what is the explanation of muscle weakness in both hands from wrists to tips. At moment, even typing this is hard work and "hurts like hell". In my case, keep dropping things, or not holding onto things; and sometimes, when i do manage to grip something, my fingers then won't let go and cups, spoons etc., go for a slide across the work surface or crash to the floor. Right now, trying to type, my fingers do not respond to what i want them to do, it is almost like slow motion, but also fingers are numb, tingling and very stiff and painful. Is this typical of this ilness? AND WHY IS IT, THAT SPECIALISTS KEEP SAYING "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR HANDS..... I would like them to try mine for a day and see how it feels...... sorry i am ranting, but they hurt and won't do what they're told.
what is happening to my hands? does everyone els... - Ataxia UK
what is happening to my hands? does everyone else have this symptom?
snap!! i've been told muscle weakness, nerve damage, neuropathy - so take your pick hon. mine have been like this for 5 years now and just been told to put up with it xxx
ive not got much pain in my hands but my fingers are bent inwards and are difficult to straighten making it difficult to grip or hold things Is this a common problem?
it is a relief to hear other people sharing the same or similar problems....and i must say, sometimes i can see the funny side and laugh at myself. Like today, went to put my handbag strap on my shoulder properly, and my fingers weren't strong enough to do it, but something happened eventually and i boxed myself in the chin. boxed myself quite hard actualy, considering the hands were weak again
I have the same problem going on 2 years now, and i just got a tendon transfer but still the same, what do you do for a loving or why did you get that?
I've had this problem for about a week only now, but I can see what u mean. It's more so my middle finger, it bends outwards so that it looks like my knuckle is sunken in, and is numb, I have no feeling and cannot even try bending it! Then my ring finger kind of overlaps to it a little bit. I did some research, according to webmD it said its called trigger finger, and it's a tendon disorder. It also said for treatment to keep the finger elevated and grasping/ keeping your hands In the same position for a long period of time can cause this/make it worse. Is anyone else having any of these symptoms as well?
it must affect different people in different ways I have not noticed weakness or excessive tremor in my hands, intention tremor in my legs yes but not my hands just no sensation of how hard I am griping things.
so here is a tip it may be of use to people with grip problems, when holding a glass with no handle get into the habit of curling your little finger round under the glass it then supports the glass underneath and also when using paper/plastic disposable cups [mackdonalds ect] use two cups one inside the other [discrete] I know this may not be the right place to say this but if it helps anyone it is.
nice to hear from you and thank you for the tips, although i am terribly stubborn and trying to carry on as normal, so as a result, lots of accidents that can frustrate me but also make me laugh at myself. nothing iike a chortle to cheer youself up.
my hands don't feel weak my grip feels strong and yet when I pick something up it falls out of my hand. My feeling is that I just think I'm not paying attention to what I'm doing and that's why things fall out of my hand. But maybe I'm wrong. so maybe thinking about curling your little finger around something will make my situation better
My hands are weaker but no pain yet.I can't hold tablets as they slip out of my fingers and I squash my seedlings.The OT told me to get a basket for saucepans as I can't carry and balance heavy water.It goes everywhere.I use both hands to hold a cup now.
thank you for you time in replying. Did your gp recommend seeing an OT and does it help as i have not been offered anything, other than "there's nothing we can do to help you".
Hi Joybells
I am sorry not to have replied before now. I hope things are not too bad for you at the moment.
Unfortunately, as I am sure you have gathered from this site, it is all too common for doctors to say to their patients who have recently been diagnosed with ataxia 'there's nothing more we can do to help you.' Have you got a further appointment with your neurologist and have you ever had any physiotherapy or occupational therapy?
Harriet
Hi Harriet,
Sorry, i have not replied to you..Have had a really bad month and spent most of it either in bed or lay flat, resting head and body flat on lounge suite.I may well have slept the month away!
My Neuro never gave my condition a name, he simply said that i had a form of migraine that caused me to have partial seizures and something about my nerves not sending the signals properly to parts of my body causing unsteadiness and hand weakness. He then said it might go off in the future.
Only when attending my GP apt and again staggering in, in front of her, a couple of months ago, did she say, "Oh you have your vertigo again". But, as I said to her, all the tests years ago, said there was nothing wrong vestibular and it was not vertigo.
