 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / February 2007Ultrasound treatment for carpal tunnel?
I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound treatments 3 times a week....first is this morning so I was curious if any here have experience with that? I have had the treatments before for my legs about 15 years ago to help breakup scar tissue after surgery. I asked my Occupational Therapist if the heat would aggravate the CT and he said no....my symptoms started about 6 months ago....worse in the left hand but so far have not had all day pain and wearing wrist braces at nite helps. Thanks and hope all is well here! Donna >I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound treatments 3 >times a week....first is this morning so I was curious if any here have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Donna Hi Donna,,,, What do you do to control your RA? Harv >> I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound >> treatments 3 times a week....first is this morning so I was curious [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Harv I have been taking Arava for 4 years and Planqunil [sp] and naproxyn....I am pain free with no stiffness other than the CT which has been ongoing for about 6 months. The left hand is the worse....I have flares that last a day or two for which I wear splints until the pain goes away....my fingers always have a slight numbness. Hi Donna, I have had the physios use modalities to bring down the inflammation from CT but in the end only the surgery, RA meds and my splints work. The surgery stopped it for me but the modalities really after awhile only aggravated it. I think because it aggravated the RA. I still get pain and numbness when my wrists get really inflamed but nothing like it was before the Carpal Tunnel surgery. Good luck - maybe because you RA is under control the ultrasound will work. I know it has worked for people I have known without RA. kelly >>> I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound >>> treatments 3 times a week....first is this morning so I was curious [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > a day or two for which I wear splints until the pain goes away....my > fingers always have a slight numbness. >>> I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound >>> treatments 3 times a week....first is this morning so I was curious [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > a day or two for which I wear splints until the pain goes away....my > fingers always have a slight numbness. The numbness is probably compressed nerves in the area. Two or three times in the past I have had small steroid shots to control inflammation in an area and that might work for you. It usually puts the fire out for me but I have had it more than once in my rib cage. I had it done in my foot and it never came back. Arava was really good for me for about a year and I am trying it again now because in a couple of years,,,, I am not going to be able to afford Enbrel. So it goes. Harv >>>> I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound >>>> treatments 3 times a week....first is this morning so I was curious [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > to afford Enbrel. So it goes. > Harv I can't do needles.....the good thing about Arava is they have a generic version which should cut the costs....I am blessed to be retired from the Air Force and live close to a big Med Center in Ohio. I have heard and read that Enbrel is wonderful for some but hopefully the Arava will continue to work for me. Donna > I can't do needles.....the good thing about Arava is they have a generic > version which should cut the costs....I am blessed to be retired from the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Donna Yes,,, Enbrel is a shot also which a person does themselves. Can you take transfusions? Remicade is done with a nurse and it takes a needle buttttt if a person could do that its only once in a couple of months. Maybe your RD will put you to sleep to put a stop to your problem with a shot. Anyway,,,, good luck with it all. Harv >> I can't do needles.....the good thing about Arava is they have a >> generic version which should cut the costs....I am blessed to be [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > problem with a shot. Anyway,,,, good luck with it all. > Harv LOL thanks Harv! Donna I've never heard of that treatment, and I'm about to have a nerve conduction test to determine what's going on with my hand/wrist. Please let us know how it goes. Kelly C. >I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound treatments 3 >times a week....first is this morning so I was curious if any here have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Donna Well the treatment was pleasant....felt warm and lasted about 15 mins then she did a deep massage in the area and although she said it would take up to 3 treatments to notice a difference the hand feels better...no numbness.....so I would check it out with your RA Dr. My Occupational Therapist did some manual nerve tests and said I was still in the beginning stages and only the conduction tests would confirm but he wanted me to try the ultrasound first as I refused to have the injections. Donna > I've never heard of that treatment, and I'm about to have a nerve > conduction test to determine what's going on with my hand/wrist. