left finger spasms

Posted by kurt on June 19, 1999 at 10:14:24
lately my left index finger has been has been moving for no reason it just starts to twitch and i feel a slight tingling feeling in my left arm mostly by my elbow, now i,ve had lower back problems for 8 years i'm 28 now when i was 20 my back slipped out and the chiropractor discovred that me right leg was 3/4 of an inch shorter than my left and so my hips where out of line and that put pressure on my lower back witch caused my back trauma , chiropractor said i should put a lift in my right shoe and i'll be fine so thats what i did.back slipped out three more times and when it does i'm leaning to the right from the waist up . i figured out how to fix my back by laying down for threedays and haven't seen a chiropracter for years 1992. now my finger keeps movingi wonder if it's caused by a nerve in my lower back being pinched or something else ,i also hapen to be 20lbs. overweight and my gut might be putting pressure on my back to causeing my finger to spasm ,don't have any insurance and wonder if you know some place in connecticut that can help me. thank you very much.-kurt  

Posted by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on June 19, 1999 at 11:54:14
Dear Kurt,
Sorry to hear about your finger.  Your lower back is likely not causing your symptoms.  The nerves that go to your hand are in the cervical (neck area) part of the back.  There could be a number of reasons that your little finger could be twitching and having numbness.  One could be what we call benign fasciculations, another could be from a nerve that goes to your hand thru your elbow areas being entrapped, another could be a problem with your neck spine area.  Without being able to exam you, it is difficult to tell you the exact etiology.  I do not know of anything in Conn to refer you to.  You might try a free clinic or a county hospital neurology department.
CCF Neuro MD