cubital tunnel syndrome and such things

[musik]

It's almost impossible to see a doctor these days. My ordinary clinic is closed due to Corona.

Obviously, I have got tendinitis in my arms and hands. In the morning or after a little rest I can't move my fingers at all to make a fist for a couple of hours. The hands are like frying pans.

I have overworked my arms when I removed wallpaper and glue with a knife from a troublesome wall and did lots of painting as well, which I'm not used to.

I have lots of sore points along the tendons everywhere on my fingers, hands, arms and elbows. At first I thought some of them were muscle knots so I tried some massage with a massage ball on the stiff muscles. The muscle are softer now, providing I don't use them. Then they get stiff again at once. But the tendons are painful no matter what. I wake up when putting my arm onto the bed in certain positions.

I've read it's important to rest the tendons if they're overworked. I see that. They often recommend to wear a splint on the affected trigger finger/s if you also have those, due to this. I have at least both my ring fingers, and it seems the pinky fingers too. They get trapped in an upright and/or in a closed position. I have never experienced that before.

I can't hold anything, a cup or whatever. It's absolutely awful with the pain and fumblingness.
Daily long attacks with cold hands, arms and feet, extremely tired. Maybe a part of the inflammation process?

My right hand feels heavy when I sit, because I also got pain in my right shoulder from the painting of the high walls (I had an inflammation there 30 years ago (tennis), feels the same). When I lie down on my stomach the pressure diminishes from the shoulder immediately and the hand feels better. There's no doctor to see anywhere now, I've checked. I had just 1 cortisone steroid shot 30 years ago, which helped immediately then until now. So I tried some Arnica gel which felt nice.

QUESTION:
Should I rest the tendons completely, 100%, don't even try to bend the fingers once a day - or should I try to use the hands and arms as normal as possible except heavy liftning or intense overuse of any kind?
What are the guidelines in UK?

[crowey]

... suggest you keep moving/using as much as possible without overdoing things. Topical NSAIDs may help. Aren’t they doing phone consultations in the UK? That’s about 80% of what we are doing here in Oz. Do you have a Medicare card because then I can bill you?

[Clayton Wood]

So let's get this right.

You've been locked in on your own for a month, nothing to do, and your phone is permanently connected to the internet.
Are you sure it's not RSI?

I've got a friend reporting similar.... 

[mrcoke]

This the UK NHS advice for tendonitis.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/tendonitis/

We are assuming you have self diagnosed correctly. This is probable; doctors often ask a patient what they think is wrong because research has shown that two thirds of self diagnosis are correct.

Personally, I believe if your body is in pain then it is telling you there is damage and you should rest and let nature take its course. Posture is important though and leaving damaged tissues in the wrong position can aggravate a condition, for example while asleep, I sometimes wear a special boot for plantar fasciitis while sleeping, otherwise, when I've gat it bad, I can hardly stand on my foot in the morning.

P.S. Warning: I was a chemical engineer not a doctor!

[musik]

Apr 23, 2020 12:32:16 GMT Clayton Wood said:

So let's get this right.

You've been locked in on your own for a month, nothing to do, and your phone is permanently connected to the internet.
Are you sure it's not RSI?

I've got a friend reporting similar.... 

RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) seems to include muscles a lot. Otherwise similar to tendonitis.

[Clayton Wood]

Apr 23, 2020 14:13:31 GMT musik said:

Apr 23, 2020 12:32:16 GMT Clayton Wood said:

So let's get this right.

You've been locked in on your own for a month, nothing to do, and your phone is permanently connected to the internet.
Are you sure it's not RSI?

I've got a friend reporting similar.... 

RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) seems to include muscles a lot. Otherwise similar to tendonitis.

I can never work out if you've double got me or if you're too far north for a sense of humour to survive 

Baked beans, pot noodle, spam :/ CW

[crowey]

..... see there are loads of doctors on here

[crowey]

.... just what the NHS is misusing

[zerps]

Use cbd oil for any pain relief 👍

[musik]

Apr 23, 2020 12:48:16 GMT mrcoke said:

This the UK NHS advice for tendonitis.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/tendonitis/

We are assuming you have self diagnosed correctly. This is probable; doctors often ask a patient what they think is wrong because research has shown that two thirds of self diagnosis are correct.

