My hands are going numb, a little concerned

GreenDoberman · Apr 22, 2008

Seriously here, I've been doing a lot of typing on the laptop and late last night my hands went numb on the outsided near the pinkies and palm. At first, I thought just a cramp or they were going to sleep.

Well it lasted all day and now the left one has continued. It's sorta numb like when your foot falls asleep.

I did a little googling and the two most prominent things that came up are carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetes onset.

Obviously both have me concerned but the latter moreso than the former.

Has anyone else experienced this or have medical knowledge (note: killing patients in Mexico does not constitute knowledge) that they care to share.

TTinCO · Apr 22, 2008

Don't lean on your forearms or elbows-you're creating a pinched nerve.

(Got it myself & have had it checked out)

TheWolf · Apr 22, 2008

Having seen your picture GD, you could probably drop a few pounds......(all joking aside) that extra weight is not good for you and can lead to numerous things (Diabetes being one of them) as you get into your 30's and beyond (no idea how old you are). A buddy of mine is in his early 30's and may lose a foot b/c of diabetes.

Probably nothing though GD, like TTinco said, but if you remain concerned find a good neurologist. He will put you through a series of tests to rule out MS, etc.......and help set your mind at ease.

TTinCO · Apr 22, 2008

This is almost exactly what I have-technically, it's carpel tunnel. Numb down the outside of the pinky\outside of the palm. I managed to do it by pinning the phone between my left ear & shoulder repeatedly for hours(creates a pinched nerve in your neck\shoulder). It's also my left hand.

TheWolf · Apr 22, 2008

TTinCO said:
This is almost exactly what I have-technically, it's carpel tunnel. Numb down the outside of the pinky\outside of the palm. I managed to do it by pinning the phone between my left ear & shoulder repeatedly for hours(creates a pinched nerve in your neck\shoulder). It's also my left hand.

Cant they do surgery to fix that if need be?

TTinCO · Apr 22, 2008

Depends on where & what it is and how bad it is.

GreenDoberman · Apr 22, 2008

Agree with both.

I do use the phone a lot in that way and do tend to learn on the forearms and elbows when typing.

Any recommendations as to how to avoid this if I still need to type frequently.

TTinCO · Apr 22, 2008

Get a keyboard tray & a phone headset. Mine has kinda gone away, but not totally-and it's been a year.

Far from being worth going under the knife for.

dingo41 · Apr 22, 2008

try placing a small pillow underneath the elbow that controls the mouse:toast:

BEANTOWNJIM · Apr 22, 2008

I TOOK SOME TIME OFF FROM POSTING I THINK IT WAS BOTHERING MY LEFT SHOULDER AND MY RIGHT ELBOW.WHERE ELSE CAN YOU PUT YOUR HAND SO IT DOESNT BOTHER YOU

hno: ON YOUR MAGIC JOHNSON.

RobFunk · Apr 22, 2008

TTinCO said:
This is almost exactly what I have-technically, it's carpel tunnel. .

Carpel is going to do us all in.

Seriously, between carpel and arthritis I wonder what is going to happen to me first.

All of us keyboard warriors going to pay the price at some point. But I hope not.

SoCal · Apr 22, 2008

A few years ago my toes in one foot went numb and I had no idea what was going on. It lasted 48 hrs and the doctor had no idea what was going on either. Turns out I was sitting at my home desk for hours on end repeatedly in such a way that I pinched a nerve . It went away after a few days. Not cool to lose feeling without answers.

My advice - Try giving the affected parts a rest for a few days and then re-evaluate the situation.

yawn · Apr 22, 2008

Had this like a mofo. Not only numb but very cold felt like my hand had been frostbitten.
Change postions often--take breaks. Used a squeeze ball for a while.
There are also excercises they recommend to do twice a day.

noPunter · Apr 22, 2008

GreenDoberman said:
I do use the phone a lot in that way and do tend to learn on the forearms and elbows when typing.

Any recommendations as to how to avoid this if I still need to type frequently.

Depends on what program you are using for it to work, but I found that DragonSoft Naturally Speaking voice recognition software saved me a shitload of typing. Its light years ahead of the Microsoft version that comes with most computers.

MrsCheater · Apr 22, 2008

i will let you know what i have been told (which conflicts some comments on here). i deveoped numbess in my hand and asked a PA for one of the neurosurgerons...she asked where it was. at the time i wasnt having it and i said i wasnt sure, just my hand. she said next time pay attention...cause if its the pinky and half of the ring finger (the long half next to the pinky) its a nerve thing. if the thumb index middle and half closest to the middle finger on the ring finger, its carpal tunnel. so next time it happened i paid attention and sure enough it was thumb, index, middle in half of the ring finger!! it was weird too how when i ran a finger over my ring finger only half was numb. so i know i have carpal tunnel. so i mentioned this to one of the ortho docs i work with, where my symptoms are and that i wanted a carpal tunnel release and she said to come to the office to get it set up.

so, i really think yours is a nerve issue, but thats just going on what i have been told. good luck!

GreenDoberman · Apr 22, 2008

From the way you described it Mrs Cheater, it does sound like a nerve thing.

Now that I've been paying attention to my elbow and hand positioning it makes more sense.

I'm just glad it is less likely to be diabetes.

slapshot · Apr 22, 2008

sounds like

Ulnar Nerve Entrapment

The ulnar nerve is the "funny bone" nerve which travels between the tip of the elbow and the inner elbow bone. At this site it can be "pinched" by normal structures or swollen structures after injury. This pinching is referred to as entrapment. When ulnar nerve entrapment occurs, numbness and tingling of the little and ring finger of the hand may be felt. Pain may occur in the entire forearm, usually the inner side. Hand dexterity can be affected. Sometimes, the numbness is reproduced by elevating the hand. Treatment consists of avoiding repeated trauma or pressure to the elbow area and resting the elbow joint. Occasionally, ice can help. In severe cases, surgical repositioning of the ulnar nerve can be required. This relocates the ulnar nerve to a position where it will not be continually compressed by the surrounding structures.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/pinched-nerve

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/elbow-pain?page=4

Dante · Apr 22, 2008

Dobey... it might be do to much watching Mika Tan DVD's your hand must get tired after that I would assume.... I was not even allowed to take a mika tan DVD home!! ahhh married life is the best

hno::nono5:

GreenDoberman · Apr 22, 2008

Dante,
If it were from self-abuse I think it would have show up much sooner.

Believe it or not, I've only ever watched one of her movies for about two minutes.
She was beating the shit out of some guy. I did not want to be that guy. Then I wanted to be that guy. Then I didn't.

Dante · Apr 22, 2008

GreenDoberman said:
Dante,
If it were from self-abuse I think it would have show up much sooner.

Believe it or not, I've only ever watched one of her movies for about two minutes.
She was beating the shit out of some guy. I did not want to be that guy. Then I wanted to be that guy Then I didn't.

:toast::toast::toast::aktion033