Why's my nerve pain worse when I use my hand/arm?

[Fluffysmom]

I've had nerve pain in my right forearm on and off for years, but it's become more of an "on" thing for several weeks now.  I've found that it gets worse when I try to prepare food; wash and chop vegetables/fruit/meat, measure ingredients, etc, as well as typing, writing, working with beads, driving, shaving my legs... you get the idea.

I thought maybe that some of the pain was from muscle tightness squeezing some nerves, instead of central nerve issues, so I tried gently rubbing in some pain-a-trate pain relieving cream. Youch!  Instead of relieving the pain or redirecting it to the warmth on the surface of my skin, the deep nerve pain glowed even more, and my hand and other areas that are extra hyper-sensitive were even more so.

Can someone explain to me how the pain messages get so mixed up?  My neurologist says that the pain is from my MS.  

Is there any way to avoid flaring up the pain without stopping doing what I love, like baking, cooking, making jewelry, practicing yoga, maybe water aerobics again, and so on?  I'm already taking Lyrica, Tegretol, and am in my second week of a double-blind study to see if duloxetine can help with central nerve pain.

I always want to know why? and want to understand the way things are working in my body.  I trust my neuro but am curious as to whether the pain is caused by one of my many brain lesions or if a spinal lesion was missed (neither of my spinal MRIs were of great quality, not even the 3T).

Just wondering...

Kathy

[jensequitur]

My neuro originally said I was negative for spasticity as well, although there was nothing else it could have been.  His scientific test was to smack the inside of my elbow with a rubber hammer, and see if my arm curled up!

It does sound like you're suffering from muscle weakness and fatigue, as well as spasticity in your muscles.  When it's bad, any use at all will cause my muscles to cramp up, and if it's in my arm, my arm will curl up.  I have to work hard to stretch it back out.

[fig65]

I have the same issues, but in my left arm and left leg (I am not dx'd). I am left handed and can do very little before the weakness/stiffness/pain starts. I have a degree of numbness/stiffness in this arm all the time, but it gets worse when I use it and it doesn't take much.
When I woke up today, I was feeling pretty good. Within one hour of being up and about, my left leg started to feel weak and achy. As the day goes on I run out of steam pretty quickly, but still have no answer.
I also like to know the whys to things and know how frustrating it can be. I just had an MRI done and anxiously awaiting the results.

[Fluffysmom]

I take 50 mg. Lyrica twice a day and 100 mg. at bedtime.  I've been taking it for several years; I was on Neurontin for several years before I switched to Lyrica.  I've never been diagnosed with carpal tunnel, though have been tested for it over the years, not recently.

In the past, I've taken extra Lyrica or extra Tegretol when I've had a flare of this pain and have had my pain decrease. This is probably the worst flare of this forearm pain that I've had.   During this study, I'm supposed to stay on a stable amount of my current medications.

I'll call my neurologist's office today, I think.  Last night while making dinner I dropped a hot spatula which got oil on the front of my fairly new shirt, then dropped the lid of a cherry habanero jelly jar face down on the floor a short while later.  My roommate told me to go sit down; I was dangerous in the kitchen, lol.

I had a horrible time last night; took my bedtime Tegretol and diazepam early, took a whole Ambien (usually cut them in half), and still had a really hard time getting to sleep.

Yes, the grief of losing Fluffy has taken a toll on me.  I've been getting plenty of sleep, but seldom feel rested.  

On a happier note, I had a wonderful dream last night in which I was looking out a window at Fluffy and other cats playing outdoors.  There was a big old comfy leather couch they could rest on, and it's back cover was also loose so they could climb up inside the couch to snuggle down and avoid the elements.  I saw Fluffy climb big tree, and he stood on a branch smiling a cat smile at me.  I woke up smiling.

Kathy

[addicted2harleys]

I was thinking the same thing as Alex...about the stress and grief.  How long have you been on the Lyrica and what dose?  Maybe it needs to be increased...or possibly changed?

Addi

[HVAC]

Sometimes I have to take a Lyrica and half an Oxy. Losing Fluffy could be part of it. You have been under a lot of stress and grief can manifest as pain.

Alex

[Jade59]

Hi Kathy,

Of course I don't know your whole story, but have you been dx'd with Carpel Tunnel?  The pain you describe in your hand and arm sound identical to my problem and mine is due to Carpel Tunnel.  

I've not been dx'd with MS, but gosh, I'm sure wondering.  Feel so much like everyone describes.

[Sarahsmom46]

You're taking Lyrica nd Cymbalta?  I'd think that between the both of them that the pain would be well under control unless the pain is not being caused by the central nervous system.  Then again, you might be on the placebo at this point.  Kathy, your symptoms are always interesting.

[Fluffysmom]

My neurologist puts in my chart notes that I'm negative for spasticity.  I'll discuss this with him more during my next visit, since it's getting worse.  He's noted abnormality in rapid alternating movements and dysrhythmic rapid alternating movements as well as reduced arm swing on right.

A lot of stuff I want to do takes both arms, doggone it.  I'm right-handed; I could try doing more with my left.  Just not anything involving chopping or cutting, lol.  

After a certain point in this study, I'll be getting the duloxetine whether or not I started on the placebo; maybe it will help at some point, or my current meds can me adjusted.

Shoot, the small amount of typing I've done today has my right hand wanting to curl up in a ball and my bicep burning a little; curious and curiouser...

[jensequitur]

Are you sure it's not spasticity?  The kind of pain I get from spasticity is so much more exaggerated than the pain I get from just a sore muscle.

If the nerve pain isn't being touched by the stuff you're already taking, then it sounds like you're stuck!

Maybe you can try using the other arm... (this sounds like something my neurologist would say!)