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> >> Donna Thanks for the update. I've had ultrasound therapy on my back and neck, but that wasn't a nerve thing, so I wondered how it would compare. I have had several injections into my wrist already, and they don't help much. I'm actually looking forward to the nerve conduction. I'd really like to know what's going on in there. Kelly C. > Well the treatment was pleasant....felt warm and lasted about 15 mins then > she did a deep massage in the area and although she said it would take up [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >>> >>> Donna The nerve test is next and if it's positive I will have the surgery....no sense pussyfootin around IMO....all the side roads are just a delay. Donna > Thanks for the update. I've had ultrasound therapy on my back and > neck, but that wasn't a nerve thing, so I wondered how it would [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >>>> >>>> Donna I've never heard of that treatment, and I'm about to have a nerve conduction test to determine what's going on with my hand/wrist. Please let us know how it goes. Kelly C. ((((((((((((((((((kelly))))))))))))))) have you had nerve conduction studies done before? kate >I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound treatments 3 >times a week....first is this morning so I was curious if any here have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Donna > I've never heard of that treatment, and I'm about to have a nerve > conduction [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > kate Um, no. And that big hug you just gave me has made me nervous!LOL I've heard that it hurts, so I'd like to just get it over with as quickly as possible and move on to the next step in the treatment process. (((Kate))) I hope you're feeling better now. That sickness sounded really bad. Kelly C. > I've never heard of that treatment, and I'm about to have a nerve > conduction [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > kate Um, no. And that big hug you just gave me has made me nervous!LOL I've heard that it hurts, so I'd like to just get it over with as quickly as possible and move on to the next step in the treatment process. (((Kate))) I hope you're feeling better now. That sickness sounded really bad. Kelly C. it's like anything else, kelly. what hurts for one person is nothing for another person. the hug was because your hand hurts you, silly girl.<smile> i'm feeling waaaay better, and better each day. still have a bit going on, but it is way more tolerable than it was. besides, these bug things are transient, but my ugly is forever.lol kate > it's like anything else, kelly. what hurts for one person is nothing for > another person. the hug was because your hand hurts you, silly [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > kate Stop it! You are far from ugly, you're just short. There's a big difference.LOL The hand doesn't hurt, that's just the thing. It tingles a lot, and I'm having the tingling go up the back of the hand now, too. That's what's confusing the diagnosis. The only part that ever _hurts_ is when I get a feeling in the palm like a rubber band being snapped. It goes from the index finger, across the palm, and almost to the wrist. Anybody have a clue on that? Kelly C. > it's like anything else, kelly. what hurts for one person is nothing for > another person. the hug was because your hand hurts you, silly [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > kate Stop it! You are far from ugly, you're just short. There's a big difference.LOL **that's it! i'm short of lots of things!<g> The hand doesn't hurt, that's just the thing. It tingles a lot, and I'm having the tingling go up the back of the hand now, too. That's what's confusing the diagnosis. ***up the back of the hand . . .hmmm . . . after reading all this, it made me check my back of my right hand. scratch the back of both your hands, kelly. do you notice any kind of difference in sensation between them? how's your neck, cervical spine? The only part that ever _hurts_ is when I get a feeling in the palm like a rubber band being snapped. It goes from the index finger, across the palm, and almost to the wrist. Anybody have a clue on that? **my hand does that, especially when i cut food on a dinner plate, not as often as it did 3-4 years ago though. it does hurt. for me, it's a tendon making the snapping. i get a shrug from my rd about what's causing it or what to do about it. hopefully, your rd is smarter than mine. kate This thing is so hard to explain. It's not numb all the time. It's a lot like a limb that's got reduced blood flow. It'll tingle like it's asleep, so I stop what I'm doing and it gets better. When it does tingle badly, all of the fingers tingle, and the tingling goes between my first two fingers, and down the back of my hand, past the wrist and crosses to the outside of my arm, almost to the elbow. When my neck is flaring, it's on the right side that it hurts the most. I have been unable to get my RD to say that there's anything going on with my neck that's RA, but I know it is. Maybe the nerve conduction can clear this up. I hate to think I might have to have neck surgery to fix it, though. I can't think about that. One thing at a time. I'll let you guys know when I get the testing done. Kelly C. PS-I do think there is a loss of sensation in the area on my hand where I feel the tingling. Crap! Also, the motion required to cut meat is the same one that causes me problems. PCP suggested the possibility of Duputreyns(sp?) contracture. How much fun can we have all at once? Don't answer that. >> it's like anything else, kelly. what hurts for one person is nothing for >> another person. the hug was because your hand hurts you, silly [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > kate This thing is so hard to explain. It's not numb all the time. It's a lot like a limb that's got reduced blood flow. It'll tingle like it's asleep, so I stop what I'm doing and it gets better. When it does tingle badly, all of the fingers