Loss of use of right hand

[Joy Lynn]

My father-in-law is 61 years old.  In February 2000, he began to have pain in his right shoulder.  He is a farmer and very active, so he thought it could be a pulled muscle.  He then began having pain in the back of his neck.  He went to a chiropractor and had  relief from this.  Soon after, he began to have tingling in his right hand.  He lost the ability to close his index finger to his thumb.  After this,he could not grip anything with his hand at all. In April he saw a surgeon who did nerve testing in his arm and determined the problem was his ulner (sp.) nerve.  She did surgery to move the nerve back into place. This did nothing to change his condition, and when he went back for a follow-up in July, all the nerves to that hand were not working.  She sent him to a neurologist who did an MRI, CAT scan and other nerve testing.  He said that he could find nothing and mentioned peripheral neuropathy. He also said that now,the left arm carpal tunnel nerve did not seem to respond normally. By now,his right arm is smaller than the left and his fingers are shiny and swollen. He still cannot use the hand.  His only meds are Questran & Zocor for cholesterol. Could they be related to this?  Thank you very much for your time & input.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Joy Lynn:

Sorry to hear about your father-in-law.  I am not sure what to tell you.  From your explanation of the course of events and the symptoms, I find it difficult to say the problem was in the ulnar nerve as the innervation of the thumb and index finger is mostly median nerve.  But, one never knows unless you do the exam yourself.  To have neck pain and subsequent symptoms makes one first want to look at the cervical nerves and spinal cord.The loss of motor function with what sounds like muscle atrophy suggests nerve damage.  The fact that the EMG is normal is also puzzling for the motor damage that must have occurred.  If the suggestion of a polyneuropathy was made, then the EMG should have been abnormal, unless the EMG was done too close in time to when the event took place.  I think I would seek a second opinion concerning the loss of motor function, muscle atrophy, and sensory changes in the right hand.  There are too many things that aren't clear.  Get another appointment with a neurologist who works with peripheral neuropathies (if this is possible, if not, at least one who routinely does EMGs).

Sorry, I can't help you more.

Sincerely,


CCF Neuro MD

[Joy Lynn]

Thank you doctor for your speedy response to my question.  I spoke to my father-in-law and he indicated that the suggestion of peripheral neuropathy was from a relative, not the doctor involved.  Sorry for the misunderstanding!  I too suggested a second opinion for him.  He tried to get one at Johns Hopkins (closer to home than Cleveland) but the earliest available was at the end of October.  We are all worried about further deterioration.  Thanks again for your help-- I appreciate your kindness.

[[e-mail]]

Joy Lynn

I believe that your father-in-law is a victim of aspartame (Equal,NutraSweet) poisoning.

In 1995, the FDA was forced to reveal, through the Freedom of Information Act, 92 symptoms caused by aspartame submitted by 10,000 'victims.

Neurological symptoms include 4 different kinds of seizures, change in sensation, 'other musculo-skeletal', restless leg syndrome, muscle tremors, convulsions, tremors, joint and bone pain and numbness and tingling.  

The excrutiating pain is because aspartame dries up the synovial fluid that bathes the joints.

You can prove my point by having your father-in-law find out where he is getting the aspartame and eliminating it.  It is now in 9,000 products, not just diet Coke and sugar-free gum, but Alka-Seltzer, Augmentin, Children's Tylenol, cough syrup and over-the counter laxatives such as Metamucil.  

Surf over to www.dorway.com and http://aspartamekills.com for a library of information from doctors and from the Congressional Record of Senate Hearings on the Safety of NutraSweet.

I have personally read cases of no use of hand or arm and if you want to see Cheryl Galllagher who could not raise her right arm until 4 days after she abstained from diet Coke, go to www.newviewtv.com and watch Deadly Sweetener, Part 1.  I'm on the show, too.

Interesting isn't it how clueless the doctors are. They are fed disinformation for the medical hierarchy and several large association such as the American Diabetic *** that accept thousands of dollars from the NutraSweet manufacturers.  

My very best prayers for your father-in-laws complete recovery.

***@****

[righnote]

Joy Lynn

I believe that your father-in-law is a victim of aspartame (Equal,NutraSweet) poisoning.

In 1995, the FDA was forced to reveal, through the Freedom of Information Act, 92 symptoms caused by aspartame submitted by 10,000 'victims.

Neurological symptoms include 4 different kinds of seizures, change in sensation, 'other musculo-skeletal', restless leg syndrome, muscle tremors, convulsions, tremors, joint and bone pain and numbness and tingling.  

The excrutiating pain is because aspartame dries up the synovial fluid that bathes the joints.

You can prove my point by having your father-in-law find out where he is getting the aspartame and eliminating it.  It is now in 9,000 products, not just diet Coke and sugar-free gum, but Alka-Seltzer, Augmentin, Children's Tylenol, cough syrup and over-the counter laxatives such as Metamucil.  

Surf over to www.dorway.com and http://aspartamekills.com for a library of information from doctors and from the Congressional Record of Senate Hearings on the Safety of NutraSweet.

I have personally read cases of no use of hand or arm and if you want to see Cheryl Galllagher who could not raise her right arm until 4 days after she abstained from diet Coke, go to www.newviewtv.com and watch Deadly Sweetener, Part 1.  I'm on the show, too.

Interesting isn't it how clueless the doctors are. They are fed disinformation for the medical hierarchy and several large association such as the American Diabetic *** that accept thousands of dollars from the NutraSweet manufacturers.  

My very best prayers for your father-in-laws complete recovery.

***@****

[Comment to Carolg8]

Please let the doctors give their opinions on this respectable forum.  This one is no place for wild conspiracy theories.

[Sarah-Thank You!]

Ditto!!!!!

[Croz]

I've read your whacky websites, and it should bother you that only one neuro in the world believes that Aspartame is poisonous.  All the studies and scientific evidence has proven it harmless.  Look, believe what you want and read all of the web hype that you wish.  Bottom line is, people on this site only want to hear doctor opinions and bond with people who have similar afflictions.  Please respect that.

[Joy Lynn]

Thank you everyone for your help.  My father-in-law has just returned from his second opinion appointment.  He has been diagnosed with brachial plexopathy, and will begin physical therapy soon.  P.S. he does not use aspertame.

[[e-mail]]

Dear Joy Lynn, I too have been going through diagnosis re: rt. arm /shoulder pain and loss of function... Have really good doctors and am seeing both neurologist and orthopaedic surgeon..its hard to determine exact dx. I am an R.N. and so have checked web... there is a good article on the importance of careful dx. of nerve involvement that helps ..site is   www.simmonsortho.com/literature/highmediannerve.htm   perhaps this would be helpful to read....also the three dx. I am presently being checked out for are 1.  Parsonage- Turners.syndrome 2. brachial plexopathy and 3. radiculopathy ( this one is if pain and hand dysfunction come from a cervical disc rather than from the brachial plexus nerve center)... all these could be cause so dont be discouraged if it takes some time.. the Doctors know what they are doing but they have to rule out each area. If you go to www.emedicine.com and put bachial plexus neuropathy in search they give a variety of causes and things to rule out... this problem can be the result of lots of things including trauma, viruses, flu shots etc.. Best to your dad ..Let me know how you do ! Deb