[MissMolly]

Peripheral Neuropathy in the Hands

by MissMolly on Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:33 pm

QUESTION: How common is PN in the hands? As of July, I transitioned from MGUS to SMM. For the last several months, my hands go completely numb every night when I sleep. I sleep on my side, but I wake up to BOTH hands completely asleep. Also, several times a day, when I hold something in either hand (phone, pen, steering wheel, etc.) for more than a couple of minutes, that hand will go numb. Generally worse from middle finger to thumb, but involves all fingers and the rest of the hand as well. I'm trying to figure out if this is related to the SMM or something else. I currently only take medications for hypertension, cholesterol, acid reflux and hypothyroidism. I do not get PN in my lower extremities.

[Stan W.]

Re: Peripheral Neuropathy in the Hands

by Stan W. on Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:43 pm

I had tingling in my left arm and three fingers would go numb. This was 2 years ago. I went to a neurologist that did an MRI which showed a lot of arthritis in my neck which caused a pinched nerve. A couple of weeks in a soft neck collar and it went away. He also asked me to get a blood test which eventually showed the abnormal protein in my blood. Thanks to him, I found out I was MGUS and watched for a year until blood work and then, a BMB showed progression to SMM.
Every ache I get now stresses me out.

[MissMolly]

Re: Peripheral Neuropathy in the Hands

by MissMolly on Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:52 pm

Thanks Stan. Your progressions sounds very similar to mine. Just over a year ago I had a cervical discectomy and fusion for 2 herniated discs in my neck. I regularly had numbness and tingling in my left arm before the surgery. All was great after that until recently. Now it is bilateral and much more pervasive. Am going to ask for a referral to a neurologist for a nerve study. I'm also seeing a lot of posts about people getting exhausted as this disease progresses. I'm there. Used to be able to exercise like a maniac. Lately, just walking up a flight of stairs can be a struggle. Will be interesting to see if my pending blood work shows any sign of anemia.

[Stan W.]

Re: Peripheral Neuropathy in the Hands

by Stan W. on Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:03 pm

My doctors were never concerned with my hemoglobin numbers and, where they were.
Here's the results over the past few months. It started to rise between the last to tests. Hopefully it'll hover there or, get better.
I've never felt any effects of anemia so, I wouldn't know what they were if I did have them.

Standard Range 13.9-16.3 G/DL
6/20/2012 14.1
7/9/2012 13.7
11/23/2012 12.8
12/21/2012 13.4