Pain, burning, numbness, tingling in fingers

[airbus310]

For over twelve months I have been aware that these symptoms have been getting worse and now I am in a real mess with night and early morning moderate pain in my right hand. I also suffer from burning, tingling, numbness in my three middle fingers and the thumb, never the little finger! This obviously sounds like Carpel Tunnel but my GP wants me to do a CT scan of my neck in the belief it may be the C2/5 discs causing the problem.

I have no neck or arm pain with all the symptoms being in my hand only. I also suffer much less obvious, though similar signs in my left hand. For a couple of years, I have had very minor numbness in the toes of both feet that never goes away.

The pain etc. is very prevelant in bed at night and quite bad before I rise in the morning. As soon as I stand up, everything improves rapidly - weird! Nonetheless, a significantly reduced number of symptoms stay with me all day.

Application of hot or cold packs has no noticeable effect!

Panadol has no effect though Iboprofine is quite helpful, albeit temporary!

Any suggestions or ideas on where this problem is coming from and how it can/will be treated?

Many thanks

[Tuckamore]

You're so Welcome.

I think your physician may be thinking the same as you- regarding sx in both hands. It's good to R/O (rule out) cervical spine issues.

I had sx in both my hands also - though one was worse than the other, like yours. As I said my turned out to be bilateral Carpel Tunnel. I hope your cervical spine is healthy - sounds like you have enough to deal with in your lower spine.

Good Luck! I'll be interested to hear more.

[airbus310]

Thanks Tuck, good sensible and informative advice!

Actually I do have a lower back issue that, while not too bad, Isis consequence of a "few" things down there causing impingement on a nerve. Maybe this is tied up with the neck and then the fingers problems.

The fact my left hand is occasionally similarly affected makes me think there is a common cause somewhere?

Hopefully the CT scan will throw up something!

Thanks again

[Tuckamore]

Airbus,

I think your physician is being very thorough. He probably wants to exclude the possibility of a cervical spine issue. Do you have spinal issues in other portions of your spine?

I agree with you, it sounds like Carpel Tunnel to me. If he does find something in your cervical spine please insist on diagnostic tests for Carpel Tunnel also. I am in a similar situation.

Too often I hear about pain caused by one (fairly simple) condition and surgery being done elsewhere because other things were found in search for the reason for the pain. When the major surgery is complete the person still has the symptoms they began with - so please be cautious.

I am not a physician nor am I second guessing your physician. You know your body better than anyone else and just be sure all things are investigated.

I had bilateral Carpel Tunnel and your symptoms sound similar to mine. However I didn't have the numbness bilaterally of my great toes. You may be experiencing Peripheral Neuropathy.  I look at Peripheral neuropathy as more of a symptom than a disease - though in truth it's sort of both.
There are several different kinds of peripheral neuropathies, actually Carpel Tunnel is one.

Peripheral neuropathy just means that the nerves (in the lower parts of your extremities) are damaged - causes vary. If you are a diabetic that can cause damage to your Peripheral Nerves -  When that occurs it's called
diabetic neuropathy. The list is long as are the reasons. Simple aging can cause some neuropathy.

IB (Ibuprofen) is an anti-inflammatory and that may be part of the reason it works for you. It's reducing the inflammation.

Be assertive and look after yourself and the one body you were given. Again I think your physician is probably being thorough - just don't let him become narrow minded and lose site of the big picture.

Thanks for posting. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. I'll look forward to your comments and updates with interest.

Take Care,
~Tuck