Possible CTS and 'slipped cervical discs'
My neurologist (sounds grand doesn't it) believes the symptoms I have been suffering are not related to my neck problems (C4& C5 C5 & C6 C6 & C7). This has been an issue for around 10 years now causing pins and needles in arms, trickling sensations in back, dizziness, nystagmus, also pain in shoulder tricep and bicep (you can put your finger on the exact spot, but this changes), migraines. I also have electric shock-type pains down both arms, and now into my legs, if I ever vomit.
I thought that the problems with Pins and needles, numbness and pain in my wrists and hands, was down to the neck probs but he said he thinks it is CTS, so I am awaiting nerve tests this month. I also have pain from above my elbow down my arm, especially when bent or leaning on it.
I obviously thought all the issues were my neck - now my skin on my fingers is flaking in a strage way, and my nails crumble terribly easily. Is this all typical? I have more bother with the pain and pins and needles rather than how debilitating it is.
Thankyou for your opinion - often difficult to know what to do when you have so many symptoms, many of which could be attributable to either condition. I'm a brass musician as well, so the thought of problems with my hands is a real worry. Can you tell me if the patchy flaking of the skin, and nails, is a typical sign? I also do not really get sweaty hands any more, and I am aware this can be a symptom.
I don't think I would describe nail changes as 'typical' of CTS. Reduced sweating in the median nerve innervated part of the hand is known though. Assuming for the moment that some evidence of CTS is found it will be interesting to see if these things change when it is treated. JB
From that complex of symptoms it is probably quite unlikely that ALL of the problem is CTS but you may well have CTS as well as neck trouble. It is often then hard to tease out what is causing which symptom. In this situation you need all the help you can get from tests (NCS and /or ultrasound) in making the diagnosis of CTS and then it is often worth a trial of local steroid injection before embarking on surgery as that will often give you a better idea of what benefit you might expect from the operation. JB