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My Fingers Have Gotten Larger And Larger For Many Years.
Question: My fingers have gotten larger and larger for many years. A little osteoarthritis with inflammation.
Doctors think there is more to it.
Several rheumatologists and the most recent one suggested I see neurologist because of tingling in my fingers and now fingers feel like sand in them. All the "usual" tests come up normal.
He put me on 300 mg of gabapentin a day. I have had little desire for sex and often now can't have orgasm. I read this is a possible symptom. I weened myself off gabapentine the last week and seems hands more tingling again. Luckily, no pain.
Neurologist really has no explanation for the sand feeling in my fingers.
What to do?
I am on bupropion HCL 150 mg day
400 mg lamictal (for years)
abilify (generic) as needed. Not using often
1 mg klonopin before sleep for anxiety.
What do you think?
Doctors think there is more to it.
Several rheumatologists and the most recent one suggested I see neurologist because of tingling in my fingers and now fingers feel like sand in them. All the "usual" tests come up normal.
He put me on 300 mg of gabapentin a day. I have had little desire for sex and often now can't have orgasm. I read this is a possible symptom. I weened myself off gabapentine the last week and seems hands more tingling again. Luckily, no pain.
Neurologist really has no explanation for the sand feeling in my fingers.
What to do?
I am on bupropion HCL 150 mg day
400 mg lamictal (for years)
abilify (generic) as needed. Not using often
1 mg klonopin before sleep for anxiety.
What do you think?
I am very upset about sexual issue.
But... hands driving me crazy.
But... hands driving me crazy.
Brief Answer:
A rare condition is considered and worth ruling out- explanations below
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It seems you already have had several visits and extended examinations and all come out normal and doctors are puzzled on the possible causes.
If you have had all the tests to rule out rheumatological disease (blood tests for autoimmune disease) which can cause fingers to get like sausage and thicker, then another condition that might cause fingers to get thick is acromegaly.
Acromegaly is a very uncommon condition caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland in the brain that produces a lot of growth hormone and is generally diagnosed late because changes happen very gradually and is not considered by doctors due to its rare incidence but acromegaly can cause fingers and toes to get bigger and thicker, cause carpal tunnel syndrome (which causes tingling and sensation changes in fingers), face changes (which might not be noticeable so comparing pictures from youth might be important) and also can affect the sexual desire due to increased prolactin with acromegaly.
Acromegaly is very rare and very likely it is not the cause in your case but due to the changes you are noticing It would be good to talk with your doctor on having tests to rule it out, generally blood tests that confirm if the IGF (insulin growth factor) is increased and if it found increased other tests should be done to find the origin of it.
To conclude:
-Please discuss with your doctor regarding the tests to rule out rheumatological conditions as the cause of the changes in your fingers
-A very rare condition that may cause similar symptoms but is very rare, which means chances are low you have it, but because nothing else has been able to explain the symptoms you have, would be acromegaly and having check-up of IGF is easy and helps rule it out.
I hope I have answered to your query. Please let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
A rare condition is considered and worth ruling out- explanations below
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It seems you already have had several visits and extended examinations and all come out normal and doctors are puzzled on the possible causes.
If you have had all the tests to rule out rheumatological disease (blood tests for autoimmune disease) which can cause fingers to get like sausage and thicker, then another condition that might cause fingers to get thick is acromegaly.
Acromegaly is a very uncommon condition caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland in the brain that produces a lot of growth hormone and is generally diagnosed late because changes happen very gradually and is not considered by doctors due to its rare incidence but acromegaly can cause fingers and toes to get bigger and thicker, cause carpal tunnel syndrome (which causes tingling and sensation changes in fingers), face changes (which might not be noticeable so comparing pictures from youth might be important) and also can affect the sexual desire due to increased prolactin with acromegaly.
Acromegaly is very rare and very likely it is not the cause in your case but due to the changes you are noticing It would be good to talk with your doctor on having tests to rule it out, generally blood tests that confirm if the IGF (insulin growth factor) is increased and if it found increased other tests should be done to find the origin of it.
To conclude:
-Please discuss with your doctor regarding the tests to rule out rheumatological conditions as the cause of the changes in your fingers
-A very rare condition that may cause similar symptoms but is very rare, which means chances are low you have it, but because nothing else has been able to explain the symptoms you have, would be acromegaly and having check-up of IGF is easy and helps rule it out.
