Carpal tunnel syndrome

[Jan200]

Diagnosed with PMR in Feb 2017 started on 15 mg pred followed advice of wonderful people on this site and managed to wean off pred by April 2018. Now showing classic carpal tunnel syndrome but no PMR. Is this PMR sneaking its way back ? Anyone else had this happen. Waiting for apt with Orthopedic surgeon

[SheffieldJane]

Hi jan200! Well done with your taper! I have to say that it would have been dizzyingly fast for me. There is a link between Carpal Tunnel syndrome and PMR, it has come up a few times on the site and it would be worthwhile a google and to look at posts to the right of your own ( in that column I can see on my iPad screen). I have gleaned that this issue can be helped by a steroid injection. I would be wondering if my taper was too fast though, given that the average time for having this illness is around 6 years. You and your doctor may want to consider a low dose of Prednisalone?

[Chrob in reply to SheffieldJane]

I had the injections for carpal tunnel a year before pmr diagnosis they did help tremendously although with hindsight I believe pmr was already getting a grip at the time . My then gp said you have inflammation someplace but we don’t know where , keep warm and take paracetamol ! So that’s what I did for a year . Stupid of me I know . New gp is keeping eye on hands and has just sent me for the nerve test again in case I need the little op . Diagnosed jan 17 , 15 prednisolone , now around 4.5 not planning on going lower as I feel it’s my limit for the moment. My prescription now says reduce when able , love the new gp .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Chrob]

Good doc - if only more were like that!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It could well be - 15 months is quick for PMR to disappear though it does happen.

[May10]

I have had PMR since April 2016. Never had any problems with my hands until I went on Pred. Been told it is likely to be CT syndrome. I have had the tests done on my nerves where no damage was found. I had an injection from my rheumie and I could not move my hand for 2 days. Once the injection wore off I still had the numb and tingly hands. I am down to 3mg of Pred but my hands are no better, I hope if I get off steroids it might go away!!!!!

[Mama48 in reply to May10]

Afraid my problems have appeared since coming off steroids! Had an injection at the base of my thumb this am, so far no improvement

[Baileyw06]

My Doctor has me wearing a wrist brace at night and had made my problem 90%better with out taking any more medication!!! It’s worth a try!

[Jan200]

Many thanks for all your comment. Thinking back when I first went on pred I had the immediate relieve of the PMR but I did get a strange burning sensation in my thumbs which is a CT symptom. Maybe the pred actually caused CT but masked it until I came off.

Who knows!! I will give the wrist brace a go, thanks Bailey.

[Jan200 in reply to Jan200]

Have tried the wrist support but can't seem to get it right, excruciatingly painful, maybe I've got the wrong size.

[HeronNS in reply to Jan200]

Where did you buy it? Many pharmacies have a person on staff who advises about things like braces and other medical devices.

[Jan200 in reply to HeronNS]

A small branch of Boots who advised me to get it online!

[HeronNS in reply to Jan200]

Oh dear. I've had to special order things myself, but it's the pharmacy who does it. I'd be interested to know what kind of wrist support you got. For a while at work I had some repetitive stress strain (pre PMR) which hurt my thumb and wrist where the thumb joins the hand and I used a very simple adjustable wide elastic band, velcro fastener.

[Jan200 in reply to HeronNS]

It is made by a company calles Actesso medical supplies. I did measure my wrist as instructed and it was borderline between small and medium. I got the small, maybe it should have been medium. I shall try going into a larger branch of Boots.

[HeronNS in reply to Jan200]

The images I saw on line look a lot like the kind I've seen former co-workers with carpal tunnel syndrome using. If the company has online support I'd contact them and describe the problem. It shouldn't hurt at all, let alone be excruciatingly painful.

[Scotte]

google.ca/url?sa=t&source=w...

These flossing exercises (I stll can't juggle) work wonders for wrist drop and CT type symptoms. The use of a wrist brace at night is of great benefit....

[Jan200 in reply to Scotte]

Thanks Scotte, great Tai Chi exercises. I can really feel the stretch. The juggling....well I have the ball skills of a hamster so thats not going to happen!

[MamaBeagle]

You could try acupressure - I used it for elbow and neck problems - this was way before PMR diagnosis - you have to persist with the self treatment but it worked for me. Avoid the knife and any more chemicals if at all possible!!

Here's the link;

acupressure.com/blog/index....

[Jan200 in reply to MamaBeagle]

Thanks, I have just given it a go. Very simple and quick to do, certainly worth trying before surgery and injections. Many thank for sharing.