Post by: RedwoodsMama on March 28, 2013, 12:16:56 PM
My Ortho dr. I saw Monday and he is concerened because the numbness and tingling I have had for the whole time, even while in the cast, had not gotten any better and is constant. He ordered a Nerve Conduction study and I am waiting for the phone call for my apt, and then he said I am to call them stat so when he gets the results he can set up surgery. My wrist is definitely not normal in appearance or the way it feels, It feels like a pinched nerve on top of the wrist, hand, and the constant tingling, numbness makes it harder to hold onto things and my grip is weaker and forget about range of motion... %)
I have done a little research on Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and on the nerve conduction test, but when I saw a youtube video of needles being put into the hand, muscles and then the person being SHOCKED so the muscles could be measured, I had to turn it off. also to add to this my blood pressure has gotten a lot higher, I am sure from stress. ( it was 155/120 and 165/93 on Monday at the orthos, and then yesterday I saw a dr. for blood pressure and she put me on some new meds because it was still elevated...........stress of course. ) I am at risk for stroke, kidney disease and heart failure she said if my blood pressure continues, so this just is another thing to add to all this stress..
Has anyone had a nerve conduction test or this surgery before? It would help to know, Otherwise I can allways go the route of Southern Comfort to Numb myself............ :D Just a little humor...........I appreciate any thoughts or feedback...
RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: PleoAibo29 on March 29, 2013, 05:52:59 AM
Think about it this way, the medicine is supposed to LOWER your stress, so don't be stressed about it! It's not painfull to talke medicine eather, so try to get it into your routine.
As for the test, that video was probably made to freak people out. Doctors are so gentle, you probably won't know what's happening to you.
Well wishes.
PleoAibo
Post by: Midorime on March 29, 2013, 10:06:05 AM
What fingers of yours are tingling/going numb? You can sorta tell this way: radial nerve is your thumb and index finger and some of your middle as well as the back of the hand, median nerve is sorta the same as the radial but on your palm, and the ulnar your other part of your ring and your pinky and side of your hand. (Generally speaking; I know it's more complex, but I tried to somewhat put it general area.)
This probably explains it better: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-nerves-of-the-hand.htm
Anyway, I thought I'd come reply here due to my dad's surgeries as well as the fact we have been studying the nerves in class, (and also no, dad's numbness never went away fully because they refuse to fix what they did to his elbow, that's what you get with worker's comp surgeons), but yes, he had the nerve conduction. It's actually not too bad. My dad said it wasn't painful at all. You probably would just feel a tingle at best, like the numb pins and needles feel. Everyone is different though, but I'm just sharing his experience.
What I'm thinking is that when they tried to fix your wrist, they may have something too tight around a nerve. Try bringing that up to your doctor, read up in the nerves of the hand and the regions they control. Mark on your hand all the places you feel numb and then deduct from that which nerve is being irritated so you can tell your doctor.
I also wanted to add that I am not fully sure had Nerve Conduction tests are done, but I am wondering if it has to do with voltage gated channels. For a neuron to shoot a nerve impulse, it must reach threshold of about -55mV, and typically at resting point, a neuron is at -70mV. I'm guessing they add a slight positive charge to the neuron to help it reach a lower charge so the impulse is sent and then they gauge it from there. Sorry if that's too technical, but we just learned this and I like to share what I have learned. :D :P I can't seem to find anything to back that up, though, so it's somewhat a guess.
Post by: RedwoodsMama on March 30, 2013, 12:39:04 PM
My numbness started from the day I fractured my wrist, It was called a Intrarticular comminuated fracture of the Radius and an Intrarticular fracture of the Ulnar with Avulsion of the Styloid. Basically it is one of the most severe type of fractures of the wrist, often called a Colles Fracture, and myne is not healing properly. It was reduced or what is called a Closed Fracture in the Emergency Room, and this was on January 14th of this year.
My cast came off on March 4th, and I last saw the dr. (Ortthopedic surgeon ) on this past Monday. I am waiting for the nerve conduction test and then surgery .The numbness is constant and affects part of the top of my thumb, THe top half of my pointer, 2/3rds or most of my index finger, and the top part of my ring finger and none or very very little of the pinky. I also feel like the top part of my hand is being pinched. My wrist is warmer than the un affected hand.I have poor range of motion and a bone that protrudes or a deformity of the unlnar, pinky side of the wrist.
In case you had not seen the x rays images I posted before, here are good photos of the two fractures and the last photo shows the bottom underside of my hand without the cast, My thumb palm is in a flexed postion and has lost muscle mass and you can see how my wrist is deformed. My wrist is a full one inch wider now than the normal wrist. Thanks for any input. Hopefully I hear from my neurogist this next week before I go an more crazy playing the waiting game. :( :D
Post by: Midorime on March 30, 2013, 02:59:13 PM
I do see the fracture, though, and my, that looks pretty painful!