Personally, I believe if your body is in pain then it is telling you there is damage and you should rest and let nature take its course. Posture is important though and leaving damaged tissues in the wrong position can aggravate a condition, for example while asleep, I sometimes wear a special boot for plantar fasciitis while sleeping, otherwise, when I've gat it bad, I can hardly stand on my foot in the morning.

P.S. Warning: I was a chemical engineer not a doctor!

Thanks! Good luck w that plantar fascitis of yours. I had it once, but a mild version that went away, couldn't stand on both feet comfortably. Changing of shoes and stretching the toes did the trick. Got it after a very long rainy walk with a mate in hard terrain just a week after rolling and carrying lot of groceries home to my mother who has back pain problems.

My left hand still feels, after a week, as if it's not up to normal (weird sleepy feeling) after being exposed to cold weather. You know, if you've been out in winter without gloves. That feeling. Asleep, that comes and goes.
Now I'm resting that hand in the sunlight and it's like the deep cramp in that hand moves away finally hopefully, and you can see the spasms in the skin. I have a 20 years old frostbite on my hands and forearms as well. But it has not really bothered me again until now then. Think it must be the sweat in my gloves that got the hands cold, since the window was wide open at late evening when I painted. Enough for me.

Read the tendonitis link of course and it sure is important to do things in the right order. Holding hands on a pillow at night is good, I do it on and off, until the fingers are freezing.

Hmm. This happened like 6 days ago, and even if ice should be tried the 2-3 days it says apparently, I might try it now? On elbow, forearm points and shoulder (not appropriate on my hands).

When I got tennis elbow at work 15 years ago or something I got a warm padded splint from the physiotherapist so I couldn't move the arm too much. But month after month I got more and more pain of that warmth. So I took it off after 5 months or so, treated it with ice 2-3 days and it went away totally.

[crowey]

.... good luck. Hope you make a fabulous recovery

[musik]

Apr 23, 2020 14:24:02 GMT Clayton Wood said:

Apr 23, 2020 14:13:31 GMT musik said:

RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) seems to include muscles a lot. Otherwise similar to tendonitis.

I can never work out if you've double got me or if you're too far north for a sense of humour to survive 

Baked beans, pot noodle, spam :/ CW

double 😉

pasta rigatoni, milk, chasing the sun :/musik

ps. I should write new lyrics to Here comes the sun, called "Where went the sun?" Maybe I could unpack my old IR-lamp instead?! .ds

[Dutchpeter]

Turmeric capsules did the business for my knee.

[raythesailor]

Apr 23, 2020 11:26:05 GMT musik said:

It's almost impossible to see a doctor these days. My ordinary clinic is closed due to Corona.

Obviously, I have got tendonitis in my arms and hands. In the morning or after a little rest I can't move my fingers at all to make a fist for a couple of hours. The hands are like frying pans.

I have overworked my arms when I removed wallpaper and glue with a knife from a troublesome wall and did lots of painting as well, which I'm not used to.

I have lots of sore points along the tendons everywhere on my fingers, hands, arms and elbows. At first I thought some of them were muscle knots so I tried some massage with a massage ball on the stiff muscles. The muscle are softer now, providing I don't use them. Then they get stiff again at once. But the tendons are painful no matter what. I wake up when putting my arm onto the bed in certain positions.

I've read it's important to rest the tendons if they're overworked. I see that. They often recommend to wear a splint on the affected trigger finger/s if you also have those, due to this. I have at least both my ring fingers, and it seems the pinky fingers too. They get trapped in an upright and/or in a closed position. I have never experienced that before.

I can't hold anything, a cup or whatever. It's absolutely awful with the pain and fumblingness.
Daily long attacks with cold hands, arms and feet, extremely tired. Maybe a part of the inflammation process?

My right hand feels heavy when I sit, because I also got pain in my right shoulder from the painting of the high walls (I had an inflammation there 30 years ago (tennis), feels the same). When I lie down on my stomach the pressure diminishes from the shoulder immediately and the hand feels better. There's no doctor to see anywhere now, I've checked. I had just 1 cortisone steroid shot 30 years ago, which helped immediately then until now. So I tried some Arnica gel which felt nice.

QUESTION:
Should I rest the tendons completely, 100%, don't even try to bend the fingers once a day - or should I try to use the hands and arms as normal as possible except heavy liftning or intense overuse of any kind?
What are the guidelines in UK?

