Neck,brachial,radial

[ChrisPL]

I have significant muscle loss between my thumb and pointing finger, on my left hand, and can not spread the fingers open and have little control over my little finger.I can make a fist without any problem.I have numbness in my little and ring fingers on my left hand off and on.  I have discovered that when i sleep on my right side,I have noticable numbness in my left hand. When i sleep on my left side I have numbness in the same area on my right hand, but have no loss of motor control with the right hand.I was rear-ended by a car, at low speed, on 8/10/96.First noticed the problems with my left hand 6 months later.Have had MRI's, EMG's- none of which show any problems.Had surgery on left wrist 12/97 which didn't help the problem at all.When i go to the chiropractor, i get total relief and have no numbness in my hand for a limited time- usually until i sleep on my side.
  To me, this problem seems to be originating in my neck. What is your opinion and do you have any suggestions as to a test which could diagnose the problem and could lead to curing it?Do you think this originates from my neck and think there might be any permanent solution?  I am 41 year old male who played baseball and basketball from the time I was 5 until 31years.  I currently play golf.

[berniejg]

A related discussion, ulna nerves was started.

[maff]

HI I AM A 41 YEAR OLD MALE WHO TRIPPED THROUGH A GLASS DOOR IN OCT 99.  I SEVERED MY ULNA NERV ON MY RIGHT HAND AS WELL AS CUTTING THROUGH 3 LOTS OF TENDONS.
I HAVE HAD THREE OPERATIONS SINCE ..A GRAFT WAS TAKEN FROM MY LEFT ANKLE TO REMOVE THE NERVES AND REPLACE THEM INTO MY HAND..THIS HAS GIVEN ME LIMITED FEELING IN MY HAND BUT OBVIOUSLY
TAKEN THE FEELING AWAY IN MY FOOT. I HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD A TENDON TAKEN OUT OF MY LEG/ANKLE WHICH HAS BEEN IMPLANTED BETWEEN MY THUMB AND POINTING FINGER. I HAVE MUSCLE WASTEAGE IN THIS AREA..
THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VERY PAINFULL..THE COLD ALSO MAKES THINKS WORSE..SILLY THINGS LIKE  I WILL GET A BOTTLE OF MILK OUT OF THE FRIDGE WITH MY LEFT HAND BECAUSE THE "COLD" PAIN WOULD BE TO GREAT WITH MY RIGHT.
  OVER ALL I AM PLEASED WITH THE SURGICAL RESULTS.. LIKE MOST OF US I JUST WISH I COULD TURN THE CLOCK BACK PRIOR TO OCT 99..I SHOULD HAVE USED ANOTHER DOOR..HA..HA  CHEERS MAFF

[maff]

HI I AM A 41 YEAR OLD MALE WHO TRIPPED THROUGH A GLASS DOOR IN OCT 99.  I SEVERED MY ULNA NERV ON MY RIGHT HAND AS WELL AS CUTTING THROUGH 3 LOTS OF TENDONS.
I HAVE HAD THREE OPERATIONS SINCE ..A GRAFT WAS TAKEN FROM MY LEFT ANKLE TO REMOVE THE NERVES AND REPLACE THEM INTO MY HAND..THIS HAS GIVEN ME LIMITED FEELING IN MY HAND BUT OBVIOUSLY
TAKEN THE FEELING AWAY IN MY FOOT. I HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD A TENDON TAKEN OUT OF MY LEG/ANKLE WHICH HAS BEEN IMPLANTED BETWEEN MY THUMB AND POINTING FINGER. I HAVE MUSCLE WASTEAGE IN THIS AREA..
THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VERY PAINFULL..THE COLD ALSO MAKES THINKS WORSE..SILLY THINGS LIKE  I WILL GET A BOTTLE OF MILK OUT OF THE FRIDGE WITH MY LEFT HAND BECAUSE THE "COLD" PAIN WOULD BE TO GREAT WITH MY RIGHT.
  OVER ALL I AM PLEASED WITH THE SURGICAL RESULTS.. LIKE MOST OF US I JUST WISH I COULD TURN THE CLOCK BACK PRIOR TO OCT 99..I SHOULD HAVE USED ANOTHER DOOR..HA..HA  CHEERS MAFF

[maff]

HI I AM A 41 YEAR OLD MALE WHO TRIPPED THROUGH A GLASS DOOR IN OCT 99.  I SEVERED MY ULNA NERV ON MY RIGHT HAND AS WELL AS CUTTING THROUGH 3 LOTS OF TENDONS.
I HAVE HAD THREE OPERATIONS SINCE ..A GRAFT WAS TAKEN FROM MY LEFT ANKLE TO REMOVE THE NERVES AND REPLACE THEM INTO MY HAND..THIS HAS GIVEN ME LIMITED FEELING IN MY HAND BUT OBVIOUSLY
TAKEN THE FEELING AWAY IN MY FOOT. I HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD A TENDON TAKEN OUT OF MY LEG/ANKLE WHICH HAS BEEN IMPLANTED BETWEEN MY THUMB AND POINTING FINGER. I HAVE MUSCLE WASTEAGE IN THIS AREA..
THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VERY PAINFULL..THE COLD ALSO MAKES THINKS WORSE..SILLY THINGS LIKE  I WILL GET A BOTTLE OF MILK OUT OF THE FRIDGE WITH MY LEFT HAND BECAUSE THE "COLD" PAIN WOULD BE TO GREAT WITH MY RIGHT.
  OVER ALL I AM PLEASED WITH THE SURGICAL RESULTS.. LIKE MOST OF US I JUST WISH I COULD TURN THE CLOCK BACK PRIOR TO OCT 99..I SHOULD HAVE USED ANOTHER DOOR..HA..HA  CHEERS MAFF