At the time of seeing her, in a right state because of a benefit decision and not knowing how i was going to manage or get back into work.... she offered me a note to cover me for three months and did not know what name to give my condition.I told her to refer to the neuro report and she then confirmed for the very first time in eight years of struggling, that i had episodic ataxia. Fortunately, she fully supports my appeal against ib decision, but i am petrified of the tribunal. I have no reports from physios or ots's, absolutely nothing except her note. My doctor said she knew what was wrong with me but that there was nothing they could do, so i've just got on with it and made the best of the good days.
Sorry for going on and on, but i am really worried about working with this condition, although would be willing to try it again ; but even more worried about a Tribunal without any evidence or reports to back me up.
a very worried,frustrated, joybells
PS I forgot, seven years ago i tried physio. Apparently to re-train my brain regarding balance. I had walk very fas around my whole house and then abruptly stop...... i could not carry on with this as i kept falling over or smashing into pure brick walls! not good for me.
"nana23" writes::
just been told to put up with it
******************************************
that´s it, that´s this bl....disease.
Just make the best of it, look at things like "MontyPython"
youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQz...
Kind regards
Hello Joybells
I haven't got pain ot muscle weakness in the hands but I do get tremours and my coordniation is terrrible,I have problems typing and it makes me mad,.When I tink what I used to do111 I try and concentrate on what I can do now. and there is a lot.
Take care
Regards
Fifa
Hi,
snap, regarding the co-ordination as well. I used to be a legal secretary, typing. at much speed all day, so i know what you mean, Lucky now, if i can manage to pick the lap top up, without dropping it,, never mind typing easily., but at least you can type whilst resting, especially the head and neck area, which i find helps the dizziness..
Well , dear "joybells",
pointing to "MontyPython" may sound a little rude.
But, looking on the bright side is all one can
do if you suffer from SCA - as I do with no remedy
in the foreseeable future and thinking that your children
and grandchildren and... will have to face that fate:----->
Regards
Jurgen
i'm fed up with being told"just get on with it" but being an independant person I just do my best to carry on.It doesn't help though!
I have tremors in my arms and legs but no-one has ever told me why. I was told I have Cerebellar Ataxia but that was it. I do find that as I type I make mistakes that I wouldn't normally do (such as grammar). I belong to Ataxia UK Dorset support group so I can at least ask my friends.
Constantly hitting the wrong key can be maddening!! Fumbling while trying to pack
shopping can be maddening!! Missing your mouth with food can be hilarious, as
long as it's not in public. Sometimes, my hands seem to have a life of their own!
Over the last three months my condition is getting worse My GP has now reffered me to the local rehab. unit I hope i will now get some advice on physio etc. I aiso now need speech therapy as I am constantly asked to repeat things although I can manage if I think carefully and breath before I speak Ihope I will feel as if more notice is being takenafter this appt.The frustrstion is the worst part of the condtion You get a feeling that you have been side tracked especially with regards to my age[73]
Hi laddie
I am sorry to hear that things have got worse for you and hope that you find input from the rehab team helpful.
The following link is for the Ataxia UK publication on speech and swallowing. It sounds like the speech bit would be more relevant to you. I thought it may be interesting and helpful to you while you wait to see a speech therapist.
ataxia.org.uk/data/files/in...
Harriet
thankyou Harry B Im sorry I was having a bad day yesterday.Im sure folk are in a much worse situation Ihave found this site a big help.To talk to other people with this complaint has been more informative than the responces I have received from the proffesionals I have seen.I thought I was over the depression
that comes with the physical problems but it surfaces now and then.I have not
any helpful tips as yet but thanks to everone who has been so helpful to me
I am also suffering similar symptoms, my fingers feel numb and tingling with stabbing pain in my hands. I use my hands with difficulty performing every day simple jobs. I also get pain in my wrists. I feel quite useless and embarrassed when I keep having accidents.
Happy Easter everyone keep smiling every day is a new day xxx
Yes, Happy Easter everyone
The sun is shining here and the air is filled with birdsong xBeryl
It`s so quiet here, I forget that it`s Easter - Happy Easter to all
Did you get your eggs? or Easters Bunny? 
I like the Monty Python touch - reminds me of me. Never give in to the thing, even though I do get days when I`m really low - that didn't come out the way I wanted it to, but I think you`ll get my drift.