Firstly I must say that it is unwise to self diagnose or take advice from strangers like me.

I was having very similar symptoms to what you are describing and went to see my GP. He diagnosed a complaint I had never heard of called PMR. He put me on a course of steroid tablets. The initial dose was 30mg and the symptoms literally dissapeard over night. I am now taking a gradually reducing course, and it could take 12 months or more to clear up.

There is plenty of info on the Internet. I am in no way suggesting that this is what you are suffering from, but i would read up and go and see a doctor if the symptoms continue.

 

[stillgame4it]

Apr 23, 2020 12:32:16 GMT Clayton Wood said:

So let's get this right.

You've been locked in on your own for a month, nothing to do, and your phone is permanently connected to the internet.
Are you sure it's not RSI?

I've got a friend reporting similar.... 

"...a friend..." ?
OK we believe you 😀

[RedandWhite90]

Important to also identify where the origin of the pain is.

For example I wake up most mornings with the outside of my arms and fingers numb and it can be quite painful when trying to move them. However whilst the pain is in my hands the trigger point is actually from my ulnar/elbow joint.

Tendonitis needs rest and lots of it.

[musik]

Apr 24, 2020 12:15:00 GMT raythesailor said:

Apr 23, 2020 11:26:05 GMT musik said:

It's almost impossible to see a doctor these days. My ordinary clinic is closed due to Corona.

Obviously, I have got tendonitis in my arms and hands. In the morning or after a little rest I can't move my fingers at all to make a fist for a couple of hours. The hands are like frying pans.

I have overworked my arms when I removed wallpaper and glue with a knife from a troublesome wall and did lots of painting as well, which I'm not used to.

I have lots of sore points along the tendons everywhere on my fingers, hands, arms and elbows. At first I thought some of them were muscle knots so I tried some massage with a massage ball on the stiff muscles. The muscle are softer now, providing I don't use them. Then they get stiff again at once. But the tendons are painful no matter what. I wake up when putting my arm onto the bed in certain positions.

I've read it's important to rest the tendons if they're overworked. I see that. They often recommend to wear a splint on the affected trigger finger/s if you also have those, due to this. I have at least both my ring fingers, and it seems the pinky fingers too. They get trapped in an upright and/or in a closed position. I have never experienced that before.

I can't hold anything, a cup or whatever. It's absolutely awful with the pain and fumblingness.
Daily long attacks with cold hands, arms and feet, extremely tired. Maybe a part of the inflammation process?

My right hand feels heavy when I sit, because I also got pain in my right shoulder from the painting of the high walls (I had an inflammation there 30 years ago (tennis), feels the same). When I lie down on my stomach the pressure diminishes from the shoulder immediately and the hand feels better. There's no doctor to see anywhere now, I've checked. I had just 1 cortisone steroid shot 30 years ago, which helped immediately then until now. So I tried some Arnica gel which felt nice.

QUESTION:
Should I rest the tendons completely, 100%, don't even try to bend the fingers once a day - or should I try to use the hands and arms as normal as possible except heavy liftning or intense overuse of any kind?
What are the guidelines in UK?

Firstly I must say that it is unwise to self diagnose or take advice from strangers like me.

I was having very similar symptoms to what you are describing and went to see my GP. He diagnosed a complaint I had never heard of called PMR. He put me on a course of steroid tablets. The initial dose was 30mg and the symptoms literally dissapeard over night. I am now taking a gradually reducing course, and it could take 12 months or more to clear up.

There is plenty of info on the Internet. I am in no way suggesting that this is what you are suffering from, but i would read up and go and see a doctor if the symptoms continue.

I will. Question is who.
Most health care staff here work w corona patients, to manage the pandemic.

Good luck w the PMR, sailor!

[musik]

Apr 24, 2020 18:35:41 GMT RedandWhite90 said:

Important to also identify where the origin of the pain is.

For example I wake up most mornings with the outside of my arms and fingers numb and it can be quite painful when trying to move them. However whilst the pain is in my hands the trigger point is actually from my ulnar/elbow joint.

Tendonitis needs rest and lots of it.

You mean the trigger point is from the ulnar nerve at the elbow level. Too narrow space for the nerve to move there, due to inflammed tendons or possibly an inflammed joint?

