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Left hand is getting thinner
Hello! First of all I would like to ask you to forgive my bad English because I am only 17 and come from Europe. Thank you for understanding!
Now allow me to explain my syndromes. In past 3 years I have been noticing that my hand bellow the elbow is getting thinner. It all started with my little finger which jumps strangely when I try to move it. At the same time I had cramps in my left hand. I didn’t really pay attention to it, and I didn’t even notice my hand was getting thinner. I noticed it last year when I was at the doctor (to get medical permission for driving license) and I had to stretch out my arms. My fingers were shaking, I couldn’t move little finger close to my third finger and I couldn’t straighten out the forefinger. That is when I have decided to pay a visit to my doctor. He sent me to a hospital and I went through all kind of tests but they couldn’t give the diagnosis. They also thought the reason could be virus meningitis which I had had in a summer one year earlier, but I can assure you this is not the reason because I have found pictures from before I had meningitis and my hand was already thinner as normal. They sent me to another, bigger hospital. I went through the same tests mostly and some new ones, but they couldn’t figure it out either. It’s been almost a year now since I first went to a doctor, but I still don’t know what’s going on.
They think one possible theory is muscle atrophy, but don’t understand why it progressed that fast, besides, the atrophy is usually symmetrical, but my right hand is absolutely fine.
The other theory is that it might be something genetic, but I am not sure about this one.
If you want to know what tests I went through I can describe them, but I doubt I remember all and even if I did it would be pretty difficult to translate to English (I guess).
Here is also a picture so you can understand what I am talking about:
http://www2.arnes.si/~bkrpan/roka1.jpg
Thank you in advance!
Now allow me to explain my syndromes. In past 3 years I have been noticing that my hand bellow the elbow is getting thinner. It all started with my little finger which jumps strangely when I try to move it. At the same time I had cramps in my left hand. I didn’t really pay attention to it, and I didn’t even notice my hand was getting thinner. I noticed it last year when I was at the doctor (to get medical permission for driving license) and I had to stretch out my arms. My fingers were shaking, I couldn’t move little finger close to my third finger and I couldn’t straighten out the forefinger. That is when I have decided to pay a visit to my doctor. He sent me to a hospital and I went through all kind of tests but they couldn’t give the diagnosis. They also thought the reason could be virus meningitis which I had had in a summer one year earlier, but I can assure you this is not the reason because I have found pictures from before I had meningitis and my hand was already thinner as normal. They sent me to another, bigger hospital. I went through the same tests mostly and some new ones, but they couldn’t figure it out either. It’s been almost a year now since I first went to a doctor, but I still don’t know what’s going on.
They think one possible theory is muscle atrophy, but don’t understand why it progressed that fast, besides, the atrophy is usually symmetrical, but my right hand is absolutely fine.
The other theory is that it might be something genetic, but I am not sure about this one.
If you want to know what tests I went through I can describe them, but I doubt I remember all and even if I did it would be pretty difficult to translate to English (I guess).
Here is also a picture so you can understand what I am talking about:
http://www2.arnes.si/~bkrpan/roka1.jpg
Thank you in advance!
Hi agent BK
I'm from Assam, India. I have the same condition with my right hand. My started trembling in an exam at the age of 19. I could not write any answers that day.
A few days later I noticed that I am not able to push the Carom Striker (the game that I used to play). And then I noticed the wasting of muscles and the hand bellow elbow getting almost vanished. After visiting many neurologist, I got to know nothing.
Then I decided to **** this illness and do my works regularly. (This attitude saved me from my terrible mental condition that's the real worst "pain")
Today, at the age of 35 I'm happy, busy, active, married. There's so much thing to do in his beautiful world then to keep thinking about an incidence. I drive, ride, type, runs my business without much hindrance.
I don't play carrom anymore as I have found something better than that :)
Cheers!
I'm from Assam, India. I have the same condition with my right hand. My started trembling in an exam at the age of 19. I could not write any answers that day.
A few days later I noticed that I am not able to push the Carom Striker (the game that I used to play). And then I noticed the wasting of muscles and the hand bellow elbow getting almost vanished. After visiting many neurologist, I got to know nothing.
Then I decided to **** this illness and do my works regularly. (This attitude saved me from my terrible mental condition that's the real worst "pain")
Today, at the age of 35 I'm happy, busy, active, married. There's so much thing to do in his beautiful world then to keep thinking about an incidence. I drive, ride, type, runs my business without much hindrance.
