Ever had a pinched nerve?

[TTinCO]

I have some kind of minor one or a prelude to one. Kinked my neck somehow & now the outer half of my left hand is basically "perma numb". I did the same thing a few weeks ago, but it's worse this time (last 2 fingers are completely numb-not 1/2 numb like they were the first time).

I went to the doc last time & he said to just give it time (it went away in 3 days....this time it's been almost a week, and it's just numb as hell).

Anyone had this before?

 

[Bourn]

is it your left hand? do you smoke?...cigaretttes

 

[TTinCO]

Don't smoke(store boughts:missingte ) and it is my left hand. I originally did it being stuck on the phone for 3 hours & pinning it against my left shoulder.

No idea what it was this time-may have just slept wrong.

 

[Bourn]

hmm i dont know. i asked that because i had a friend who smoked and went to the dr cuz his left fingers were going numb. dr said it was cigs... what do you do for a living?

 

[TTinCO]

Computer networks. I'm chained to a keyboard for life.

 

[Bourn]

Thats cool. I had a guy i use to work with who was a network dude fix my computer cuz it crashed. He wiped it clean then reinstalled what i needed...xp, norton, stuff like that. He forgot to install the sound driver and i still have NO SOUND on my comp. I changed jobs since then so it kinda sux.

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

T i dont know if you read about my same problem a few months ago but i had exactly the same thing.eventually got so bad i couldnt work, my arm was numb and ached 24/7.......eventually went to a chiropractor who treated it with ultra sound and a few other things...i suffered for 3 months and he made it better in 1 day, took about 3 weeks to get it completely gone .....but still now 5 months later im only at about 90% of the strength back in arm...i wouldnt let it drag on like i did, go get it treated right away........

 

[TTinCO]

Whoa-I missed that story PPP.

It's been about a week, and nothing has changed-it's not that bad, and nothing above my wrist is numb(but my picky & 2nd finger are numb as hell).

No pain here, just really aggravating to have that tingly "asleep" feel in the fingers-but it sucks to not be able to hop on my bike or golf.

Time to get another opinion-thanks for the info PPP!

 

[Nicole]

I have the same problem in my left hand. Pinkie and ring finger has been numb for two months now.

I believe its Ulnar Nerve Damage. Inflammation of the ulnar nerve is called ulnar neuritis. Ulnar neuritis may occur if this nerve is pressured over the years. It can happen just by leaning heavily on your elbow, by bending your elbow for long periods, or by striking the nerve anywhere from the elbow to the hand. The ulnar nerve also controls your pinkie and half of your ring finger. You may get tingling and numbness in the ring and pinkie fingers.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome causes numbness or pain in the thumb, index and middle fingers.

After seeing gruesome pictures of the surgery for this problem. I'll wait until I can't handle the pain! Like you its not painful yet. If anybody has else has had this same problem and an alternative solution....please let me know.

 

[TTinCO]

Nicole, welcome to TheRx, and I'm almost certain that you hit it right on the head.

I went & got a 2nd opinion, and I've been referred for a "nerve conduction study" which will most likely confirm what you are saying.

The symptoms you mention are dead on.

 

[Nicole]

Thanks for the welcome.

Let me know how it goes for you. I have a customer that had the surgery done four months ago and still having problems.

I try to spend less time on the computer (which isn't easy to do), not use my left hand to hold phone, and thinking of trying a brace at night to keep my elbow straight. I'm willing to do anything to avoid surgery. A scar from elbow to wrist isn't very appealing.

 

[WharfRat+]

Wow, this is weird, but I'm having the exact same problem w/ my left hand. My pinky and ring finger have been kinda numb for 4 days. In my case i know what its from though. I was playing softball and gloved a rocket ground ball while playing 3rd base. Hurt like hell at the time(still threw the runner out :howdy: ) and half my hand has been numb ever since.

So true about putting weight on your elbow. Doing that now makes my whole arm go numb.

I'm not worried though, just thought i'd share a similar experience.

 

[TTinCO]

Just had a nerve conductivity study(NCS) and electromyogram(EMG). Mild pinched nerve in my neck. Odds are, I'll be told to give it a couple of months to see if it goes away.....if it doesn't, then it's time to decide if surgery is worth it.

BTW, the tests suck

 

[patswin]

I have/had one in my neck for the last 4 months. Happened in January and would not go away. My left hand would go numb but on the opposite side, I would get it in my thumb and forefinger. I went to a Chiropractor, a message therapist, and finally to my doctor who gave me some meds to ease the pain. He also sent me to phys. therapy which I did for about 2 weeks and then I reaggevated it and he told me to stop and gave me different meds. The meds helped after about 2 weeks and the numbness has gone away so I have stopped taking them. Not sure if its gone yet but I think it is. The hard part about it was when it happened I could hardly sleep cause I could not get comfortable, it was real painful. My doc gave me codeine at first which helped ease the pain. The other thing is I could not exercise because of it and so between that and going on a cruise in March I put on 10+ lbs. The meds might have added to that too so hopefully when I am totally off them my weight will come down too. I started working out again but I don't have much strength on the left side of my body so its hard to bench press anything. Have to use the machines only for now.

 

[patswin]

Just had a nerve conductivity study(NCS) and electromyogram(EMG). Mild pinched nerve in my neck. Odds are, I'll be told to give it a couple of months to see if it goes away.....if it doesn't, then it's time to decide if surgery is worth it.

BTW, the tests suck

TT did you go to a neurosurgon for the testing? I was going to make an appointment but decided to wait and I think it has gone away but I'm not sure. Def don't want surgery

 

[TTinCO]

Pats, I had an EMG & Nerve conductivity study(that I ironically just got the results of in the mail).

Haven't quite figured out what it all means yet, but I apparently have a "chronic left C8 and\or T1 radiculopathy", which I think means a pinched nerve in my neck.

 

[TTinCO]

Well, off for an MRI tomorrow to confirm that it's a disc issue that is putting pressure on the nerve.

:nohead:

 

[RapStar]

Keep us posted.

 

[TTinCO]

Those of you with similar issues might want to have it looked into. There is entirely too much causality in my case to think that this is anything but a disc\nerve issue, but the next step is a CT scan to make sure it's not MS.

That hit me pretty hard before I thought about the events leading up to it....I'll guarantee this is a disc issue. It's a no brainer in my case.

 

[kingbill]

Very Interesting, I've had the Ulner nerve thingy exactly as Nicole described it. I was training and broke my hand, actually dislocated the 2 bones that connect the ring and pinky to the wrist. I never completed physio correctly so I had a month or two of tingles. It's still akward to throw a punch.

Have you considered Yoga? I don't do it enough but feel spectacular after when ever I do.