I did three exercises for nerve gliding on both sides today: Ulnar, median and radialis nerves. Both sides signaled impingement in all three nerves, which surprised me, I didn't expect radialis to be involved that much. I also did nerve flossing exercises. I got some nerve gliding exercises from the physiotherapist six years ago. It says, stop the exercises if you experience pain or anything unnormal, it should only give a pleasant stretch. In one of these exercises, tingling started as soon as I lifted the arm, even before the exercise started. The other five weren't that aggressive. The ulnar exercise was impossible to perform, I think I've never been able to move my arms like that - holding my point finger and thumb to make a circle to look into, and then turn the elbow upwards and look into that same hole 👌 upside down. No way I can flex the elbow so!! I have never could, neither of them.

I have also tried one exercise of my own, that I told my surgeon about six years ago after the carpal tunnel operation. It's simple. I stand on the floor and raise one arm and hand upwards as high as it goes pointing to the ceiling w the fingers, then bend my body a little bit to the opposite side as the hand is still up in the air - to feel that little pleasant stretch through the side of the arm.
Then the other hand, the other side, same exercise. It felt as an electric explosion in one of the hands yesterday. And afterwards it felt like a normal hand, like the nerve really had been trapped! The positive feeling lasted for hours, but during the night later it came back and the nerve got trapped again obviously.
Another physiotherapist I had once who helped me w nerve impingement in one leg many years ago said it's good to repeat nerve gliding until it doesn't get trapped again, providing it doesn't get worse during the exercises.

I've use a padded thing on my left elbow (originally use is for the knees), to prevent me from bending my left arm too much and when I woke up this morning, the numbness in the ring- and pinky fingers were almost gone. Obviously less pressure on the ulnar nerve. I will continue with that protection therefore and my right wrist protection loose as well, plus one little finger protection.

Rest the tendons is good yes, question is how much. One study I saw said "active rest", meaning bend them fingers several times each day. Another guideline report said use a bandage for two three weeks, don't use the fingers at all. The second guideline protocol was meant for about anybody. But the first study was for pro athletes, but should be applied to anybody, it said.

And last time, when I underwent carpal tunnel surgery, I asked four different specialists to be sure and ended up with different answers.

[mrcoke]

Apr 24, 2020 12:15:00 GMT raythesailor said:

Apr 23, 2020 11:26:05 GMT musik said:

It's almost impossible to see a doctor these days. My ordinary clinic is closed due to Corona.

Obviously, I have got tendonitis in my arms and hands. In the morning or after a little rest I can't move my fingers at all to make a fist for a couple of hours. The hands are like frying pans.

I have overworked my arms when I removed wallpaper and glue with a knife from a troublesome wall and did lots of painting as well, which I'm not used to.

I have lots of sore points along the tendons everywhere on my fingers, hands, arms and elbows. At first I thought some of them were muscle knots so I tried some massage with a massage ball on the stiff muscles. The muscle are softer now, providing I don't use them. Then they get stiff again at once. But the tendons are painful no matter what. I wake up when putting my arm onto the bed in certain positions.

I've read it's important to rest the tendons if they're overworked. I see that. They often recommend to wear a splint on the affected trigger finger/s if you also have those, due to this. I have at least both my ring fingers, and it seems the pinky fingers too. They get trapped in an upright and/or in a closed position. I have never experienced that before.

I can't hold anything, a cup or whatever. It's absolutely awful with the pain and fumblingness.
Daily long attacks with cold hands, arms and feet, extremely tired. Maybe a part of the inflammation process?

My right hand feels heavy when I sit, because I also got pain in my right shoulder from the painting of the high walls (I had an inflammation there 30 years ago (tennis), feels the same). When I lie down on my stomach the pressure diminishes from the shoulder immediately and the hand feels better. There's no doctor to see anywhere now, I've checked. I had just 1 cortisone steroid shot 30 years ago, which helped immediately then until now. So I tried some Arnica gel which felt nice.

QUESTION:
Should I rest the tendons completely, 100%, don't even try to bend the fingers once a day - or should I try to use the hands and arms as normal as possible except heavy liftning or intense overuse of any kind?
What are the guidelines in UK?

Firstly I must say that it is unwise to self diagnose or take advice from strangers like me.

I was having very similar symptoms to what you are describing and went to see my GP. He diagnosed a complaint I had never heard of called PMR. He put me on a course of steroid tablets. The initial dose was 30mg and the symptoms literally dissapeard over night. I am now taking a gradually reducing course, and it could take 12 months or more to clear up.

