posted
I had an episode of what appeared to be carpal tunnel some time ago. It responded to lyme treatment. I had no other interventions. Have had no further problems of this type, but still being treated for lyme.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
I don't have any info about the relationship of Lyme and carpal tunnel but I do have carpal tunnel in my left wrist (I'm right handed so it's kind of weird that it's in my left hand) that can be pretty bad sometimes. I'd be interested to hear about other experiences and anything that can help it.
posted
I had some carpal tunnel 4-5 years ago in both wrists. I wore wrist braces occasionally, and it cleared up. This was well before I began Lyme treatment, or even knew that I had it. I don't know how much you are on the computer, but I found I had to back off for a while.
Posts: 977 | From Austin, TX, USA | Registered: May 2004
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Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
My Carpal Tunnel has nothing to do with keyboarding. This is not a regular carpal tunnel from frequent small hand movements.
It is caused by Lyme and only by Lyme Disease. Clinically it is also somehow different as the symptoms are mainly during nights, affecting often only single fingers, sometimes affecting feet as well. Using or not using computer has absolutely no influence on this symptom.
My hormons are normal but perhaps I should try some thyroid hormons for a while just to see.
[This message has been edited by Areneli (edited 31 July 2005).]
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Areneli I had carlpal tunnel type wrist pain But at the time every joint in my body hurt--alot-- I snaped crackled and popped-- Both wrists hurt very bad- I could not hold a pen-
I took glucosimine sulfate and it helped a bunch--
After I started ABX- Doxi - it has not returned- Joint pain is about 85% gone --Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I was scheduled for carpel tunnel surgery on both hands when my LD diagnoses came along. I cancelled the surgery since I was too overwhelmed. As luck would have it, the carpel tunnel went away with treatment for lyme.
I think they are directly related in that this bug likes to attack weak spots. I use both my hands all day as a hairdresser. Things are great now!
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
I don't have carpal tunnel, but I had severe pain and stiffness in hands and fingers and also have tingling in my hands. I was mis-diagnosed with tendinitis before the Lyme dx.
My symptoms were most directly caused by tenison in my muscles in my shoulders, upper back and neck. I didn't notice abnormal tension in that area until months of wearing wrist braces. But through phsyical therapy it became very clear that referred pain from that area was the main problem.
My hands also go number when my arms are up above my head and come down. It usually hits when my hands and arms get to shoulder level.
The treatment that helped me with that symptom is:
-30mg of Flexeril every night (I started at 5mg and gradually incresed)
-Myofascial release (physical therapy)
-stretching and strengthening shoulder, back and arm muscles once the pt and flexeril took effect
-Plaquenil - reduces stiffness and inflammation in hands
I do believe abx have helped, but it was not quick and I don't think I could have had any improvement without the help of Flexeril and pt. This was 14 years in the making when I started treatment.
In my case, we think it was caused by salmonella along with the Lyme. My LLMD said it can also be caused by strep.
Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I had CTS in both hands for almost 20 years. I resolved a lot of the issues by having my work station(s)ergonomically corrected.
However, a couple of months ago (in April) my left hand and arm became excrutiating. It was so bad that nothing - ice, heat, NSAIDs, would help. I even went to hand specialist (who turned out to be a real bad DR) and all he said was to go get a test for nerve function.
Then a couple of days later, the pain stopped and didn't return. However, other symptoms, seemingly unrelated, starting showing up... I think you can see where I'm going here.
Turns out the initial CTS attack was probably the first indication I had Lyme. Things in my body went downhill until 2 weeks ago I wound up in the hospital getting IV antibiotics for meningitis.
From what I've reading, once Lyme gets into the central nervous system, then it can manifest itself in many ways. So far, I only have weird headaches/faceaches, but sometimes my thumbs hurt, too.
Personally, I would make sure that the CTS is CTS and not another manifestation of Lyme.
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
quote:Originally posted by Areneli: I would like to ask some questions to people who experience numbness of hands or fingers during sleep.
What do you know about carpal tunnel caused by LD?
Do you have any insights to its mechanism?
Does it improve with ABX treatment?
Have you found any effective treatment for that symptom?
[This message has been edited by Areneli (edited 31 July 2005).]
I would like to ask some questions to people who experience numbness of hands or fingers during sleep. Yes
What do you know about carpal tunnel caused by LD? it stings
Do you have any insights to its mechanism?yes take vitamin b complex and mg
Does it improve with ABX treatment? Mine did and took a while keep taking bcomplex and mg.
Have you found any effective treatment for that symptom? mg vitamin b complex and multi,also glocosomine,and cq10 I very rarely get tingleing and no numbness even when sleeping or driving a car hands on steering wheel.
Posts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003
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Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
I had sleep numbness. I used to sleep on my hands. Sleeping with my hands over my head beside the pillow, while akward, solved the problem.
I used to wake up with numb hands in a panic, shaking them to restotr the blood flow.
I had stiffness in my wrists & fingers from Lyme arthritis that was brutal. It has improved w/abx.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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