I don't play carrom anymore as I have found something better than that :)
Cheers!
2 Comments
Hi,
thank you very much for the motivational words. I am glad to hear you dealt with the problem in such great way. It has now been 10 years since I wrote the original post here and I have to say the situation with the hand is now more or less stable. I also decided not to pay too much attention to the hand and do all the things as good as I can. I got tired of visiting all the doctors just to fascinate them but get no answers. Today I live a normal life in my own apartment with my fiance, with a regular job as a software engineer. I also drive a car and as of recently even a motorbike which I thought I could never do. As long as the situation with the hand stays as it is, I am perfectly fine and happy about it :)
Have a nice day and life ;)
thank you very much for the motivational words. I am glad to hear you dealt with the problem in such great way. It has now been 10 years since I wrote the original post here and I have to say the situation with the hand is now more or less stable. I also decided not to pay too much attention to the hand and do all the things as good as I can. I got tired of visiting all the doctors just to fascinate them but get no answers. Today I live a normal life in my own apartment with my fiance, with a regular job as a software engineer. I also drive a car and as of recently even a motorbike which I thought I could never do. As long as the situation with the hand stays as it is, I am perfectly fine and happy about it :)
Have a nice day and life ;)
Hi Agent BK
So happy to hear from you. And even happier to know that you are living a life with all it's beauty and gaiety.
As you said, in my case also the situation is stable. So that means this thing happens for some unknown reason and than stays there. May be, this makes us realize the fact " How big, unique and uncertain is this universe and how small we (Human race) are"
Have great day buddy.
Cheers!
So happy to hear from you. And even happier to know that you are living a life with all it's beauty and gaiety.
As you said, in my case also the situation is stable. So that means this thing happens for some unknown reason and than stays there. May be, this makes us realize the fact " How big, unique and uncertain is this universe and how small we (Human race) are"
Have great day buddy.
Cheers!
I talked to my doctor about the Lyme and she said I've been throuh these tests too and looks like this is not it. Any other guess?
Otherways I would like to know if any of you is familiar with a way of treatment that could improve the condition of my hand. I am doing exercises, but it seems it is still the same. What else can be done?
Thanks
Otherways I would like to know if any of you is familiar with a way of treatment that could improve the condition of my hand. I am doing exercises, but it seems it is still the same. What else can be done?
Thanks
Thank you for this information! I will talk to my doctor tomorrow about it to see what she thinks. I will let you know what she sais!
Thank you very much for now! I really really apreciate your help! Thanks
(do not pay attention to another question I posted in the forum, it is same as this one, but it was posted by mistake)
Thank you very much for now! I really really apreciate your help! Thanks
(do not pay attention to another question I posted in the forum, it is same as this one, but it was posted by mistake)
You said you don't remember getting a tick bite.
Many people who get a tick borne infection do not remember a tick bite or a rash.
The Canadian Lyme Foundation at canlyme.com has good information.
The Western Blot IgG and Western Blot IgM can test for antibodies to the Lyme bacteria. However, they are not very accurate, as most labs test for only one strain, and there are hundreds of strains of Lyme.
In the U.S.A., there are only a couple specialty labs that test for more than one strain, and also report all the "bands" on the test results.
Lyme Disease is diagnosed by evaluating the patient's symptoms, and his history.
This is called a "clinical diagnosis."
You cannot rely on lab tests, as there are many false negatives.
Carol
Many people who get a tick borne infection do not remember a tick bite or a rash.
The Canadian Lyme Foundation at canlyme.com has good information.
The Western Blot IgG and Western Blot IgM can test for antibodies to the Lyme bacteria. However, they are not very accurate, as most labs test for only one strain, and there are hundreds of strains of Lyme.
In the U.S.A., there are only a couple specialty labs that test for more than one strain, and also report all the "bands" on the test results.
Lyme Disease is diagnosed by evaluating the patient's symptoms, and his history.
This is called a "clinical diagnosis."
You cannot rely on lab tests, as there are many false negatives.
Carol
Thank you for replays!
Some doctors say that the thing with C6 and C7 can not cause this, because the deformation is minimal, but some others think this could be the main reason but as said, noone wants to confirm any of it.
As for Lyme, they have been asking me if I ever had a tick, but I dont remember having one. Anyway, do you know of any test I could do to see if that is the reason?
And now I have another question. We do not know exactly what is causing the problem with my left hand, but does anyone know about a way of treatment that could improve the condition of my hand? Because I will have to decide about further education soon and I really want to pick something computer related.
