janeowit's Journal: I wish I had a warranty

I never realized that the human body would fall apart so early in life.

Just add one more thing to my pile of health potatoes (I don't like to call them problems). I think I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand. About a year ago, my hand started going numb when I read, but I just assumed that I read at an odd angle. Then in November it started happening more often, especially when I drove. I asked my mom about it, and she said it was just something that happened when you aged. I sort of believed her, but was confused about the asymmetrical aspect of it.

For the the last three weeks I've been waking up several times during the night because my hand is numb. Usually if I shake it out, it feels better and I can and turn over and go back to sleep. Last week the hand started going numb during the day, and required regular shaking. Combine that with regular wrist aching, and you get one frustrating "part of aging". So I googled my symptoms.

I think I have carpal tunnel. In one wrist.
Wah, wah, wah, somebody better call the wahmbulance.

Maybe not CTS

[johndiii]

I had a similar problem a few years back. It was not CTS, but rather an inflammation of the nerve that runs through the elbow joint. It was caused by how I rested my arm on my desk when using the mouse. Using a foam pad under the elbow helped a lot. It comes back every once in a while, but I know what to do.

Re:

[TechnoLust]

Also, a friend of mine thought she had carpal tunnel but it turned out it was the way she was sleeping. She'd curl her arms up so her hands were under her jaw and it was putting stress on her wrists. I mentioned this because you said it often happens when you sleep.

Re:

[janeowit]

It's my left hand. And I'm right handed. Plus I usually use a laptop, so I use a touch pad with my right hand. And as I sit here in my usually typing pose, my elbow isn't resting on anything; it is at a gentle bend. I was going to try a wrist brace to see if that helped, especially at night. That's when it is worse.

I'm not saying it isn't not CTS, because I do not diagnose based on the internet. But if the inflamed nerve is in another joint, then when does my wrist have both sharp and dull pains? Other than

Neurologist

[bettiwettiwoo]

Your symptoms don't seem like a normal part of aging. I don't necessarily think it's CTS either. I really think that you should see a neurologist.

Re:

[janeowit]

Coincidentally, I have an appointment with my neurologist in 7 hours, but I wasn't going to bring it up because I don't want to get him off task. He's easily distracted as it is, and I don't want to give him more things to think about.

Re:

[bettiwettiwoo]

Obviously, I don't know your neurologist and I don't know why you're going to see him now, but let me suggest that at the beginning of the consultation to you tell him that you got two things you want his opion on. Then tell him: And this is the first one, A, [fill in whatever that is]. And after you have discussed A at length, say: and then I need your opinion on B (B being your wrist problems.). And then discuss that at length. Just be firm. Calm but firm. Interrupt if need be.

Parenthetically, I wonder no

I know what you mean

[Engineer-Poet]

Because my back is taking an odd kink to the right (it may be from reaching out with my right arm for the mouse all day, but I can't work well enough with my left hand to try to reverse it that way).

I had tendonitis in my left arm a few years ago. It was strange; the huge tendon sheath made all the finger movements visible in my forearm! I used a wrist brace for a while and a different chair for the computer, and it went away.