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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Had Thumb Pain. Can't Sleep. Wake Up With Shoulder Pain. Hand Feel Swollen. Pain After Stretching. Carpal Tunnel?

I have had wrist/ thumb pain for almost a year now and just within the past few weeks it has gotten extremely bad. The past week I have been in so much pain I can't sleep. I'm having pain at the bottoms of my wrists and into my thumb, at night I am waking up with horrific shoulder paid that is like a severe burning deep ache kind of pain, I can no longer make a fist or grip things such as my steering wheel, my hand feels huge but no visible swelling, the function in my left hand is almost completely gone and my right hand isn't far behind. I am in excruciating pain at this point even after stretching, ice/heat, brace and massage but the pain continues to get worse. I saw an orthopedic doctor who didn't even look at my hands and wrists or let me tell him the symptoms. I talked to a nurse who said it sounds like advanced carpal tunnel syndrome and needs to be fixed ASAP or damage could be permanent.....does this sound like carpal tunnel? If so since I've tried everything else is it time to consider surgery before I lose all function in both hands? Thank you so much!
Wed, 4 Sep 2013
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Orthopaedic Surgeon 's  Response
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.

As per your symptoms history there can be nerve compression at cervical spine as you are having pain in shoulder wrist and hand.

I will advise for MRI spine to see disc bulge.
Carpal tunnel can be confirmed by EMG -NCV study.
If compression of nerve is severe you may need decompression.

If the pain is of neuropathic origin (sharp and stabbing pain), either Pregabalin or Gabapentin usage will resolve the symptoms.

Hope this information is helpful. Take care
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Had Thumb Pain. Can't Sleep. Wake Up With Shoulder Pain. Hand Feel Swollen. Pain After Stretching. Carpal Tunnel?

Hi, thanks for writing to HCM. As per your symptoms history there can be nerve compression at cervical spine as you are having pain in shoulder wrist and hand. I will advise for MRI spine to see disc bulge. Carpal tunnel can be confirmed by EMG -NCV study. If compression of nerve is severe you may need decompression. If the pain is of neuropathic origin (sharp and stabbing pain), either Pregabalin or Gabapentin usage will resolve the symptoms. Hope this information is helpful. Take care