dsh263 wrote:
One thing I wonder, if you decrease the stress on the nerve will it delay the progression?

I tried to reply last night, but for some reason I kept getting a '404 error flooding'..weird! At any rate, to your question, yes it can delay or reduce it providing there has been no direct injury to the nerve.


Brenda, the information on crossing your fingers was very informative. I can't with my right hand but I can still cross my left fingers. I am glad to know that because from the EMG, the left was worse but apparently there has been more atropy on the right.

Crossing fingers (or lack there of) is one of the tests they do. Another, and you can do it yourself, but more accurate if someone else does it. Put your hand out as though saying to someone "slow down"..and fold your hand forward at the wrist - have someone press your hands to hold it gently - try to lift your hand up. Another is same "slow down" position, spread your fingers out, and have someone try to close them - and you try to resist. How weak then are your fingers for extension? There are some others, but I can't remember straight off - sorry!


Actually I am an oral surgeon which may be a little may demanding as far as strength is concerned.
Another thing I am not sure about is that although most of my loss of ulner function is at the elbow, the surgeon wants to do the carpal tunnel at the same time. I can understand this from a recovery standpoint but am not sure why I need the CTS. I have not medial nerve involvement that I know of.
Thanks, David

David - ahh nice to know your name! Hi!! Yeah, having just had oral surgery, I hear ya there! Okay, add say...2-3 weeks to that (including your Carpal Tunnel addition!). Did you have an EMG test done? I have Carpel Tunnel on my left hand, and never knew it! No real symtoms there, so maybe the same is happening with you? If they have to do both (I had my elbow and Guyon's done at the same time) and the hand actually healed faster than my elbow. If he feels there is Medial affects, I would probably go for it. Knowing you handle with gripping a lot of instruments, it would probably be a plus for you - just my thoughts there of course. Please let us know how you are doing, and how it goes!! Take care.

Brenda

Hello David,

I had problems with the site and posted the following not realizing Brenda had already answered...

You asked if you decrease the stress on the nerve will it delay the progression: I guess in theory this would be true. Take what I say lightly, because I'm not really sure of the right answer. This is what I think... you would have to know exactly what is causing stress on the nerve, and then alleviate that stress.

However, I can't think of a way to find out what your exact stress is. Obviously sleeping bothers your situation. It could also be that every time you bend the elbow the nerve is being upset (small damage w/movement). Or it could be a muscle pressing on a nerve causing compression which you have no control etc etc.

Like I said I really don't know the answer. I can tell you that I did not want to stop working, so I splinted myself up at the wrist and elbow & continued to work. On hindsight that was pretty stupid (and laughable) because I could work okay with a wrist splint, but I had to keep taking off the elbow splint in order to get my work done. I guess what I'm trying to say if you move around like a normal person it's going to be hard not to put stress on your nerve. (This was the case for me anyway).

I've personally had inconsistency with EMG vs clinical findings. Maybe your Dr. confirmed clinical signs of Carpal?

I had the exact same error.

Thanks for the complement