hand clawing and right side muscle weakness

[jc80]

26 yo female.  For the last 3 years I've had progressive hand clawing in my right hand.  I am right handed.  It started in my pinky and has included my ring finger now.  I have decreased muscle mass on my hand,wrist,forearm.  Tried several dr's, many don't know or don't believe me.  Most recent dr noticed decreased strength in my right ankle as well, I cannont flex my right foot for very long or very high.  Other problems maybe related or not: chronic constipation, decreased feeling but not numbness in right finger tips and toes.  Sometimes I feel "cold splashes of water" like a spray bottle of cold water on my legs. Sometimes on front of thighs, sometimes on back. Not pins and needles, but just brief feeling of cold water spray. I have a slight right hand tremor.  I also get leg muscle pain sometimes, and sometimes I have leg problems that are not painful.  I describe that as "walking through water" where its exerting and difficult to walk foward, usually lasts entire day when it happens.

Neurologist says I have hyper-reflexes.  My most troubling problem is the hand weakness and clawing and tremor as I am right handed and interferes w/ my job. He ordered MRI of head and neck that was normal.  EMG was normal.  No family hx of neuro probs except great-grandmother had parkinsons at old age and both her brothers had it at a young age.  Great aunt has MS.  Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

[PlateletGal]

Have you been tested for lyme disease ? Untreated lyme disease can also cause the symptoms you described... including the hand clawing.

[jc80]

Twice, negative each time.

[haileyone]

Have doctors ruled out Parkinson's disease?

[meebsmom]

Have a thought...I had clawing of my left hand which began with a popping middle finger and some noticeable swelling. A doctor in an acute care facility diagnosed it as Dupuytren's Contraction. He gave me an injection mix of lidocaine and steroid. He also said with everyone it was different on the amount of time the injection would give relief before needing another one. He also said that surgery would inevitably be needed to loosen the fingers but that it only lasted about 5 years before being needed again. The shot allowed my hand to get back to its normal posture and it lasted about 7 weeks before the middle finger started popping and swelling the left hand again. I did not have same sided weakness though and I wish you the best.

[vega1318]

Would have your doctor check you out for focal dystonias - there're blood tests (they're genetic) that can be done to rule out that possibility.   An EEG may also be helpful if not done yet.  

Try going to a movement disorders Neurology specialist.

[jc80]

nobody has mentioned parkinson's to me.  my tremor is minor, it only interferes w/ some fine motor tasks.  my biggest concern is the clawing.  can that occur w/ parkinson's? what is dupuytron's contraction? are there any symptoms aside from clawing that go along with it.  

thanks for the suggestions, i'll bring them up next time i see the neuro doc