Hi Joybells
I to have ataxia,the symptoms in your hands are the same as mine,at the time (20 years ago) the neurologist said "if you have a tingling sensation in your hands you may recover".Fortunately he was right,I can even play the piano now (only slowly and with tunes without to many notes in them.
Best Wishes
Took me ten years to get diagnoses for what I have and an educated neurologist. Go to a reputable neurologist and don't stop looking until they really listen and figure out what is wrong. In my case the diagnosis was Hashemi to Encephalopathy. It makes muscles weAK and causes many neurological issues, emotional issues and physical issues. My hands are weak where sometimes washing my hair or anything involving gripping feels like muscle burn after a hard workout at the gym. Don't give up. Good luck.
Hello every1. This is an old post but if you sre still having this problem. All you have to do is do an exercise with your hand try yoga stuff and other exercise. I am a gamer which usually work with keyboards and had the same feeling back then and sometimes i slip with presssing keys or miss a stroke in playing whick affect my game. But with extra time of excercise in mornings i am able to overcome the ticklish feeling when squeezing/grippimg my arms i keep doing it every day to get my arms used to it.. I have been happy about it. This is my share to you. Hope you try it.
Omg I am 41 and this has just started for me. 2 years I to it.symptoms are about the same with the exception of I don't have a hard time letting go, and that this only happens after working on the car
I am 13 and I have had this for as long as i can remember and after reading all of the posts I am really worried that my ability to use my hands will decline I already have to hold a cup with two hands or i will shake to much and it will spill my hands have started hurting to when ever i grab something i worry i might grip to hard and crush it i have left bruises on my friends just from grabbing their arm or wrist because i didn't realize how hard i was gripping when i grip something not easily broken hard i can feel a weird ticklish feeling/ tingling shooting up from my hands to my elbows but from living with it nearly my whole life i don't mind....I hope everyone on this chat doesn't get worse but if someone does i wish you the best of luck and maybe one day we will have a cure for this
Hi how are you doing? did you find the solution to the problem?
It's called: carpal tunnel syndrome
Just Google it...
It happens that I stumble on the answer. The correct one. Here are two links to assist you in your way to recovery:
webmd.com/pain-management/c...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpa...
Hope it help!!
I’ve had surgery on both hands and elbows and still have the symptoms
Dropping things, tingling etc.
My neurologist says that we Ataxians get weird stuff and not just textbook ones.
I am recently diagnosed with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia. My hand do hurt sometimes but my problem is that my hands don't work so well anymore. My hands are very weak...its getting close to impossible to open a jar! Im also havin difficulty with buttons, tying a bow, typing. Prior to my brain injury I typed 80-100 wpm and it has taken me a good 20 minutes just to type this. Is this part of ataxia? loss of fine motor control?
I have the same problem with my hands. Am taking 180mg morphine a day and they still do the same. My little toe on one foot sometimes feels like there are a pair of vise grips locked on it and it also burns and hurts. Sometimes I get shocks down the other side. But nothing like the left side. I wake up in the night feeling like something is biting or sticking in my toes. Not letting go of things is weird, when you think you put a cup down but it is stuck on my finger. It keeps me agitated. The doctor does not want to increase the morphine dose. Afraid I will overdose. I took an extra tablet to see what would happen. I felt some better and I was able to walk without my feet hurting. I am afraid to say anything because the doctor or staff may think I am doing it to get high. All I want to do is get out of pain.
I suggest being checked for diabetes. That goes for many of these posts.
Surprised no one mentioned it yet.
Also your spine may be closing up a bit ( stenosis) and might be putting pressure on the cord or nerves. I had an MRI done and thats what is was. Diabetes can also cause numbness and shooting pain in hands & feet.
I’m having a similar issue my hands aren’t working like they used to its really bad in the past year my hands skill wise went from precise on point and fast to slow clumsy and off the mark When holding things my hand can twitch and cause me to nearly drop the item
I read this and thought I wrote it myself. I've been trting to get it to stip fof a few months. Now I a can't trust myself with boiling water. My brain tells my hands what to do, but my hands don't listen. I've had to stop getting drinks in drive-thru's. I hope there is an answer out there somewhere.
The John Radcliffe Hospital, Dr. Henderson- Slater, Consultant in Neurological Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine & the OCE
help I am scared of losing everything
Knowing when your Ataxia has taken a turn.
My lovely husband
