Possible Nerve Damage, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[Vorpal]

Lathargy combined with the numbness in extremities could be something quite serious, such as fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis, muscular sclerosis, and a couple of different autoimmune syndromes.

That said, the answer is more likely to be something relatively simple, such as vitamin B12 deficiency. This can be identified by blood tests.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Thanks for all your comments.

I am trying to read and work my way through all the stuff.

I have had problems in the past which were not all exercise related, muscle pain unexplained, lethargy after sitting down for say 30 minutes, pain in legs when rising from chair, pain and weakness climbing stairs, mostly they were medication related, I have worked through most BP and Anti-cholesterol stuff.
Exercising on meds especially over three hours is very frustrating.
If I cant stay on the bike for more that 50 minutes / virtually fall off after ten hours / like now pain after a few hours above a moderate level of exercise. its always been a med I am on, GP just shakes their head when I explain that I cant stay on bike and do any endurance, they know that its a losing game.
I am on what is been described as best BP med (even though its not affecting my BP much, exercise does this more in keeping it down) for exercise.
Off statins and on anti-cholesterol non statin, I am sure they want me on higher dose.
The latest is almost total incapacity to sit in a chair after sitting down for a period of one hour, this has actually go on for several months.
I need to lie down but there is no recovering and relaxing at all, I can't even fall asleep to relieve the symptoms, happens normally mid after noon after my lunch.
I get up and after walking around for a while I liven up a bit.
Stupidly getting on the bike wakes me up but I cant keep exercising every day all the time to stop me being a zombie.

Tingling and numbness in all of hand as I type this, still numb toes which affect my balance.
I will leave it a week then phone the GP again, mean while will list my problems for GP and after blood test results.............well see where I go from there with GP.

Really no Idea after failing to get through first day of tour then abandoning, how I then went on to do a week long tour unsupported, I must be very pig headed / stupid but I did finish, performance was crap for me so I was not over the moon but I did it.

As you know if you have two problems GP want two separate appointments.
I am not giving up just yet on cycling, still things to, meanwhile need to get back on bike and keep muscles active even if it feels like swimming in lead.

Edited- P.S. writing by hand is difficult.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
B12 deficiency - well I have all the symptoms, but some of these could be some of the meds I am on,

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Not much has improved in the last 8 weeks
I now have visible tissue bulk loss in my right hand.
I am right handed and its considerably weaker then my left.
I struggle with-
Picking up things that require thumb and index finger.
Twiddling a screwdriver.
Opening a tin with or without a hand operated tin opener.
Turning ignition key.
Using my hand for cleaning scrubbing with tools.
Not so much pain but just weakness, but if I push it hard the backs of my hands hurt like I have been doing hard work all day, but I have only done several minutes.
8 weeks on the tingling has gone in the fingers apart from a slight sensation in middle finger on the lefty hand,
Right foot- big toe and next two toes plus an area about 3rd - 1/2 of the sole is still numb, but no pain.

I have been on Amitriptyline.
Did get to see a physio but only after 4 weeks (used to be 3 days).
Going to ring GP tomorrow and thrash it out.
Suggest B12 vitamin deficiency ?

[Vorpal]

An elderly relative was recently hospitalised with weakness that turned out be mineral deficiencies.

Good luck with your GP.

[Tangled Metal]

I've learnt that you have to handle GPs in order to get an outcome. By this I mean lead them towards a real diagnosis or further action towards that. They have something like 10 minutes per appointment so toy really have to make the most of it.

Even better advice is to book a double appointment. It'll give more time with the gp. If that time isn't needed he/ she will appreciate the breathing time it gives. The main thing is you have a debilitating condition that's only getting worse. It needs sorting out.

Sorry if that's all what you know already. It's just that I'd have appreciated someone telling me how to be treated seriously by GPs years ago.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Seen the GP (large practice so they now refer you to see a specialist in that field, with in the practice) she examined my hands and it was very apparent that the main weakness is the RH index finger, simple test, spread you fingers and then she tries to close them, weakest you would expect should be the small finger LH it was, RH the index had little or no resistance.
Tapped my wrist and after 30 seconds pain in the fore arm which I also got this morning stirring a pot of paint

IIRC they have already checked for B12 my blood test six weeks ago.
So I am being referred (treating as urgent, and have done all along getting an appointment at the docs same day, both times I have contacted them with this problem) to hospital to see a nerve orthopaedic for function tests, energising the muscles?
Another blood test to look at sugar glucose in the blood haemoglobin? I think I this is for my lethargy?

Edited- Oh I think now the blood test is for diabetes? But she thought that was along shot.

[Vorpal]

Oh, I'm glad to read that it's being treated as urgent. I hope you get some resolution, soon.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Been to the orthopaedics at the hospital.
Got the electrocution treatment
They reckon there is some carpal tunnel effects but this does not explain the weakness in my hand which is most noticeable to me as in the RH index finger.
This is a wrist nerve but not carpal tunnel.
So I am referred to another department.
They say if its not Carpal Tunnel which is operable then there is no fix, will clear in time.
I live with it and carry on.

My hands suffered because -
The silly terrain of my tour which was braking long downhills on the drops.
And also my poor gloves which lacked padding

Pains in the feet at specifically the ball of foot bend across the base of toes, whilst cycling on two days, stopping a while and they disappeared.
This again was probably the terrain and lack of low gear (42") with a 20+ kilo bike on 100' / mile climbing, mostly down to the walking up them hills, exasperated by again too flexible shoes
Pedals are large area flat platform, the last time I had anything like this pain at that area of foot was when one of my shoes fractured in the sole and I did not notice as it was inside shoe under the insole.

