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my right hand (and to a lesser extent, my left) are going ...
Sent to Health Experts May 25 02:47 PM

my right hand (and to a lesser extent, my left) are going numb and staying numb for longer and longer periods of time. Why might htis happen?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $9
Info Request
May 25 2:49 PM (1 minute and 48 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
What kind of job do you do? Do you type or sew or have a job or hobby with repetetive motion? Do you sleep with your hands curled up?
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Judy -- Nurse -- 100% Positive Feedback on 870 Health Accepts
RN in ICU for 35 years
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May 25 3:00 PM (10 minutes and 44 seconds later)
         
Reply to Judy's Post: Actually, I'm a writer (I noticed my error when I said my right hand,and to a lesser extent, my left, ARE numb - it should have been hands ARE or my right hand IS!) so yes, I'm on the computer a lot. I also sleep with my hands over my head or beneath me, so I frequently awaken with a numb hand. What's different (is it age?) now that I'm 49 is that at this point, the morning numbness is hanging around until the afternoon and evening. Weird!

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on May 25 2006 at 3:04 PM
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 25 3:17 PM (17 minutes and 32 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
It's not so much age related as time related. If you've been doing this for a number of years, the nerve along the palm side of the wrist has been getting pinched and it's finally decided to speak up! This is called carpal tunnel syndrome. What you can do that is easy and cheap is to use wrist splints at night. You can get them for $15-20.00 each at any drug store or surgical supply store. They'll make a HUGE difference. You might want to just get the one for the wrist that is the worst and see if it helps. the onlyu other real option for carpal tunnel is surgery and that can have bad outcomes, I've seen a few people with tendon damage after the surgery. If the splints don't seem to help I would get evaluated by either a hand specialist or a neurologist for an nerve conduction study to see the extent of the damage, and to plan a more appropriate course of treatment. On a personal note, I wear mine and have seen a tremendous difference. I could not even fasten straps or tie shoes before I started wearing them. I think I must have developed a habit of better sleeping posture, since now I forget occasionally and my hands are still pretty good.


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Judy -- Nurse -- 100% Positive Feedback on 870 Health Accepts
RN in ICU for 35 years
Reply
May 25 3:33 PM (15 minutes and 25 seconds later)
         
Reply to Judy's Post: Before I hit the 'accept' button - which I will be pleased to do since you've been so helpful - I should mention that I have slight neuropathy in my feet. It manifests in the way I feel off-balance when going down stairs. My assumption is that my hands have nothing to do with my feet, but could the situation with my hands be related? (In any event, I will try the splints, since I think carpal tunnel is most likely the problem.) Thanks in advance for your help - this experience has been much better than I'd hoped for. If I can figure out where to rate you, I'll give you 5 stars!
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 25 3:40 PM (6 minutes and 58 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Placing feedback is what helps with the rating, but the important thing to me is that you get better! What is the neuropathy in your feet from? And perhaps I should also have mentioned that the position of your neck when you type may be a contributing factor in that you could be causing pressure on a nerve in the cervical area. I still think that carpal tunnel makes sense in your situation and if the splint/s doesn't/don't help, then I would definitely see a neurologist. Good luck, do you have any publications?


Thanks so much for allowing me to help! Please click the "ACCEPT" button if you found this useful.
Placing *FEEDBACK* really helps with RATINGS and EARNINGS!
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Judy -- Nurse -- 100% Positive Feedback on 870 Health Accepts
RN in ICU for 35 years
Reply
May 25 3:49 PM (9 minutes and 33 seconds later)
         
Reply to Judy's Post: I'm currently writing my 29th book (if you're interested, you can go to www.alaneferguson.com to see what I do!)and have written just about every kind of children's book. My newest mystery series is for Penguin Putnam, and they are forensic in nature (this series is so adult they call it a cross-over series. Oh, by adult, I don't mean sex and swearing, I mean adult in literary style and graphic autopsy content.) I've won and Edgar Allan Poe award for my first YA (young adult) novel, and I'm hoping this new series does well. My newest book, THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER, just came out. You can find it on Amazon!


My neck gives me problems (I'm falling apart!)so that could be yet another source of 'pinching'. I will follow your advice, and see if the first step (the splints) help. If I come back to this service, can I request you? I will hit the 'accept' button and then go and post a rave! My personal email is aferguson@alaneferguson.com. Best of luck to YOU!
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 25 3:57 PM (7 minutes and 51 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Sure, you can definitely request me, but sometimes other experts pick up the question first as it's not actually put on reserve for us. I'll check out your books-pleasure doing business with you!


Edited by judi1 on May 25 2006 at 3:57 PM

Thanks so much for allowing me to help! Please click the "ACCEPT" button if you found this useful.
Placing *FEEDBACK* really helps with RATINGS and EARNINGS!
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Judy -- Nurse -- 100% Positive Feedback on 870 Health Accepts
RN in ICU for 35 years
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