RE: Carpal Tunnel and RA

[Guest guest]

You mentioned that 10 mg Prednisone per day helped considerably. Has your rheumatologist prescribed anything else for you besides Plaquenil or given yoiu a tentative diagnosis of RA or some other inflammatory arthritis? Getting benefit from Prednisone is consistent with inflammatory processes and usually early and aggressive treatment is recommended. I think you should be on a DMARD in case it is inflammatory arthritis. You want to treat it before permanent joint problems develop. Perhaps a second opinion from a differfent rheumatologist is in order. Good luck and God blesss.

----- Original Message -----

From: Steve Duncan

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 10:06 AM

Subject: Carpal Tunnel and RA

A couple of recent posts have related being diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in conjunction with RA. I believe they can be closely related, and so does DrDoc on his Arthritis pages:http://www.arthritis.co.za (under "Syndrome Index")Last December I was working non-stop on an intensive computer project and began to experience sharp pains in my right hand. I began to favor that hand/wrist with a splint, and the symptoms quickly spread to the left hand as well. I was diagnosed with overuse syndrome. It wasn't until the following July when symptoms showed up in my feet that I was fairly certain the CTS was a result of systemic inflammation, not repetitive stress. Nerve conduction studies were normal.I also experienced Ulnar nerve compression that caused my hands and arms to go to sleep at night when I slept on them wrong. The symptoms of both were very painful, mostly burning and pins and needles sensations. When my Rheumy prescribed 10mg prednesone per day, the nerve compression problems mostly went away. While I had these problems, I used wrist and elbow splints from IMAK Products. They make the only elbow splint comfortable enough for sleeping I could find.Now my symptoms are sharp pains and burning sensations in my hands and feet, with the usual morning stiffness. The odd thing is that I am seronegative (no unusual blood tests) and there is absolutely no "visible" swelling yet. Five months of Plaquenil did nothing except disrupt my vision a bit. My next stop is a neurologist. I suspected a peripherial neuropathy early on, but RA seemed to make more sense as time whent on. Maybe the negative labs and lack of swelling is a positive indication for a more favorable outcome for this 48YO male.Steve

[Guest guest]

Steve,

That sounds like psoriatic arthritis. The psoriasis and out of line blood work don't have to be there for it to be.

Do you know where to get wrist and elbow splints from IMAK Products?

I am dealing with the same as you. It was nine months after work altering/life altering hand problems before major inflamation showed up in blood work as did a high SED rate. I had had a mysterious psoriasis that a dermatologist nor general doctor related or dealt with appropriately for a 18 mo. before that. My nerve test were normal over the two year time frame also. One orthopedist did not think I was in notable discomfort or the swelling was due to anything but female and overweight and 48(according to his reports) Another called it weird hands by virture of being on blood sugar regulating medicine.

-----Original Message-----From: Steve Duncan [mailto:sduncanae@...]Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 1:06 PMRheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Carpal Tunnel and RAA couple of recent posts have related being diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in conjunction with RA. I believe they can be closely related, and so does DrDoc on his Arthritis pages:http://www.arthritis.co.za (under "Syndrome Index")Last December I was working non-stop on an intensive computer project and began to experience sharp pains in my right hand. I began to favor that hand/wrist with a splint, and the symptoms quickly spread to the left hand as well. I was diagnosed with overuse syndrome. It wasn't until the following July when symptoms showed up in my feet that I was fairly certain the CTS was a result of systemic inflammation, not repetitive stress. Nerve conduction studies were normal.I also experienced Ulnar nerve compression that caused my hands and arms to go to sleep at night when I slept on them wrong. The symptoms of both were very painful, mostly burning and pins and needles sensations. When my Rheumy prescribed 10mg prednesone per day, the nerve compression problems mostly went away. While I had these problems, I used wrist and elbow splints from IMAK Products. They make the only elbow splint comfortable enough for sleeping I could find.Now my symptoms are sharp pains and burning sensations in my hands and feet, with the usual morning stiffness. The odd thing is that I am seronegative (no unusual blood tests) and there is absolutely no "visible" swelling yet. Five months of Plaquenil did nothing except disrupt my vision a bit. My next stop is a neurologist. I suspected a peripherial neuropathy early on, but RA seemed to make more sense as time whent on. Maybe the negative labs and lack of swelling is a positive indication for a more favorable outcome for this 48YO male.Steve