Thank you again. I really appreciate your effort!
Some doctors say that the thing with C6 and C7 can not cause this, because the deformation is minimal, but some others think this could be the main reason but as said, noone wants to confirm any of it.
As for Lyme, they have been asking me if I ever had a tick, but I dont remember having one. Anyway, do you know of any test I could do to see if that is the reason?
And now I have another question. We do not know exactly what is causing the problem with my left hand, but does anyone know about a way of treatment that could improve the condition of my hand? Because I will have to decide about further education soon and I really want to pick something computer related.
Thank you again. I really appreciate your effort!
I looked at the pictures, and I can see what you mean.
I know of a couple people who have "muscle wasting" and they also have Lyme Disease.
I'm not saying that you have Lyme, but this is one thing that may cause muscle atrophy for some people.
The Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, enters the muscle and nerve tissue.
If it damages nerves, it may cause atrophy.
Wishing you the best,
Carol
I know of a couple people who have "muscle wasting" and they also have Lyme Disease.
I'm not saying that you have Lyme, but this is one thing that may cause muscle atrophy for some people.
The Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, enters the muscle and nerve tissue.
If it damages nerves, it may cause atrophy.
Wishing you the best,
Carol
i am no professional or doctor, but but if you have atrophy in your spinal cord near c6 and c7, then there is certainly for the potential for a connection between that and the atrophy in your lower arm and hand.
C6 and C7 are where the nerves from your arm connect to your spinal cord, and i know that herniations in that area can cause numbness and tingling in the arms (from the tricep to the forearm and down in to the fingers).
i would search for 'c6 and c7 atrophy' on google, i have found several web pages that talk about the connection between c6 and c7 nerve damage and atrophy in the arms!
http://edinfo.med.nyu.edu/courseware/neurosurgery/motor.html - this webpage shows a doctor giving a motor exam of the body, and how problems in certain areas of the arms and legs indicate problems with the spinal cord (spinal marrow).
hope that helps!
C6 and C7 are where the nerves from your arm connect to your spinal cord, and i know that herniations in that area can cause numbness and tingling in the arms (from the tricep to the forearm and down in to the fingers).
i would search for 'c6 and c7 atrophy' on google, i have found several web pages that talk about the connection between c6 and c7 nerve damage and atrophy in the arms!
http://edinfo.med.nyu.edu/courseware/neurosurgery/motor.html - this webpage shows a doctor giving a motor exam of the body, and how problems in certain areas of the arms and legs indicate problems with the spinal cord (spinal marrow).
hope that helps!
Yes, I had EMG about 3 times and they didn't find anything strange. I also had many other tests like x-ray, CT of head and arm, MR of spinal marrow, MLPA test and some others.
MLPA showed presence of SMN1 and SMN2 and <5% of something. Maybe you know what it means, I don't.
MR showed between C6 and middle of C7 thinner atrophic spinal marrow (translation may not be exact).
But noone ventures to confirm any of it.
Others didn't show anything unnormal.
Doctors are trying hard to find the reason why this started, but I dont remember having any kind of injury. I never even had a broken bone or anything like it. One of the doctors even said that this is the point where Slovenian knowledge needs help from foreign countries.
MLPA showed presence of SMN1 and SMN2 and <5% of something. Maybe you know what it means, I don't.
MR showed between C6 and middle of C7 thinner atrophic spinal marrow (translation may not be exact).
But noone ventures to confirm any of it.
Others didn't show anything unnormal.
Doctors are trying hard to find the reason why this started, but I dont remember having any kind of injury. I never even had a broken bone or anything like it. One of the doctors even said that this is the point where Slovenian knowledge needs help from foreign countries.
1 Comments
Hello, one of my relative facing same problem, they have done so many tests but no result, so after a year we got to know that it's a bone problem, her bones was becoming extremely weak than normal.. May be this will help you a bit try some bone tests consult orthopedic
did you have an EMG test? this is were either needles or electrodes that receive electrical signals are place on your arm, and the doctor measures whether your brain is sending electrical impulses to your muscles. it sounds like you have nerve communication damage of some sort, especially with the lack of muscle tone and jumping fingers. did you have any sort of injury to any part of your arm, back, neck, spine, or head prior to noticing the changes in your left arm?
i don't have anything else to offer you, but i hope you can find some answers!
i don't have anything else to offer you, but i hope you can find some answers!
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