There is plenty of info on the Internet. I am in no way suggesting that this is what you are suffering from, but i would read up and go and see a doctor if the symptoms continue.

 

I agree. I would also caution that doctors do not always get diagnosis correct.

Many years ago I went to the doctor with chest pains. He gave me a thorough examination and said my heart was OK, my lungs were rubbish and I should stop smoking if I wanted to live to 60, and the cause of my chest pains was inflammation of the valve into my stomach, which was due to stress.

I said I didn't think I was under any stress, and I had cut down a lot on my smoking. "That's it," he said, "the stress is due to reducing your nicotine intake". I asked if he was going to give me anything and he said no, he wasn't going to replace one drug with another.

The chest pains continued, but I worked out what the cause was accidentally. It was too much coffee. One week the secretary was off work on holiday and no one was topping up the percolator. So I made myself a cup of tea when I felt like it, instead of consuming the coffee. By Wednesday the pain went away. I did tests on myself to prove it was coffee by starting and stopping. I've since heard of other people similarly affected by coffee.

PS If you get chest pains, don't assume it's the coffee!!!

[musik]

Apr 26, 2020 23:41:59 GMT mrcoke said:

Apr 24, 2020 12:15:00 GMT raythesailor said:

Firstly I must say that it is unwise to self diagnose or take advice from strangers like me.

I was having very similar symptoms to what you are describing and went to see my GP. He diagnosed a complaint I had never heard of called PMR. He put me on a course of steroid tablets. The initial dose was 30mg and the symptoms literally dissapeard over night. I am now taking a gradually reducing course, and it could take 12 months or more to clear up.

There is plenty of info on the Internet. I am in no way suggesting that this is what you are suffering from, but i would read up and go and see a doctor if the symptoms continue.

 

I agree. I would also caution that doctors do not always get diagnosis correct.

Many years ago I went to the doctor with chest pains. He gave me a thorough examination and said my heart was OK, my lungs were rubbish and I should stop smoking if I wanted to live to 60, and the cause of my chest pains was inflammation of the valve into my stomach, which was due to stress.

I said I didn't think I was under any stress, and I had cut down a lot on my smoking. "That's it," he said, "the stress is due to reducing your nicotine intake". I asked if he was going to give me anything and he said no, he wasn't going to replace one drug with another.

The chest pains continued, but I worked out what the cause was accidentally. It was too much coffee. One week the secretary was off work on holiday and no one was topping up the percolator. So I made myself a cup of tea when I felt like it, instead of consuming the coffee. By Wednesday the pain went away. I did tests on myself to prove it was coffee by starting and stopping. I've since heard of other people similarly affected by coffee.

PS If you get chest pains, don't assume it's the coffee!!!

Was it green tea or white tea?

Both nicotine and coffee are said to give higher blood pressure.

[RedandWhite90]

Apr 26, 2020 23:37:20 GMT musik said:

Apr 24, 2020 18:35:41 GMT RedandWhite90 said:

Important to also identify where the origin of the pain is.

For example I wake up most mornings with the outside of my arms and fingers numb and it can be quite painful when trying to move them. However whilst the pain is in my hands the trigger point is actually from my ulnar/elbow joint.

Tendonitis needs rest and lots of it.

You mean the trigger point is from the ulnar nerve at the elbow level. Too narrow space for the nerve to move there, due to inflammed tendons or possibly an inflammed joint?

I did three exercises for nerve gliding on both sides today: Ulnar, median and radialis nerves. Both sides signaled impingement in all three nerves, which surprised me, I didn't expect radialis to be involved that much. I also did nerve flossing exercises. I got some nerve gliding exercises from the physiotherapist six years ago. It says, stop the exercises if you experience pain or anything unnormal, it should only give a pleasant stretch. In one of these exercises, tingling started as soon as I lifted the arm, even before the exercise started. The other five weren't that aggressive. The ulnar exercise was impossible to perform, I think I've never been able to move my arms like that - holding my point finger and thumb to make a circle to look into, and then turn the elbow upwards and look into that same hole 👌 upside down. No way I can flex the elbow so!! I have never could, neither of them.