I hope I have answered to your query. Please let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I did start feeling pain in my right thumb on seems like a bone.
I jinxed myself saying no pain.
Should I go back on gabapentin?
I'll look into the acromegaly
Thank you for new info for me.
Can Alcohol/wine cause this condition? I really don't want to give them up. I usually don't drink during week. On Friday and Saturday nights I could drink quite a lot.
I jinxed myself saying no pain.
Should I go back on gabapentin?
I'll look into the acromegaly
Thank you for new info for me.
Can Alcohol/wine cause this condition? I really don't want to give them up. I usually don't drink during week. On Friday and Saturday nights I could drink quite a lot.
Brief Answer:
A detailed answer to the questions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
If you noticed that Gabapentin helped with the pain and you are developing the pain after stopping it, you might need to use it again. Gabapentin does not treat the cause of the pain but is helpful in quieting down the pain that comes from nerves. So its use will control this pain but will not address the cause of it. In that scenario, you might need to use Gabapentin long term as long as the cause is not found and treated.
As for alcohol and wine, they can cause the problem with absorption of vitamin B12. This may cause neurologic symptoms like tingling and numbness or strange sensation in hands and feet so it might be a contributing factor.
I would recommend you to have examinations to rule out vitamin B12 deficiency as the cause of the tingling and strange feelings in your hands.
I hope I have answered to your query. Please let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
A detailed answer to the questions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
If you noticed that Gabapentin helped with the pain and you are developing the pain after stopping it, you might need to use it again. Gabapentin does not treat the cause of the pain but is helpful in quieting down the pain that comes from nerves. So its use will control this pain but will not address the cause of it. In that scenario, you might need to use Gabapentin long term as long as the cause is not found and treated.
As for alcohol and wine, they can cause the problem with absorption of vitamin B12. This may cause neurologic symptoms like tingling and numbness or strange sensation in hands and feet so it might be a contributing factor.
I would recommend you to have examinations to rule out vitamin B12 deficiency as the cause of the tingling and strange feelings in your hands.
I hope I have answered to your query. Please let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I don’t have pain just tingling usually. I
Haven’t had libido lately and am not able to orgasm.
The only thing I seemed to be able to attribute it to is gabapentin. That is why I weened myself off it.
Does that make sense?
Is there any other things I can take or do to avoid the sexual side affects
Thank you
Haven’t had libido lately and am not able to orgasm.
The only thing I seemed to be able to attribute it to is gabapentin. That is why I weened myself off it.
Does that make sense?
Is there any other things I can take or do to avoid the sexual side affects
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Carbamazepin is another medication for nerve related symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Low libido can happen with gabapentin even though it is very very rare. Even more rare patients on gabapentin can get increased libido but still increased or decreased libido are very rare while on gabapenin. Did you have an improvement while weaning off gabapentin?
Gabapentin can be used for pain or for any other sensory abnormality like tingling and strange sensations on feet and hands.
Carbamazepin is another drug that can be used for symptoms related to nerves and it does not seem to affect libido. You may talk with your doctor on the need to change from gabapentin to carbamazepin.
I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if i can assist you further
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
Carbamazepin is another medication for nerve related symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Low libido can happen with gabapentin even though it is very very rare. Even more rare patients on gabapentin can get increased libido but still increased or decreased libido are very rare while on gabapenin. Did you have an improvement while weaning off gabapentin?
Gabapentin can be used for pain or for any other sensory abnormality like tingling and strange sensations on feet and hands.
Carbamazepin is another drug that can be used for symptoms related to nerves and it does not seem to affect libido. You may talk with your doctor on the need to change from gabapentin to carbamazepin.
I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if i can assist you further
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
very helpful. I will check on it.
Also, it is important I don't gain weight from it.
Thank you!
Also, it is important I don't gain weight from it.
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am glad to be able to give some helpful information and help you while you look for answers for your medical queries.
Weight gain is not a real common side effect with carbamazepine so i would expect you to do well with it on this.
Hope i have answered to your query. Let me know if i can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am glad to be able to give some helpful information and help you while you look for answers for your medical queries.
Weight gain is not a real common side effect with carbamazepine so i would expect you to do well with it on this.
Hope i have answered to your query. Let me know if i can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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