Both of my hands started going numb when I finally got around to
seeing a doctor about it (didn’t have insurance for a long while), I
had some fairly severe carpal tunnel issues. In my case, it wasn’t
metalsmithing but too many years playing around on a computer with
bad ergonomics. OK, actually, no ergonomics. I didn’t even have the
keyboard tray- everything sat on the top of the desk. I’ve got some
wrist braces I wear regularly & my chiropractor showed me some
exercises to strengthen my wrists & so far I’m doing much, much
better & have avoided having surgery. Most people don’t even realize
the wrist braces are wrist braces because they’re black & so match
the rest of my decidedly funky wardrobe. Even my Prof thought they
were just a fashion statement. The sooner you get it checked out,
the sooner you find out what’s wrong & start treating it rather than
just letting things get worse.
Sharon,
Artist, Metalsmith, Wearer of black wrist braces
I wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to my question
about my fingertip going numb. I had a huge response, both offline
and online, thank you!
I will see my doctor this week, but I’ve changed the way I was
holding things; meaning I’m holding things far more lightly now. I
was gripping my utensils and pens way too tightly.
I checked my blood sugar, multiple times on different days, before
eating, on a home machine, and I’m so far fine there. Will get the
actual fasting blood glucose test at my doc’s office.
I’ve cut back on tomatoes and bell peppers. I was eating bell
peppers like apples, no joke.
And I stopped working in the studio since the message (I do it for a
hobby, not money).
I’m happy to report the numbness is gone.
Now, after the doc appt I’ll slowly try making things again and see
what happens.
Well, losing sensation is a sign of possible nerve impingement
(among other things). I have been no stranger to nerve problems. My
Chiropractor/accupuncturist kept me going for 10 years- When the
pain running down my neck and arm wouldn’t go away he said I should
try to get in to a Neurologist. (which I did and still am in
treatment)
Nerve pain is horribly aggravating and distracting, and often
difficult to pinpoint.
My experience has been frustrating. Even after fusion surgery I have
acute neck and shoulder pain daily, and the current diagnosis is
“carpal tunnel” which is shooting up to my shoulder (Doc says it is
rare but it does happen. I don’t know if I believe this).
I’m currently waiting for yet another opinion before I let them cut
my hands, but am in so much pain that I’m losing my patience. Not to
mention losing work as well (no gold piecework for me while I’m this
distracted) I’m hoping to find the cause soon, because I’ve just
ordered a bunch of metal (thanks to winning the Orchid raffle) and
the pieces in my head won’t make themselves!
I’m coming to deeply understand that my hands are some of my most
important tools and I need to take better care of myself. Best
wishes to you on your quest to get a diagnosis-
I have to say a big thank you to the person who posted that a surgeon
advised pulling and stretching the finers for a count of 10 one by
one. This is helping me immensely and it is simple enough to do
several times a day. THANK YOU!
I can attest to peripheral neuropathy and its insidiousness, not to
mention the discomfort. The medication can be worse than the disease
and since it only controls the symptoms, I find it’s not the best
answer (which I have not found yet).
Regarding hand/wrist pain. My sculptor husband had a lot of hand pain
and numbness. A cousin who is a master in martial arts did some body
work for just a few minutes, with some deep work on the muscles
across the top of the chest. It was pretty effective. Nerve
compression isn’t necessarily at the site of the pain.