tingle, and the tingling goes between my first two fingers, and down the back of my hand, past the wrist and crosses to the outside of my arm, almost to the elbow. When my neck is flaring, it's on the right side that it hurts the most. I have been unable to get my RD to say that there's anything going on with my neck that's RA, but I know it is. Maybe the nerve conduction can clear this up. I hate to think I might have to have neck surgery to fix it, though. I can't think about that. One thing at a time. I'll let you guys know when I get the testing done. Kelly C. PS-I do think there is a loss of sensation in the area on my hand where I feel the tingling. Crap! Also, the motion required to cut meat is the same one that causes me problems. PCP suggested the possibility of Duputreyns(sp?) contracture. How much fun can we have all at once? Don't answer that. well at least your pcp tried to give the tendon thing a name. my rd didn't even try. you'll need to ask your pcp to have the nerve conduction study also done on your neck, if that's what you want. they'll just do it for your hand alone, otherwise, but i don't think it's your neck. does wearing a hand brace at night help you at all? with a loss of sensation it seems to me like there must be nerve involvement. there is a nerve that runs along the back/top of your hand/arm. that's the nerve i had to have a micro-stitch in because i shattered my wrist and broke that outside bone up near my elbow, which damaged it (brain fog - can't remember the name of it). you might have both nerves being compressed to have all your fingers tingling. i think they say ct for numb/tingling thumb and first two fingers; and ulnar nerve for numb/tingling ring finger and pinky. i bet somebody could jump in here and straighten me out if i got that wrong. hopefully, they will check out both nerves for you--and i can't remember for sure, but i think they do automatically. not to worry, hon, i don't think for a minute that you will have to have neck surgery to have it fixed. kate kate > "d'huit" <threecedars1@comcast2.net> wrote in message > news:DvudnfhBU-HZtlnYnZ2dnUVZ_sWdnZ2d@comcast.com... [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > kate Thanks for helping out with this, Kate. A brace does help quite a bit, but wearing one so limits what I can do that I rarely bother. If I wear it to bed, which I sometimes do, it'll end up on the floor sometime in the night. I don't remember doing it, either.lol Kelly C. > This thing is so hard to explain. It's not numb all the time. It's a lot > like a limb that's got reduced blood flow. It'll tingle like it's asleep, [quoted text clipped - 98 lines] >> >> kate > Thanks for helping out with this, Kate. A brace does help quite a bit, but > wearing one so limits what I can do that I rarely bother. If I wear it to > bed, which I sometimes do, it'll end up on the floor sometime in the night. > I don't remember doing it, either.lol > > Kelly C. That's how it was for me at first with wearing wrist braces at night - and I was in them bilaterally! My CTS was bad enough that I was wearing them 22 hours/day though and I learned to do many things with them on. (I was in school then and profs did cut me some slack on essay exams and such.) Anyway, I'd just kept putting the braces on to sleep and whenever I was resting the wrists and I adjusted to them over time and eventually they stayed on all night. I did finally have the releases done, but continued to need the brace on my right hand at night - even more so after busting up the wrist. If you find yourself thinking "Ahhhhhhhhhh.... that's better!" when you wear the brace, then try to keep with it. Over the long haul the relief is worth the hassle and it is so very nice to have *something* feeling better! And this gives me an opening to repeat one of my favorite Mike quotes, from the early days of us as a couple. I always take off whatever brace I sleep in as I get out up. One time Mike rolled over and sleepily mumbled, " I *like* the sound of Velcro in the morning!"  SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 17:43:28 -0500, Kelly C. wrote (in message <J5WdncdY-vONjVjYnZ2dnUVZ_qarnZ2d@comcast.com>): <gentle snip> And this gives me an opening to repeat one of my favorite Mike quotes, from the early days of us as a couple. I always take off whatever brace I sleep in as I get out up. One time Mike rolled over and sleepily mumbled, " I *like* the sound of Velcro in the morning!" <smiling> that's adorable. kate SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare > On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 17:43:28 -0500, Kelly C. wrote > (in message <J5WdncdY-vONjVjYnZ2dnUVZ_qarnZ2d@comcast.com>): [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > <smiling> that's adorable. heh - he still gets kisses for that comment sometimes! SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare heehee! That is very cute! Thanks for the advice, Nann. I will take it under advisement. I still haven't heard from the lab, so I will need to call them tomorrow and find out what's up with getting an appt. Kelly C. >> Thanks for helping out with this, Kate. A brace does help quite a bit, >> but [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > in as I get out up. One time Mike rolled over and sleepily mumbled, " I > *like* the sound of Velcro in the morning!" Yup - try trigger finger especially if it eventually stick down towards the palm. Is the area below the fingers on the palm swollen?? Kelly >> it's like anything else, kelly. what hurts for one person is nothing for >> another person. the hug was because your hand hurts you, silly [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Kelly C. > Yup - try trigger finger