My back which I have suffered for 30 years gave no problem despite the concrete floor and wooden two slat bus stop benches, probably because I spent no time sitting and was exercising the spine constantly, massage.
Last time I went camping with a stiff back it cleared up and gave no trouble, there you go, I never sit when away on the bike, I am either riding or sleeping

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
So today I'm backing for more diagnostic treatment.
Well if that's what you call it the last time I had electric shocks like that I was making electrocution machines At school, all the hard nuts used to queue up to see how long they could hang on

She was talking in millivolts but maybe she said milliamps, First hand and arm started me sweating.
Second hand wasn't so bad.
So I said that I'll just have to live with it then, no was the reply she is referring me to see the consultant see if there's anything they can do.
okay so my grip in the right hand is marginally better but still weaker probably than my left hand, I am right-handed.
I have noticed a noticeable loss of flesh in my right hand.
So we'll see how it goes.
It's now three months since I got back off my tour and noticed the problem.
On one hand I'm thinking it's getting marginally better even with exercises, on the other hand I don't particularly want to lose any more flesh from my hand.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Got a cancelled appointment so went in this morning a month early.
More electro diagnoses torture, and I sweat almost instantaneously

Ulna nerve damage.

2019-11-17_002538.jpg (28.48 KiB) Viewed 602 times

More consultation.
Not sure if 3 1/2 months means that its not going to get any better now.

This shows muscle wastage which I have.
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases- ... the-wrist/

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Just an update posted on another thread-
"Hi,
Its about nine months since I suffered nerve damage in both feet and hands.
I still have some swelling on right foot above the two little toes, but post ride I had no pain in feet, though I have been left with 30 % numbness in base of right foot.
That foot goes numb from poor circulation anyway, so its no biggy.
I seem also to have a permanent swelling on out side of right wrist, this (both hands) I still feel pain on the bike, and I am probably going to have to beef up on padding next long ride, I get pain on the turbo inside one hour."

[Cowsham]

My brother has almost identical symptoms as you he doesn't cycle but has/always had a very strenuous job which involves lots of climbing up buildings. He's been through all the examinations you've had and also a blood transfusion thing for another type of test which he said was a horrible experience . They did say he may have a rare nerve damaging disease caused by an overactive immune system ie damaging the nerve sheaths.

Still no real resolution I'm afraid hence why I'm interested in this thread.

Just as an aside -- in 1992 I experienced nerve damage which resolved itself.

I had been camping at the tt and came home to find I couldn't curl the weights with my left arm. ( did power lifting from a very young age ) It felt strangely weak. No pain numbness or tingle. I left it that day and tried again the next session but looking at the bicep I noticed to my horror it was soft and all the movement was done by the forearm muscles.

They told me no exercise until they could establish whether I had neck damage or worse. They took xrays of the neck -- nothing They asked if I'd had any accidents but I hadn't so they sent me for ms and motor neuron tests and other equally dire diseases -- nothing --

Then I remembered an incident involving trilludan ( I think it was called ) . It's an antihistamine I used to get sleep while camping as I had chronic asthma at the time and wanted to avoid any chest problems while on holiday. ( I found out later pollen wasn't ever a problem for me but that's for another thread)

What happened was that I took the antihistamine each night which made me drowsy so I slept very sound, but I remember one night near the end of the two week trip I woke during the night to find my left hand numb like I'd been lying on it wrong. I was also wearing a t shirt which had got very tight under my left armpit being in a sleeping bag made it even tighter.

The thing that made it more memorable was that the numbness didn't immediately go but lasted for about 20 min or half an hour.

I told the doctor this and he said it's very likely this was the cause. He said it could be temporary or more unlikely permanent nerve damage. Thankfully it was temporary but took over a year to get back to full strength. Drunk man's arm is similar where a drunk man falls asleep with arms hanging over the back of a chair. The blood supply is cut off to the motor nerve and it is damaged.

I'm always conscious of this effect now ie if I have a back pack on I try not to have too much pressure on where it comes over my shoulders etc.

Hope you get an answer and better soon.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I've done manual work and exercise most of my life including running cycling walking et cetera.
Going up ladders is bad news for your feet of course you need very rigid soles So as not to damage your feet from standing on the runs.
My problems started straight after my one week tour of Devon and Cornwall coast on a drop handlebar bike Which I am normally used to, But the hills means you are on the brakes all the time, not helped by the fact that these are also old style levers and not your normal model STIs with a nice big comfy bits.

I still have slight muscle wastage in my right hand but does not limit me doing anything for now, with manual work I sometimes swap to my left hand quicker than I would've normally done in the past if ever.
As my symptoms have much subsided I did not go back to hospital but was told that if I had a problem to go back again.
But I have to live with the fact that my hands do suffer even normal riding For an hour or so.

[Cowsham]

My brother has had this problem for about 6 or 7 years now and has no grip left in his right thumb. His right hand is almost completely numb on the outer skin but can still feel pressure I think. Recently he said his left hand is starting to go numb on certain fingers now which worries him much because he had to learn how to use screwdrivers and write with his left. He did mention he has some foot problems as well but can't remember how much.

It worries me too that his job involves working at height and climbing ( and electricity so some extent ) I've been telling him to try and diversify and offered him help doing that but he has his son working with him now and doing some of the dangerous work.

It's an awful affliction if your self employed and no work means no money. -- he's not getting any money from the government during this pandemic but because he employs his son they get furlough for him. He should be on invalidity payment of some sort since he's crippled with whatever it is -- the doctors are still really at a loss and have tried to fob him off several times.