Anyone had this problem, it started about 6 weeks ago in both thumbs, I’ve been seeing an osteopath for my right arm (as it was painful to move) for the past 8-10 weeks, and treatment has now vastly improved it, but me thumbs are both still numb. The osteopath has checked all the usual things , but nothing musculoskeletal seems to be causing it.
She said there’s a possibility of diabetes but that I didn’t fit the criteria!
so I’m going to get an appointment with Gp through e consult. But just thought I’d ask if it was PMR related xx
Many Thanks
Carole x
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We should normally be given an HbA1c blood test every so often which checks glucose levels as we are on long term steroids anyway. Carpal tunnel is one of the main reasons for pins and needles in thumbs.
I’ve lost feeling in my right hand too and affects three fingers so keep dropping things a lot. Also have stinging sensation in top of thumb. It’s not improved on steroids and on another waiting list to check the nerves
aww sorry to hear that. Interestingly one of our god daughters is studying to be a doctor and she was explaining that certain nerves in the neck can affect just 2 fingers or 3 fingers of the hand, so either one side or the other depending on which nerves they are. Hopefully they can sort this out for you once they have checked you out. It’s such a slow process though isn’t it?
I would say ‘fingers crossed for you’ but that doesn’t seem quite apt at the moment xx so good luck hopefully you will get some answers x
But not as painful as the de quervains (both thumb bases). Repeated injections. Just temp relief. Some days I can't even hold a cup, can't cut food, pull socks up/down... But the scan says 'moderate'. And the pain keeps me awake too. Worse since I tapered down to 8 mg. I can't imagine what 'severe' must feel like. No help anywhere. My Rheumy appointment for July 4th just got cancelled - will be updated when available. Can't believe it.
I’ve just googled your condition, it sounds really painful, I do hope you get some sort of help with this.
Luckily I have no pain or loss of use of my thumbs, it’s just like they are numb. But it’s really disconcerting, I suppose I should be thankful there is no pain.
Yes - been told waiting list for nerve testing was only 6 weeks and although that’s long passed hopefully it won’t be matter of years unlike like my chest pain consultation
I feel I have to say something here! Do hope you get something sorted soon, 9lives.
A few months ago, when I got down to 8 mg of Pred, I had tingling in both hands/fingers and some pain in my wrists. I was told, by medics, to go up to 10 mg and start tapering again, which I did, but ultra slowly. By the time I got to 8 again, I was in real trouble with pain right up both arms and into my neck, such that I was waking several times in the night with fairly severe pain, depending on which side I had slept on. Fortunately, the pain does go away after a while and I don't get it during the day, though I do still have tingling in fingers and some pain in them plus they get very cold. This is prevalent in the carpal tunnel area of fingers,
I decided to get a second opinion, privately, from another Rheumy. He confirmed that I had PMR in his opinion, that I should increase to 10 mg and, if no relief after a week, up dosage to 12.5 mg and stay on that for three weeks before tapering by 0.5. I am now on my second week of 12.5 mg and the increased dosage has made little, if any, difference to my situation. I am sleeping more but waking in pain, every so often.
My CRP increased from 8 to 13, btw. So what do I do now? I'm convinced I could keep on upping the Pred, but it'll make no difference because this feels like something else ie not the PMR pain I experienced at the beginning, it's more like nerve pain, I feel. What's the point of me taking 12.5 mg if it's something else?
VERY interested to hear what 9lives god daughter had to say. I have asked for an appt with a Neurologist to discuss further, along with drug contra indications (separate subject). NHS waiting list is 6 months! I have another 10 weeks to wait, at least. Tried to see private Neurologist locally, but have to wait till September for appt!! Nowt available in my area. Am now considering going elsewhere, possibly London, to speak to someone. They do phone or Zoom type consultations. This is costing me but I feel I must get something done, somehow.
Sorry for the blurb, but I've been needing to 'get this out' for a while and your post, 9lives, spurred me on🤨 Any comments, gratefully received.
I was very interested in your post and glad I helped you get things out there. I saw dr this morning and she is running blood tests tomorrow. She feels it nerves related but wants To be thorough. ( about 10 years ago I suffered a bad head injury and my neck has never really been the same). Although my osteopath says not nerve related!!
If blood test are normal Dr wants me to go for scans. So I think she is on the case.
I have no pain as such and thumbs work normally. I agree with you that it is not PMR related and upping your dose of prednisone seems to no avail. I guess your cpr is up because your immune system is fighting whatever it is that you have.. if that makes sense. But then I’m no Dr.
It seems awful that we have wait so long for specialist appointments, particularly for you as you’re in so much pain.
Sounds like if you can get a zoom call or similar earlier, then at least you might have some answers. Mind you this all adds to the stress factor which doesn’t help the situation does it?
Many thank, Carole, for your comments. We sound in sort of similar situations. Funnily enough, I had a car accident years ago which left me with a head injury, which some years later caused me to have epileptic fits and I suffered from trouble in my thirties, with neck and upper back trouble, almost certainly caused by the accident.
I think you must be right about the inflammation figure (CRP) rising because of the trouble with my hands and arms at the moment. As you say, this all adds to the stress of our situations. Ghastly really.😔 I have just started a new post on the subject because somehow it feels better just to communicate with others, and this forum is such a blessing.
I do hope you get sorted soon. Sounds as though your GP is on the case, which is good news at least. Wishing you all the very best and thanks again.
aww dear sorry to hear about your car accident and the problems it has caused further down the line. It’s odd how the body works, just like a ripple effect, that goes through the body upsetting things in its wake.
I’ll let you know how it goes, you too keep us posted x
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