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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / October 2007fingers numb and tingling: Enbrel?
Hello all, I've got a concern I'm hoping someone here can address. I have RA and I'm taking Enbrel and methotrexate. I've been on Enbrel for 4+ years, and MTX for 12+ years. My arthritis is very well controlled. However, about 6 weeks ago I started having sporadic tingling in my fingers ( both hands, all fingers, but usually not all at once). It's gotten slowly more constant, and there is also numbness. I saw my RD last week and he checked a lots of reflexes, etc., and said there was nothing specific in the way of entrapments etc. he could find. He mentioned that it might be the Enbrel, but didn't suggest I stop taking it at this time. He suggested that if it didn't improve in a couple of weeks that I see a neurologist. I'm really worried. I'd appreciate any experience or suggestions anyone may have along these lines. > Hello all, > I've got a concern I'm hoping someone here can address. I have RA and [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I'm really worried. I'd appreciate any experience or suggestions > anyone may have along these lines. First don't let the idea of a neurologist put you off. They check out the whole nervous system, not just the brain. Maybe a pinched nerve somewhere? Here's to finding out what it is. Its always a major accomplishment to know what is wrong. And then to being able to do something about it. Jo > <dro...@comcast.net> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Jo Thanks for your response, Jo. I'm so hoping it's a pinch. I'm seeing an Olympic-quality massage therapist/athletic trainer this week and if it's a pinch/entrapment she'll find it and either treat it or send me to the neurologist. There isn't any MS in my family, and I'm late 60s- on the old side for MS onset. Watchful waiting it is..... this is not meant to alarm you as it could be nothing but I would listen carefuly to your rd. If it gets worse suddenly or in any other areas then get to the rd's by phone or in person immediately - not just in a couple of weeks. Also please see back if it isn't improved in a couple of weeks. This can a side effect of enbrel in some cases that is not really common but is noted. In the meantime I would rest those hands, ice them regularly just in case there is some inflammation that the doctor can't feel. Look for anything you are doing that might be irritating them. If the tingling turns out to be more like a sharp, burning sensation at anytime that just doesn't want to stop, get to your doctor again. Use your gut reaction - if it really hurts it is time to revisit the idea. Please let us know back in a few weeks if it is not or is better! I will be watching carefully for one of your posts. If you have to go to ER on this make sure the admitting knows your doctor suspects the enbrel so they can check it out. Insist they get in touch with your doctor. This doesn't usually present itself apparently after so many years and in most cases people seem to have MS or MS in their immediate families but it does occasionally happen. Nice to see you have a great rd who watches things. Enbrel is an incredible drug with little side effects for many people, however in a few side effects can happen. Please follow up but don't panic about it. Kelly > Hello all, > I've got a concern I'm hoping someone here can address. I have RA and [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I'm really worried. I'd appreciate any experience or suggestions > anyone may have along these lines. kelly, i just wanted to say how much i admire you. what a supportive, caring, "undramatic" post you wrote, telling it like it is without being an alarmist. to the writer with the original question: do listen to kelly. she knows where she's coming from. i too had tingling and numbness while on enbrel, but the neurologist i saw didn't think it was the cause. i had an mri that showed some problems with my cervical spine. i had physical therapy and that helped a lot. good luck to you! diane > kelly, i just wanted to say how much i admire you. what a supportive, > caring, "undramatic" post you wrote, telling it like it is without [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > diane Hi Diane, Thanks for your input- I liked Kelly's post too! I "know" that my alarmist nightmares are in the category of 'highly unlikely' but I sure don't want to have to stop Enbrel because it's worked so well for me. Thanks, Kelly! I really trust my RD. He's not only a board-certified RD, but also a DO, so he has been trained to diagnose and feel things the average MD doesn't even know could be significant. I will definitely follow his advice. Rest my hands? Ummm, it's the Fall put-the-garden-to bed season, and they feel better with exercise in moderation. I am mostly staying off the keyboard, using various wrist braces, and some icing. I'll keep the group posted. D. > this is not meant to alarm you as it could be nothing but I would listen > carefuly to your rd. If it gets worse suddenly or in any other areas then [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > I'm really worried. I'd appreciate any experience or suggestions > > anyone may have along these lines. |
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