cases it can involve the ulnar nerve and cause the sensations on the pinky and one or both sides of the ring finger.
Q
Jess, try Googling 'stocking glove distribution.' From what I've learned, this describes how some cases of peripheral neuopathy are felt, especially small fiber neuropathy.
It really does mean a muted sensation like what you and Lu experience. Some people get this as the result of diabetic neuropathy as well.
I'm almost positive, though, that, some members here describe this sensation as part of their MS, which of course does not have a peripheral cause. But some of us have both central and peripheral issues (2 separate disorders). I do, or at least I'm told I do.
I hope Quix weighs in on this issue. Like Tony the Tiger, I'm corn-fused.
ess
It really does mean a muted sensation like what you and Lu experience. Some people get this as the result of diabetic neuropathy as well.
I'm almost positive, though, that, some members here describe this sensation as part of their MS, which of course does not have a peripheral cause. But some of us have both central and peripheral issues (2 separate disorders). I do, or at least I'm told I do.
I hope Quix weighs in on this issue. Like Tony the Tiger, I'm corn-fused.
ess
Mary, those are very good points! I will try the brace this week to see if that helps. Now that the kids are in school it is going to be very difficult for me to get to the doctor, so I'm trying to avoid it as much as I can. You are right, it started during a hot shower! I usually only take warm showers, but the washing machine was running at the same time (on the cold cycle) and taking all the cold water. It also makes sense that this could absolutely be CT due to my classes.
Lulu, I'm glad to hear the sting gets better. It wasn't bad, but was sore the rest of the day. Today it is a bit sore if you touch it. I can live with this :-)
~Jess
Lulu, I'm glad to hear the sting gets better. It wasn't bad, but was sore the rest of the day. Today it is a bit sore if you touch it. I can live with this :-)
~Jess
oh, and congrats on starting the copaxone. That sting sure does hurt at first, but it usually gets better. Hang in there and give your body a chance to adjust to this daily routine.
Mary gave you a thorough discussion on the medical side. To get back to the other part of the question - yes, I have had that gloved feeling. In fact I use that analogy to explain the numb feeling in my leg.
I tell people to pretend they have a glove on and then imagine what it feels like if someone is stroking the outside of the glove. You can feel are are being touched because of the pressure, but you don't actually register the real feelings. It is a very odd feeling.
good luck with sorting this out with your doctor.
Lulu
I tell people to pretend they have a glove on and then imagine what it feels like if someone is stroking the outside of the glove. You can feel are are being touched because of the pressure, but you don't actually register the real feelings. It is a very odd feeling.
good luck with sorting this out with your doctor.
Lulu
Hi Jess. First of all, congratulations on getting your Copaxone started. I know you have sometimes felt like it was a long time coming. It will be an adjustment but at least you can feel like you are actively doing something now to combat this foe of ours.
I think your plasticized fingers could be either MS or CT (carpel tunnel). It is possible for CT to just "go away', depending on what caused it to just appear in the first place. I find it interesting that when you had it before it was soon after delivery. It's fairly common for women to have symptoms come on with the swelling of pregnancy and then have them go away after delivery. (Yours did seem to fade away slowly though.)
It's also interesting that this happens when you may have increased you computer time. Has that hapened with your transcription classes? Aren't they on line? I don't know that an absolute link has been proven but overuse can contribute to CT symptoms.
On the other hand (no pun) you noticed symptoms in the shower. It was warm, yes? As we know all too well, MS + heated conditions = symptoms.
CT can cause symptoms in the thumb, index and middle finger and inner surface of the ring finger (but leaves the pinkie alone). There can also be pain in the wrist, forarm or further up the arm on the inner surface. When I've had it there was pain and tingling but nothing was ever so numb that I could have cut myself and not known it. But that was just me.
You would likely have to have the tests that were done before repeated to get a better idea if this is CT or MS related. The CT is a peripheral nerve problem. MS, is not. If you still have the splint, it might be worth wearing it a few nights to see if it helps.
Either way, mention it to your doc. Lots of people don't want to have the surgery for CT but if you don't treat it the result can be permanent nerve damage. The surgery involves opening the narrow area where the nerves and tendons pass through the wrist into the hand. No muscle is cut. Recovery is pretty fast if you don't let the damage get too advanced.
Mary
I think your plasticized fingers could be either MS or CT (carpel tunnel). It is possible for CT to just "go away', depending on what caused it to just appear in the first place. I find it interesting that when you had it before it was soon after delivery. It's fairly common for women to have symptoms come on with the swelling of pregnancy and then have them go away after delivery. (Yours did seem to fade away slowly though.)
It's also interesting that this happens when you may have increased you computer time. Has that hapened with your transcription classes? Aren't they on line? I don't know that an absolute link has been proven but overuse can contribute to CT symptoms.
On the other hand (no pun) you noticed symptoms in the shower. It was warm, yes? As we know all too well, MS + heated conditions = symptoms.
CT can cause symptoms in the thumb, index and middle finger and inner surface of the ring finger (but leaves the pinkie alone). There can also be pain in the wrist, forarm or further up the arm on the inner surface. When I've had it there was pain and tingling but nothing was ever so numb that I could have cut myself and not known it. But that was just me.
You would likely have to have the tests that were done before repeated to get a better idea if this is CT or MS related. The CT is a peripheral nerve problem. MS, is not. If you still have the splint, it might be worth wearing it a few nights to see if it helps.
Either way, mention it to your doc. Lots of people don't want to have the surgery for CT but if you don't treat it the result can be permanent nerve damage. The surgery involves opening the narrow area where the nerves and tendons pass through the wrist into the hand. No muscle is cut. Recovery is pretty fast if you don't let the damage get too advanced.
Mary
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