I have also tried one exercise of my own, that I told my surgeon about six years ago after the carpal tunnel operation. It's simple. I stand on the floor and raise one arm and hand upwards as high as it goes pointing to the ceiling w the fingers, then bend my body a little bit to the opposite side as the hand is still up in the air - to feel that little pleasant stretch through the side of the arm.
Then the other hand, the other side, same exercise. It felt as an electric explosion in one of the hands yesterday. And afterwards it felt like a normal hand, like the nerve really had been trapped! The positive feeling lasted for hours, but during the night later it came back and the nerve got trapped again obviously.
Another physiotherapist I had once who helped me w nerve impingement in one leg many years ago said it's good to repeat nerve gliding until it doesn't get trapped again, providing it doesn't get worse during the exercises.

I've use a padded thing on my left elbow (originally use is for the knees), to prevent me from bending my left arm too much and when I woke up this morning, the numbness in the ring- and pinky fingers were almost gone. Obviously less pressure on the ulnar nerve. I will continue with that protection therefore and my right wrist protection loose as well, plus one little finger protection.

Rest the tendons is good yes, question is how much. One study I saw said "active rest", meaning bend them fingers several times each day. Another guideline report said use a bandage for two three weeks, don't use the fingers at all. The second guideline protocol was meant for about anybody. But the first study was for pro athletes, but should be applied to anybody, it said.

And last time, when I underwent carpal tunnel surgery, I asked four different specialists to be sure and ended up with different answers.

This is fantastic thank you.

I have resorted to wrapping a thick towel around my elbow to keep it straight in the past.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2020 14:33:21 GMT crowey said:

..... see there are loads of doctors on here

Or people who have suffered similar or had relatives or friends who have  and answering his question of how they dealt with it. Not a pleasant thing to deal with and no one is claiming to be a doctor. Like he said, is difficult to see anyone at the moment for some reason. 

[musik]

Apr 27, 2020 17:22:41 GMT RedandWhite90 said:

Apr 26, 2020 23:37:20 GMT musik said:

You mean the trigger point is from the ulnar nerve at the elbow level. Too narrow space for the nerve to move there, due to inflammed tendons or possibly an inflammed joint?

I did three exercises for nerve gliding on both sides today: Ulnar, median and radialis nerves. Both sides signaled impingement in all three nerves, which surprised me, I didn't expect radialis to be involved that much. I also did nerve flossing exercises. I got some nerve gliding exercises from the physiotherapist six years ago. It says, stop the exercises if you experience pain or anything unnormal, it should only give a pleasant stretch. In one of these exercises, tingling started as soon as I lifted the arm, even before the exercise started. The other five weren't that aggressive. The ulnar exercise was impossible to perform, I think I've never been able to move my arms like that - holding my point finger and thumb to make a circle to look into, and then turn the elbow upwards and look into that same hole 👌 upside down. No way I can flex the elbow so!! I have never could, neither of them.

I have also tried one exercise of my own, that I told my surgeon about six years ago after the carpal tunnel operation. It's simple. I stand on the floor and raise one arm and hand upwards as high as it goes pointing to the ceiling w the fingers, then bend my body a little bit to the opposite side as the hand is still up in the air - to feel that little pleasant stretch through the side of the arm.
Then the other hand, the other side, same exercise. It felt as an electric explosion in one of the hands yesterday. And afterwards it felt like a normal hand, like the nerve really had been trapped! The positive feeling lasted for hours, but during the night later it came back and the nerve got trapped again obviously.
Another physiotherapist I had once who helped me w nerve impingement in one leg many years ago said it's good to repeat nerve gliding until it doesn't get trapped again, providing it doesn't get worse during the exercises.

I've use a padded thing on my left elbow (originally use is for the knees), to prevent me from bending my left arm too much and when I woke up this morning, the numbness in the ring- and pinky fingers were almost gone. Obviously less pressure on the ulnar nerve. I will continue with that protection therefore and my right wrist protection loose as well, plus one little finger protection.

Rest the tendons is good yes, question is how much. One study I saw said "active rest", meaning bend them fingers several times each day. Another guideline report said use a bandage for two three weeks, don't use the fingers at all. The second guideline protocol was meant for about anybody. But the first study was for pro athletes, but should be applied to anybody, it said.

And last time, when I underwent carpal tunnel surgery, I asked four different specialists to be sure and ended up with different answers.

This is fantastic thank you.

