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Nerve problem in arm. Polymyalgia??

Posted , 3 users are following.

chris26345
chris26345

My 87 year old Mother had Polymyalgia 3 or 4 years ago and was on steroids for about a year. It went away completely.

Over the last 2 or 3 weeks she's had really bad "electric shock" tingling in her right arm, from the "funny bone" down to her hand and her fingers feel a bit numb. It's worse in the mornings but it hursts her whenever she puts pressure on her hand, eg using a knife to cut her food or turning a knob on the cooker.

She's seen the doctor who checked her neck and tapped the nerves in her wrist and thought it would just go away over time, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm a bit worried as, with Christmas approaching, it's virtually impossible to get her back to the doctor for the next few days.

Does anyone have any thoughts please? It's very different from the shoulder and arm pain she had witht the polymyalgia before but could it possibly be a recurrence of that?

Thanks all.

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Nefret
    Nefret

    Posted

    With all due respect to her doctor, this does sound like a nerve problem and not at all like a PMR presentation. It could also be tendonitis or a combination of both. As she has been on steroids it's just about possible that they might have left her with a tendon or muscle weakness in that arm.

    I do think she should go back to her doctor - physio might help and the sooner the referral goes through the better.

    Hope this helps.

  • steve_1
    steve_1

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with PMR a couple of weeks ago and this was one of the many symptoms I suffered.

    A sharp pain in the funny bone followed be pins and neadles in the middle two fingers , followed by numbness in same. After a week or so I virtually lost all practical use of my hand.

    Since taking Preds this problem has cleared. Whether it is PMR or some other complaint, in my case the treatment proved to be the same.

  • chris26345
    chris26345

    Posted

    Thanks for your responses Netfet and Steve.

    She's got another appointment at the doctor on Friday so we will mention both possibilities and try and encourage some further tests.

    The doctor was very thorough when we saw her, but when my Mother had PMR originally, it took a while to diagnose the PMR positively. But the Preds then took her sugar levels off the Richter scale (like high 20's / low 30's) so if she is put back on the steroids we will have to be very careful. At least we'll be aware of the issue this time . . .

  • alanh
    alanh

    Posted

    Hi there, I have recurring PMR, nad have just been tested at the hospital for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. ( TRAPPED NERVE ) and its exactly as others are descibing. I am now waiting for results, but the rester said it looks like that is the problem, and the first consultation also suggested it is all PMR related
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