especially if it eventually stick down towards > the palm. Is the area below the fingers on the palm swollen?? > > Kelly *carefully inspects and compares one palm to the other* There does seem to be some minor swelling in the right palm, over by the thumb, and just below the large joint for the index finger. I could also swear that it appears a bit bluish, like seeing a vein through the skin. Is this a bad thing? Kelly C. > I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound treatments 3 > times a week....first is this morning so I was curious if any here have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Donna About 20 years ago I had ultrasound treatment for what was probably my first major bout of arthritis. I have what my current doctor is calling "reactive peri-arthritis"... the inappropriate immune response is causing the connective tissue (tendons and ligaments) around the joints to become inflamed, and that in turn can cause pressure on the nerves, leading to carpal tunnel, tarsal tunnel, and a whole bunch of other similar conditions in a whole bunch of other joints. At the time, I had tried daily doses of asprin (after 3 weeks my ears wouldn't stop ringing) and then the prescription anti-inflammatories (all of which are now available over the counter). Finally my doctor suggested the ultrasound treatments. The treatments helped to the point that I was able to continue working as a waitress until my husband graduated from nursing school and went to work at the hospital. As I remember, the day after a treatment I was kind of achy (but without the numbness and tingling from the nerves), but then I felt better the following day. Not a "cure" in my case, but a treatment that allowed me to be functional. SignatureHistory: special people in special places at special times Anthropology: everyone else the rest of the time -KWorley, 1997 ----------------- www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com - *Completion*Retention*Speed* Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road ----------------- >> I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound >> treatments 3 times a week....first is this morning so I was curious [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > but then I felt better the following day. Not a "cure" in my case, > but a treatment that allowed me to be functional. Ok that is mostly how I felt....kinda sore but on a scale of 1-10 it was 1/2 <G> but I have a high tolerance for pain other than needles ;-) Donna that's interesting, donna. i've had ultrasound therapy after and on top of the scars of carpal tunnel surgery for my left hand. i'm uncertain how ultrasound benefits ct prior to surgery, because ct is caused by the nerve being impinged upon. the surgery itself releases the tendon sheath that entraps it. perhaps you have tendon scar tissue doing the impinging of the nerve? in that event, ultrasound therapy makes sense to me, but i'm no doctor. wrist braces at night do indeed help with daytime relief. i also have ct of the right hand, but haven't had the surgery on it, because by happenstance i discovered that turning my head to the left relieves those symptoms. kate I have CT that my RA has triggered and am starting Ultrasound treatments 3 times a week....first is this morning so I was curious if any here have experience with that? I have had the treatments before for my legs about 15 years ago to help breakup scar tissue after surgery. I asked my Occupational Therapist if the heat would aggravate the CT and he said no....my symptoms started about 6 months ago....worse in the left hand but so far have not had all day pain and wearing wrist braces at nite helps. Thanks and hope all is well here! Donna > that's interesting, donna. i've had ultrasound therapy after and on > top of the scars of carpal tunnel surgery for my left hand. i'm [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > therapy makes sense to me, but i'm no doctor. wrist braces at night > do indeed help with daytime relief. I questioned the effect heat would have on the inflamed area but it's a different heat and is supposed to reduce the inflamation....I don't understand how it works but will continue because I will not have injections at this stage of the game. > i also have ct of the right hand, but haven't had the surgery on it, > because by happenstance i discovered that turning my head to the left > relieves those symptoms. That's strange but whatever works is good and wearing the braces at night have helped. Donna >> that's interesting, donna. i've had ultrasound therapy after and on >> top of the scars of carpal tunnel surgery for my left hand. i'm [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Donna I think that the ultrasound accelerates or fosters some kind of tissue reabsorbtion in the area it is applied to. My late wife was a Orthopedic Physical Therapist and one of the Orthopedic Surgeons she worked with had some severe bursitis and as an experiment they tried ultrasound treatments and followed the gradual shrinking of the bursar tissue via X-rays each week. It seemed to work quite well on him as well as future patients with similar problems. I suspect that the "abnormal" excess tissue(scar/cartilage) might also "lessen" with the ultrasound treatments and thus some symptom relief is obtained. jack n dalton - jackD >>> that's interesting, donna. i've had ultrasound therapy after and on >>> top of the scars of carpal tunnel surgery for my left hand. i'm [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > jack n dalton - jackD Hi Jack.....after some more thought I remember the OT saying it also helps increase the blood flow to the hand. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.