I have resorted to wrapping a thick towel around my elbow to keep it straight in the past.

That'll help. Make sure it won't stop the blood flow back and/or forth though.
The same goes for if you buy one of those "splints" (called ortos in Sweden), to wear around the elbow to give the ulnar nerve some rest. NEVER have it too tight.

And NEVER do any nerve gliding exercises or stretch exercises if your nerve isn't ready for them. It will only make things worse then.

Make sure to see a doctor if the two fingers are numb for periods during the day as well.

[musik]

Apr 27, 2020 17:29:21 GMT jesusmcmuffin said:

Apr 23, 2020 14:33:21 GMT crowey said:

..... see there are loads of doctors on here

Or people who have suffered similar or had relatives or friends who have  and answering his question of how they dealt with it. Not a pleasant thing to deal with and no one is claiming to be a doctor. Like he said, is difficult to see anyone at the moment for some reason. 

I checked the info today and people aren't allowed to come to the emergency units at our large hospitals here if they haven't got an appointment (could be any injury or disease that's urgent). Only instant life threatening cases (heart attack, stroke) are welcome anywhere in this city without an appointment!
Wow!

Have found an orthopedic clinic but they don't mention my problems at all (only skeleton and joints talk there). But perhaps carpal tunnel as I'm suffering mostly from now is something for a hand surgeon, not an orthopedist?

I've focused on shoulder stretch today and some other exercises.

[musik]

On Friday, I was at the physiotherapist and I also visited the work therapist.

They had problems getting the diagnosis right in such a short time. Their ordination was rest. Total rest.

I was given a training programme. The only thing I'm allowed to do is stretch my forearm muscles and finger tendons three times a day.

I'm not allowed to clean, wash, carry anything, do the dishes, cook or whatever. Have no idea how to survive. Eat like a dog without using anything but the mouth?
I have no micro wave oven and the dish washer is not working.

On Monday I will see the doctor, a new young girl, hopefully get some blood tests and be directed to a surgeon and a nerve test.

Having enormous problems to stay awake.

The physiotherapist asked me if it was Muscle compartment syndrome I had. How would I know? Isn't it possible to test?

I got splints for elbow, fingers and already have for the wrist.

The examination showed: Tendonitis. Broken ribs (now healed) and a still fractured elbow in some way. Lots of bruises. Still ultra stiff hard forearm muscles. Burning nerve pain. Decreased circulation.

If I try to lift a cup of tea, the forearm gets stiff as a stone.

It has been impossible to do the training programme, 3x10 three times a day. After 1x3 I can't move the arm for the rest of the day.

Used my fingers to type this on the phone screen and trying not to involve the forearms, lying down.

Anyone here had a muscle compartment surgery?

It means there's too little room for the muscle/s inside the muscle membrane. So the muscle hurts, plus the fact it presses on the veins and stops circulation and presses on the nerves to kill them.
As I understand it surgery must be done within hours if it's acute. If it's the chronic version you can sometimes wait.

It has been three weeks now.

[musik]

Went to the doc yesterday. The physiotherapist recommended a X-ray for the fractured elbow, but I didn't get that.

I didn't get any enmg nerve test or compartment pulse test either - even though the physiotherapist recommended the latter and the doc couln't get any pulse at all(!) at the wrist (ulnar side). She just said: "some don't have a pulse". Compartment syndrome was nothing she've heard of, except the acute accidental type (from a car crash etc)., even though the chronic version that comes from repetitive movements, high amount of training is the more common version.

But I did get a blood test (b12, glucose, blood balance, thyreoid, salts (kalium, natrium)). Three tubes. Result on Fri perhaps.
I suppose she wanted to know if there was an underlying disease to why the carpal tunnel and tendons get "easily" swollen - I have no problem with that. But maybe they're not. She has no idea how hard I work and how huge pain tolerance I unfortunately have.

No test for magnesium, iron, homocystein, intrinsic factor or inflammation factor.

RESTING!

[musik]

Got an online answer from the health clinic saying my blood values were normal. To get the exact numbers I have to call them, they say.

But I won't. I wan't a copy of the blood results, so I can show them to a orthopedist or surgeon.

I'm not getting any better.
Time will tell.

The blood tests were
glucose, thyroid, b12, blood status, creatinine and salts.

[musik]

I'm resting but follow the exercises given by the physiotherapist.