[snowgoer]

Hi, I also had surgery for a torn rotator cuff with impingement syndrome. VERY painful surgery and symptoms never went away. It wasn't until a few months went by that atrophy was noted in my muscles and an EMG confirmed nerve damage to the suprascapular nerve. (I wasn't able to externally rotate arm at all). Now it is over 2 1/2 years later and I still am in pain. Please make sure if there is any weakness present, that an EMG be done to ensure your nerves are intact. This will also help diagnose any involvement of your cervical spine which could also cause the symptoms that you are experiencing. Was an MRI of your neck done during the workup? If not, then I would really push for one. The shoulder and neck are so interrelated that symptoms can be from either cause. In my case, my shoulder AND neck were to blame, but the neck wasn't discovered until long after my shoulder failed to heal. So now with continued problems, who the heck knows which is the real culprit? Hope this helps with your diagnosis...

[BOBB]

to whokm it may concenrn
i am a 22 year old rough carpenter. for the past five years i have been building custum homes. in aug. of 2000 i was injured lifting heavy materials. imediatly after lifting materials i was not able to lift right shoulder. weeks went by with pain pills and pt. the same pain continued. i had surgury 4 months later for an impinged shoulder. the surgury was very painfull. 3 months later i have increased shoulder, neck , chest,finger numbness, hand aches and constant lower headache pain. i am curantly taking vioxx and ibprofen. no pain pills are recamended from my doctor at this time. i suffer from sever pain and lack of sleep. i am emotiomnaly and phisicaly in pain at all times. i have a tens unit to help with pain, but only helps while in use. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY INFO

[BILLYJOHN]

hi i am a 53 year old man and have bein ill for 11 years ,i was diagnosed with peripherial neuropathy ,very quickly  an then they found  i had croyglobulinemia ,then in tests i had positive results of amyiloid , so i'v being passed from consultant to consultant each one blameing one illness for the other.And still not found the primary one they just seam to treat the symptoms which i have a lots of i all so have COAD that doesent help because when i'm ill my chest makes everythink worse and takes priority so i get sent home from hospitial and they  only realy treat my chest problem they dont seam to think that the severe and constant pain i have in my hands and feet are a problem . I take around 35 tablets a day without to many side affects apart from the steriod 's that has made my skin so thin  steriods have not made me gain weight like most people they seam to be my best treatment my body works well on them .Im am ill most days but have to get on with my life im married  and have children i am not able to work and havent for 11 years , but now for the last 5 weeks i have had severe headaches  allmost constant i realy carnt stand them any longer xrays showed that i now have artritis in my neck but my neck is one of the only places in my body that doesnt have a pain so i carnt understand it this is why im writing this . The headaches are the last straw i feel like taking an overdose because of the pain no tablets help even my morphine based tablets THAT I HAVE FOR VERY PAINFULL DAYS any surgestions would be very gratfull thank you.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

A formal neurological examination documenting the extent of sensory and motor loss in your Lt hand is very important to help localize where the lesion could be (which nerves are involved and how high the lesion is). Because I have not personally examined you, it would be impossible to make an accurate diagnosis as there could be undetected weakness and/or sensory changes that would only come out when the muscle is formally examined, changing the localization of the problem.

However, if we just go on the basis of your reported symptoms, it sounds like they are predominantly coming from a compression of the ulnar nerve. If the problem were coming from the neck, I would expect more weakness of the muscles in your hand as well as an extension of the numbness in to the arm. The problem could be coming from the region of the elbow, where the ulnar nerve can be compressed with flexion due to thickened ligaments, fibrous tissue or even a ganglion cyst. (do you bend the arm on top when you sleep on your side at night?) With symptoms in both hands, you could have what's called cubital tunnel syndrome which is analagous to carpal tunnel syndrome in that the nerve becomes compressed within a tight space. There is also a phenomenon known as tardy ulnar palsy, which is an ulnar nerve problem from prior injury (old car accident?) that deforms the elbow. FInally, a controversial disease called thoracic outlet syndrome which is a brachial plexus injury (group of nerves that come from the spinal cord to your arm) could be causing your symptoms due to an enlarged rib/vertebral process/muscle.

These diagnoses require a very careful neuro exam and specialized EMG with attention to the ulnar nerve. I would recommend a neuromuscular specialist at a major academic or clinical center. Getting the right diagnosis is essential as some of these problems cna be corrected with surgery. Good luck.