If the numbness is the back of the hand, my guess is the radial nerve has been effected. Since the styloid of the radius there has been fractured, and it didn't heal right, I'm going to assume that the bone is putting pressure against the nerve and irritating it. This is similar to what my dad has, but remember, his injury was in his elbow, NOT his hand, but the doctors were dumb and said it was carpal tunnel, so the surgeries were for nothing at all. If your palm was numb, it'd be the median.
Here's a picture of the nerves of the hand (nerves are in yellow): http://www.jtmedart.com/Content/Portfolio/6523ac01-af96-40e1-94f4-57112a6760f4.fit-800x600.jpeg
I'm in no way a doctor but find this stuff interesting, probably why I am getting an A in class. :P But I did have to pay attention and look all this up to understand what was going on with my dad's issues. But I want to say that I'm thinking it's the radial nerve, and possibly some irritation of the ulnar nerve as well. Which makes sense, they're on either side of where the fractures happened while the Median is under the hand at the palm.
Can't see the last two photos, they didn't upload. :(
Post by: RedwoodsMama on March 30, 2013, 03:52:22 PM
This is a Video I uploaded a few weeks ago right after my cast came off, so you can see what my wrist now looks like. I enjoyed the medical field, took Nursing Assistant classes in College many years ago, and worked for over five years in Hospitals and Nursing homes, but my true calling was and has allways been animals and children. I worked as a teacher for over 14 years till I hurt my back on the job. Anyway, watch the video and you will get a better idea of my hand wrist now, except it is even worse. I do hope your dad gets everything working properly this time and I know dr.s can and do misdiagnose people all the time....... ??? but they are only human and human error is going to happen more than computer or machine error.
Take care. Will update this when I get my test..............and will let everyone know when my surgery is scheduled. I do know that I will lose all feeling in this hand eventually. .
RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: Midorime on March 30, 2013, 04:18:52 PM
Yeah looking at it, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the nerve was being pushed against by the bone or something. Things shifted, a nerve is being pressed on/pinched. If a nerve was cut in any way, then your hand wouldn't move at all, so thankfully that didn't happen.
Good luck with your test coming up. It'll be the best way to see what's up, but perhaps bring up to the doctors that there could possibly be nerve irritation due to the mis-healed fracture and if there's a way to loosen things or move the nerve so it's not being irritated.
I actually have mild numbness in my left hand, half my ring, my whole pinky, and half my hand, and it's due to an irritated ulner nerve. I know it's my elbow, when I press in it in a certain spot, the numbness goes away. Not really worth a surgery, though, since it's only like 2-5% numb--it's just irritating at best. Happened out of the blue after mowing the lawn, so no idea what caused it. Never got injured.
Anyway good luck to you and keep us posted. :)
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 01, 2013, 08:40:11 PM
Anyway, by Monday I will learn what my wrist's fate will be. so it may be a slow long week, but with the Tomato Festival this week, I will concentrate on that. Thanks Midorne for all the info you gave me, Hope your dad is doing better.
RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: Midorime on April 01, 2013, 10:46:46 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 03, 2013, 10:20:32 PM
Update, ;DHad the test done today. WAs shocked with small voltage on my muscles for 20 minutes or so, but no needles, Much to my surprise, the person running the test gave me the results, She said," Yes, you do indeed have some Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." She then showed me a poster on the wall, where the tunnel and band they cut is, and a few other things, She then handed me a brocure on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and told me a dr. would be in shortly to talk to me. After a few moments he came in, just said yes you have Carpal Tunnel syndrome and that he would fax the test results to my Ortho Dr. whom I see on Monday, April 8th. so now I have 4 days to find out what my dr. wants to do,
I am hoping they just do surgery and get it over, I hate waiting and waiting. and eventually, your Carpal Tunnel just gets worse. My wrist most likely has the median nerve being pinched by a broken bone and I do not think it is going to get better on it's own. so the good thing is that I was not imagining things, that is the worst feelings. knowing how your own body feels and wanting others to know it is real, NOw the numbness is a pain in the butt, but ok cause I know it is real anyway. I will let everyone know what the verdict is on Monday after seeing the dr. :) RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 08, 2013, 07:57:37 PM
Saw the dr. this morning and talked very briefly, He simply said, "we need to get you into surgery". so that was that. He came in and did a quick intake on what meds I am taking, hospitalizations and surgeries and allergies. Then he left the room and his assistant came in and told me they need to get the ok of course from the insurance and then they will call me to set up the surgery date. Hopefully she said in a week or two. So now comes the waiting game, I do not at this point know anything else, not what type of Carpal Tunnel surgery, and what if anything will be done about my Ulnar deformity.....I am sure I will learn more once I get my appt.