Problem is it's getting worse and I haven't even got a diagnosis yet - except for "overuse".

Still can't bend my fingers in the morning for hours! It has nothing to do with the joints, but that's all they know so far. It's not normal anyway. Can't hold or carry almost anything. Problems eating.

Lot's of sore points on my forearm muscles. Burning pain in hands, arms, elbows, upper arms and shoulder. Numbness, tingling, weak. Pain in elbows.

During the night I tried to not use my arms when turning in bed. It lead to an back muscle injury instead - so now I'm leaning like that famous tower.

On the positive side: Not that tired fatigue anymore. It must have to do with the supplements I'm now taking.

Did get any "remiss" (have no idea if the word exists in BE) from the st-doctor to a specialist. Unbelievable! So yesterday I posted a letter myself to a kind of specialist central administrator, together with copies of all medical journals including my own adjustments of all misunderstandings I found in them.

[elystokie]

Apr 26, 2020 23:41:59 GMT mrcoke said:

Apr 24, 2020 12:15:00 GMT raythesailor said:

Firstly I must say that it is unwise to self diagnose or take advice from strangers like me.

I was having very similar symptoms to what you are describing and went to see my GP. He diagnosed a complaint I had never heard of called PMR. He put me on a course of steroid tablets. The initial dose was 30mg and the symptoms literally dissapeard over night. I am now taking a gradually reducing course, and it could take 12 months or more to clear up.

There is plenty of info on the Internet. I am in no way suggesting that this is what you are suffering from, but i would read up and go and see a doctor if the symptoms continue.

 

I agree. I would also caution that doctors do not always get diagnosis correct.

Many years ago I went to the doctor with chest pains. He gave me a thorough examination and said my heart was OK, my lungs were rubbish and I should stop smoking if I wanted to live to 60, and the cause of my chest pains was inflammation of the valve into my stomach, which was due to stress.

I said I didn't think I was under any stress, and I had cut down a lot on my smoking. "That's it," he said, "the stress is due to reducing your nicotine intake". I asked if he was going to give me anything and he said no, he wasn't going to replace one drug with another.

The chest pains continued, but I worked out what the cause was accidentally. It was too much coffee. One week the secretary was off work on holiday and no one was topping up the percolator. So I made myself a cup of tea when I felt like it, instead of consuming the coffee. By Wednesday the pain went away. I did tests on myself to prove it was coffee by starting and stopping. I've since heard of other people similarly affected by coffee.

PS If you get chest pains, don't assume it's the coffee!!!

My only long term stint in an office years ago drove me to drinking lots of filtered coffee and I had exactly the same with the chest pains!

I remember it being quite worrying, I was also a smoker at the time, took a good few months before I realised.

[musik]

Jun 5, 2020 13:05:03 GMT elystokie said:

Apr 26, 2020 23:41:59 GMT mrcoke said:

I agree. I would also caution that doctors do not always get diagnosis correct.

Many years ago I went to the doctor with chest pains. He gave me a thorough examination and said my heart was OK, my lungs were rubbish and I should stop smoking if I wanted to live to 60, and the cause of my chest pains was inflammation of the valve into my stomach, which was due to stress.

I said I didn't think I was under any stress, and I had cut down a lot on my smoking. "That's it," he said, "the stress is due to reducing your nicotine intake". I asked if he was going to give me anything and he said no, he wasn't going to replace one drug with another.

The chest pains continued, but I worked out what the cause was accidentally. It was too much coffee. One week the secretary was off work on holiday and no one was topping up the percolator. So I made myself a cup of tea when I felt like it, instead of consuming the coffee. By Wednesday the pain went away. I did tests on myself to prove it was coffee by starting and stopping. I've since heard of other people similarly affected by coffee.

PS If you get chest pains, don't assume it's the coffee!!!

My only long term stint in an office years ago drove me to drinking lots of filtered coffee and I had exactly the same with the chest pains!

I remember it being quite worrying, I was also a smoker at the time, took a good few months before I realised.

Yes and no.
Where I go they normally become very upset if I haven't self diagnosed myself prior to the visit there.

On the form I filled in and posted yesterday I was asked to be precise in my description of what I got and exactly where on the body it bothers me, and it's origin.

Since I didn't have a diagnosis yet I had to give them some options.

Beside: "overuse", is that a diagnosis? I don't think so.