It never stops does it?

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 2:58 pm

Well, it seems that I have serious carpal tunnel and a trigger thumb. The carpal tunnel has been going on for awhile but has really moved to all the time pain lately.

The trigger thumb is also in the right hand (same arm as the carpal tunnel). It is in both the joints of the thumb and I received a cortisone shot today to delay surgery. In lots of pain and discomfort so will keep it short.

Love,
Mars

Post by **tex** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:23 pm

Aw Mars,

That's a bummer. That can make life mighty tough, especially work. You'd think by now they would have figured out a better way to "fix" it, (other than surgery). I hope the shot relieves most of the pain and discomfort, when it starts to take effect.

Love,
Tex

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:32 pm

Margie----so very sorry---I have no idea what that pain could be--only from what Lynn went thru (she had surgery for the carpal) and I could see it wasnt a very lahdeedah issue to go thru--

WHAT IS A TRIGGER Thumb?

Hope U get some relief----and is surgery a definite?????

Luve Barbara

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:04 pm

Wow....That can be tough as Tex stated. My husband has that carpal tunnel thing. Doctor told him it was from being an electrician for 38 years. I hope the shot works. Was the shot very painful? Love Oma

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:12 pm

YES, the shot was painful. I didn't cry but yhey heard me in every other room throughout the count of 8!!!!

Trigger thumb is where my thumb snaps into a locked position at the joints. I have to take my other hand to unlock it!! OMG does it hurt.

Whinning is over for a minute.

Love,
Mars

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:58 am

Hi Margie!
Hoping to hear that the cortisone shot works quickly to get the inflammation down in your thumb joint.
Jack has trigger fingers and has to go about evey six months to get a shot. I know what you mean when it locks up and you have to use your other hand to unlock it. I see the ouchy on Jack's face and hear the gross sound. The shots just about takes him right off the examining table. They put the needle in the underside, soft area where the finger meets the hand.
Weird, but Jack's Mother and my son have the trigger fingers, too.
There is no guarantee when having the surgery done. Jack's Mother had it and it didn't take care of the problem.
TAKE CARE!!!

Love
Dee~~

jenilake · Post by **jenilake** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:58 am

Mars,

That sounds awful!! How will you use the computer to work?
I hope the shots help!!

Love, Kathyp

JJ · Post by JJ » Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:19 pm

Hi Margie...hope the shot has started to work by now...take care kiddo...Love, JJ

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:09 pm

Hmmm......My Mom had both middle fingers operated on for trigger finger about 4 years ago. Her's were caused by arthritis (or so they said). She also had to use the other hand to force her finger back into position. Sounds VERY painful. I hope the shots work for you, Margie, and I sure feel for anyone who has it.

Love, Shirley

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:10 pm

From the Mayo Clinic..........The cause of trigger finger is a narrowing of the sheath that surrounds the tendon in the affected finger. Tendons are fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. Each tendon is surrounded by a protective sheath — which in turn is lined with a substance called tenosynovium. The tenosynovium releases lubricating fluid that allows the tendon to glide smoothly within its protective sheath as you bend and straighten your finger — like a cord through a lubricated pipe.

But if the tenosynovium becomes inflamed from repetitive strain injury or overuse or due to inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the space within the tendon sheath can become narrow and constricting. The tendon can't glide through the sheath easily, at times catching the finger in a bent position before popping straight. With each catch, the tendon itself becomes irritated and inflamed, worsening the problem. With prolonged inflammation, scarring and thickening (fibrosis) can occur and bumps (nodules) can form.

It does feel somewhat better today but I try to rest it at the end of the day from typing all day at work.

Love ya all,
Mars

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:45 am

Thank you for the explanation. I was going to look it up last night but forgot to do it once I finished whatever else I was doing. Sure hope they can get your problem resolved without surgery but those shots sure don't sound like much fun.

Love, Shirley

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:09 pm

Mars,

Sorry to hear about this...your plate is so loaded. Hope you work through this but you might need surgery, is that right?

Just curious, do you have LC or CC? CC seems to be more related to other auto immune and muscle and joint problems than LC.

Love,
Joanna

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:37 am

Hi Joanna,
I have CC - yep the autoimmune kicked in pretty bad the last few years (i.e., joint issues and allergies that I never had before).

I am putting off surgery until sometime next year, HOPEFULLY! I am not at a point at my job that I can electively leave for 4-6 weeks. It is my dominate hand too, so things will be pretty rough recovering.

Hope you're well!

Love,
Mars