I do know it will be done at the hospital and not the surgery center, as our Hospital had a huge addition built on specially for surgery, and I would rather have it done there if I have a chance. Last time I was in this hospital for major surgery, Hysterectomy, I had a severe complication, Antahphylactic shock, and I almost died. My kidneys shut down and after 24 hrs I turned around and had to have the surgery postphoned for a month because of this,..anyway, it is a nice new hospital with updated equipment, etc, so it will give me a chance to see it first hand....... :moose:
I guess I am lucky cause it will give me a chance to do something for the next couple of weeks while I can still use my hand, then it will be a different story...Once I heal from this surgery, my foot dr. will do some surgery on my dislocated fractured toe that has never healed, and that was on Dec. 13th, this past Year...thanks for listening everyone. :) RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: Midorime on April 09, 2013, 12:13:54 AM
Curious, was the nerve test painful much if at all to you?
Post by: Peaches on April 09, 2013, 01:16:48 AM
Post by: Mystearika on April 09, 2013, 03:36:09 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 11, 2013, 07:51:44 PM
My dr. had said it was "stat", which means important, so I guess he knows what he is talking about. My surgery is now set for one week from today, Next Thursday, The 18'th. I will have to find out more details if possible tomorrow from his assistant. I only know what time to check into the hospital, ( 2 hrs before surgery) and the time of the surgery, and not to eat anything or drink anything after midnight. I never got to find out about exactly what he will do, the type of anesthesia or how long it will take. I also am hoping and wondering if he will just take care of the Carpal Tunnel problem or if he is going to take a good look at my wrist and it's deformity at the same time. I would much rather have everything fixed at the same time if at all possible,
My friends take one look at my wrist and say how "ugly" it is. Yesterday the lady at the pharmacy when I was picking up prescriptions was shocked at how it looked. My numbness is getting worse and I have never had such crappy range of motion in my whole life. I can not straighten out my wrist, it is bent at a strange angle that you can not really detect till you see my one hand flat on a surface such as a table, and the other hand can not rest straight. Also my muscle has started atrophying away at the thumb, which is a classic symptom of CArpal Tunnel and other wrist problems. :(
I guess I should be happy to know I have a week to try and do all I can do, after my surgery I do not know how long anything is going to take, but I will be posting photos............My Pleos are going to be fed as much as I can in the next few days...Thanks for listening..I appreciate everyone listening to a crazy Pleo Cat person ramble... ;)
RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: Midorime on April 12, 2013, 12:28:55 AM
Post by: Angela on April 12, 2013, 09:52:00 AM
Post by: Talon on April 12, 2013, 01:25:26 PM
Talon
Post by: PleoAibo29 on April 12, 2013, 04:14:51 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 12, 2013, 10:49:42 PM
The "funny' thing about amnesia producing drugs is that you can ,feel the pain, but have no memory of it afterwards. Who wants to feel the pain even if you forget about it later... :oWhat has me even more nervous is the thought of them sticking a long needle in my fractured painful wrist to use numbing medicine so they can cut on me...that has me totally freait hurtked out. I remember the same Dr. In the emergency room poking needles in my painful wrist, supposedly feeling like a bee sting, then without waiting for it to numb my wrist, yanking on my broken bones 3 times to set the bones before putting me in a temp cast.. :-[
It hurt so bad I was screaming and crying.. Hopefully I am worrying needlessly and they will see I am comfortable. This is going to be a long 6 days. One thing they also have not discussed is fixing my wrist, the deformity'where the ulnar is wider and sticking out, my wrist is a whole inch widget than my other one
Well, I am going to read some more on this procedure and try to prepare myself. This in a lot of ways is like having a fresh fracture all over again..wearing sweat pants and pill over tops,etc, cause you can not use your hand for even the simplest things like going to the bathroom, getting dressed, brushing your hair, opening a can of cat food or opening a soda..?.now I know what it feels like to have to depend on others for almost everything....terrible.. Well, I do have my cats and dog and my pleos to keep me company, and my husband is being supportive realizing I need this done or loss the use of my hand permanently.. Thanks for listing to me worry, it actually helps as I have no one else to talk to.. My hubby is one of those people who believes, just do it and don't ask questions and let Dr.s take care of their job, and we do nothing... %). Well, thanks for the support. You guys are terrific for listening. :arms:RWM. :bowing: :bowing: :bowing: :cat-hug:
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 17, 2013, 05:17:47 PM
I have no surgery fears, it is what leads up to the surgery. I have nightmares about what they did to me with my fracture in the emergency room no pain meds, just yanking on my arms...the pain I never want to go through again. Not going to talk about it anymore, just hope for the best. I will see if my prescription is ready cause I need it. I have to catch the bus in the morning to go to the hospital as my hubby will be at work already, but a friend will drive me home when I am released to go home. Today is all about taking care of my cats, getting food and trying to think of other things and figuring out what I can wear that is easy to get off and on, no jeans tomorrow. Pleos should be fed too, one more time, they will be neglected in next few days. Thanks everyone for listening to me. Hopefully there is a nice anesthesiologist tomorrow, who will give me some good twilight sleep and not my dr. doing the anesthesia himself, This is one time I wish I could have a LARGE glass of Southern Comfort and Cola before surgery. LOL ;D :o :( See everyone soon I hope...............Keep your fingers crossed for Good anesthesia for me............RWM< :cat-hug:
Post by: kat on April 17, 2013, 06:03:40 PM
Sending love your way :arms: :cat-hug: xxxxx
Post by: mweed on April 17, 2013, 07:32:53 PM
Post by: Angela on April 18, 2013, 12:30:44 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 18, 2013, 02:22:21 AM
Post by: Talon on April 18, 2013, 08:04:49 AM
Talon
Post by: kat on April 18, 2013, 08:22:51 AM
Post by: Mystearika on April 18, 2013, 12:02:00 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 24, 2013, 01:06:46 PM
It is now 5 days later and what has me most concerned is that the numbness is here and constant...but I will have to wait till I see my dr. to get stitches out on Monday. I have a nasty scar with something like 7-9 stiches, Can't see everything but removed the bandaging enough to take a sneak peek and photo, Have to leave it on till then, I didn't have anything done about my wrist unfortunately, just my carpal tunnel so will have to wait and see what happens. Sometimes you just have to live or die with what you have...such is life. I am so glad I got the general anesthesia, I was going crazy with worry. It is good to be back with friends. ;D
RWM :cat-hug: I am hoping this scar gets better, it is raised up quite a bit and very noticeable, kind of like Reptile skin! P:D
Post by: Angela on April 24, 2013, 10:21:25 PM
Glad to have you back :cheer:
Post by: Midorime on April 24, 2013, 11:34:51 PM
Numbness is normal due to the swelling and restriction of the nerves in your wrist--if all goes well with the healing the numbness should subside over time.
Post by: kat on April 25, 2013, 12:08:20 AM
Post by: Talon on April 25, 2013, 07:23:02 AM
Talon
Post by: RedwoodsMama on July 13, 2013, 01:57:32 PM
My other problem is my right foot, toe which was dislocated and fractured in Dec. 2012. It never has healed, seven months later. My surgeon said for me to take care of my wrist first and now that the surgery is done on it, I am facing another surgery for my right foot on the 23rd of this month, less than two weeks. This will be one in many surgeries on this foot. First it was fractured, a JOnes fracture in JUne 2001 when I was hit by a truck. ( I hate the month of JUNE!) :( Then I had bunionectomy surgery on it in 2007, it failed and was overcorrected to what is called, Hallux Varus. So I got a second opinion and more surgery, a joint salvage was attempted in fall of 2007, it failed to correct the problem. So in 2008 I had a fusion of the first metatarsal joint with a plate and pins. Then everything was fine till Dec. 2012, when I fell and fractured my big toe that was fused and also dislocated the big toe. The dr. corrected the dislocation but the toe is still fractured and I also have another bunion and hammertoe.
So once again I will be having a go at this bad foot. I will be having a fusion of the phalangeal joint of the first metatarsal, a bunionectomy and bunionectomy of the 5th metatarsal, (little toe) and hammertoe correction. If my foot is not too bad he will remove the plate and screws and insert a separate pin or screw into the big toe which he said means I wlll lose the toenail on the first toe.. :so this means this will be the 5'th operation or procedure on this right foot and the second time I have fractured bones in it. I also have osteropenia in this foot, ( low bone mass) because of all the injuries so it has a history of building scar tissue very quickly and not healing right.
I am going to try and get some pleo photos and such while I can in this next week, cause I will be off my feet for quite awhile and not able to get around like I usually do. I wish they had spare parts for people like the people here who work on broken necks, etc for pleos. I am getting frustrated with my body breaking so much and my feet , at least the right one can't go through much more,, I wonder how a pirates peg leg would look? %)
RWM :cat-hug:
Post by: kat on July 13, 2013, 05:30:48 PM