Muscle wasting and weakness without pain in right hand

[letspretend]

I have been to over 5 doctors to find out what has caused extreme muscle atrophy of my right hand. It affects my forefinger and little finger.  I have no grip.  And I have no pain. I have had 3 MRI's: Brain, Neck, and wrist. I've had 4 EMG nerve conduction tests. Other than a little arthritis in my shoulder, inconclusive. I can't straighten my forefinger, nor move it back and forth. I can't even turn the key to my car on. This started last year. I am 49 years old, and have always been in good health.  

[ColdGlueGun]

I have been having similar problems. Severe muscle atrophy in my left hand over the last 6 months. I haven't noticed anything in the right hand yet though it may just be because the comparison is obvious. I have no pain. I have had 3 MRI's. 4 EMG's and now they think that I may have some sort of arthritis in my neck/shoulder region and they want to do a spinal tap to confirm. They say that steroids could reverse this. I think i have the same thing as you guys. I am kinda worried. I am an 18 yo male. Any suggestions, as to what it is or what ultimately needs to be done? Thanks.

[ejbtos]

It sounds to me like you have thoracic outlet syndrome. TOS as its known is when the cervical rip compresses the nerves in your arm causing numbness of the pinky and fore finger. It also causes wasting of the muscle in the tricep and hand. I had TOS at 16 and they did not diagnose it until i was 21. I could not pick any thing up with my right hand over 5 pounds and could not turn a key. I am now 35 and i can turn a key however since it took them so long to diagnose this problem I have not been able to fix the wasting in my hand and forearm. I have had several emg's since the surgery in1997 and they cannot find any compression in the nerve. So the surgery was moderately successful. So now the problem is no longer the nerves but the muscles that are dead. I am now going to try HGH and steroids to see if i can stimulate the muscles. If you have these symptoms get them taken care of asap. NO mri or x ray will show this cervical rip pressing on the nerves. See Thorasic surgeon asap or you will end up like me and trust me you don't want that.

[jwils218]

Just wondering about an update on the steroids.  Did anything work?

[Dani221]

My patner who is 41 has a severe left hand muscle atrophy (claw hand), affecting the whole hand rather than just individual fingers. It started as muscle wastage between the thumb and forefinger before spreading. It deteriorated over the period of 6 months to the point where he can barely use his hand. No pain. MRI test did not show anything, EMG test was inconclusive. Now he is called in for some blood tests. Has anyone got any information on associated blood test? Or a similar experience to share knowlege on?

[jetskimama]

I've gotten the same symtoms,  I had been to about 9 doctors in all, had MRI's EMG up the gazzoo, X-rays you name it.  I started having weakness in my left hand and it progressed so that my wrist just hung and I couldn't use my left hand.  Finally after about 9 months of the doctors sending me hear and there they decided to do exploritory surgery because it was getting so bad.  They cut me open in my upper forearm,  they found my muscle was laying across my motorskills nerve causing and hour glass and cutting the communication off to my hand.  I have since gained use of my hand and wrist after almost a year of hand therapy.  

[jwils218]

I too have had this issue due to a benign tumor compressing my C7 nerve.  Is your hand now fully functional?  Is it the same as your right hand/back to normal?  I am a 19 year old musician and I would like to continue playing.  The tumor has been removed.