Thursday 26 May 2011

Peripheral Neuropathy

"Peripheral neuropathy often causes numbness and pain in your hands and feet. People typically describe the pain of peripheral neuropathy as tingling or burning, while they may compare the loss of sensation to the feeling of wearing a thin stocking or glove.

Peripheral neuropathy is caused by nerve damage. It can result from such problems as traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes.

In many cases, peripheral neuropathy symptoms improve with time ― especially if it's caused by an underlying condition that can be treated. A number of medications are often used to reduce the painful symptoms of peripheral neuropathy."


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy/DS00131

That's the issue I'm dealing with at the moment with my wrists, hands and to some extent my arms. The skin of both hands are partially numb to touch, the sensation you get when you have a leg that has 'fallen asleep'. It's a very annoying sensation to have continuously.

Further I feel sudden stabbing pains, like someone is pricking me with a needle in my finger tips or other places. The burning and tingling sensations occur during the day a few times.

So last week I, under influence from my DID personality fragment, destroyed a few glass items, got injured in the process, and got arrested and treated so forcefully that I suffered nerve damage in my wrists. Sounds like a wonderful story, doesn't it? It's currently impairing my ability to work, as typing on a keyboard makes my hands feel fatigued, painful and burning after a while.

Isn't it amazing to be a Dutch citizen? Have medical specialist harass and make fun of you for your medical condition and refuse to treat you, have psychologists make up things on the spot and call you crazy, and when you do get angry once after over half a decade, you get arrested and treated like you just killed a bunch of people. I'm so proud to live there, it almost brings tears to my eyes. Oh wait, that's from the agony of my situation.

*rants on*


Update: someone else pointed me to the following item on Wikipedia:
"Cheiralgia paresthetica is a neuropathy of the hand generally caused by compression or trauma to the superficial branch of the radial nerve.[1] The area affected is typically on the back or side of the hand at the base of the thumb, near the anatomical snuffbox, but may extend up the back of the thumb and index finger and across the back of the hand.[1][2] Symptoms include numbness, tingling, burning or pain. Since the nerve branch is sensory there is no motor impairment.[2] It may be distinguished from de Quervain syndrome because it is not dependent on motion of the hand or fingers.[3]

The most common cause is thought to be constriction of the wrist, as with a bracelet or watchband (hence reference to "wristwatch neuropathy"). It is especially associated with the use of handcuffs and is therefore commonly referred to as handcuff neuropathy. Other injuries or surgery in the wrist area can also lead to symptoms, including surgery for other syndromes such as de Quervain's.[4] The exact etiology is unknown, as it is unclear whether direct pressure by the constricting item is alone responsible, or whether edema associated with the constriction also contributes.[2]

Symptoms commonly resolve on their own within several months when the constriction is removed; NSAIDs are commonly prescribed.[3] In some cases surgical decompression is required.[3] The efficacy of cortisone and laser treatment is disputed.[3] Permanent damage is possible."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheiralgia_paresthetica


Maya

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