1. < Neuropathy

Which Origin, Nerve or Spinal-Pinch?

Posted by pattee @pattee, May 6 9:10am

I have neuropathy in my hands, symmetrical, but not on little fingers. Dr. ruled out diabetes. I thought it was a pinched nerve from prior whiplashes in youth. Chiropractor (saw XRays) has doubts about stemming from cervicals, since neuropathy is symmetrical, however, the gadget (Dr. Berg Body, Neck & Back Self-Massage Tool -- on Amazon.com) seems to work at night, either it's "accupressuring", or it's acting like traction on my neck. If I feel an attack coming on, I place it under my occipital and neck, and it stops-EVERY TIME. Insight as to whether nerve or spinal origin, anyone?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 6 9:55am

Hello @pattee, Welcome to Connect. I've had neuropathy type symptoms that come and go in my hands, mostly the wrist and thumbs but sometimes the fingers which also isn't usually the little fingers. In addition to my idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy I also have carpal tunnel syndrome which I think is the culprit with my hand issues - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355603.

I have had cortisone shots which helped some but probably won't get one again. I work on hand exercises which helps some. Have you been diagnosed with neuropathy or do you just have the neuropathy type symptoms in your hands?

REPLY
1 reply
gus0557 | @gus0557 | May 6 10:53am

Hi Pattee,
Sorry for what you're going through. If anyone has an answer to your question, my guess it will be a guess since neuropathy, if you actually have the condition, has a mind of its own.
Take care and have a serene day,
gus

REPLY
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | May 7 8:10am

@pattee
If you have pain/numbness/weakness going down neck, shoulders/arms and hands bilaterally, it could be cervical spinal cord and/or nerve root compression/flattening by herniated disc(s), bone spurs/osteophytes, hypertrophy, or ligament thickening. You should see an orthopedic spine specialist for evaluation and MRI of soft tissues in neck to see if you have cervical myelopathy/pinched nerve roots/nerves. You would want to have a neurologist do an EMG/nerve conduction study to see which nerve(s) are compressed causing radiculopathy to arms/hands/fingers.

REPLY
1 reply
pattee | @pattee | May 7 9:11am
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @pattee, Welcome to Connect. I've had neuropathy type symptoms that come and go in my..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @pattee, Welcome to Connect. I've had neuropathy type symptoms that come and go in my hands, mostly the wrist and thumbs but sometimes the fingers which also isn't usually the little fingers. In addition to my idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy I also have carpal tunnel syndrome which I think is the culprit with my hand issues - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355603.

I have had cortisone shots which helped some but probably won't get one again. I work on hand exercises which helps some. Have you been diagnosed with neuropathy or do you just have the neuropathy type symptoms in your hands?

Jump to this post

Hi John,

Thank you so much! No, I have not been formally diagnosed, but had my doctor run a blood panel, for which she said that I do not have diabetes. Bentothiamine & Magnesium lessened the symptoms. I never considered carpal tunnel, but since I spend a lot of time on my computer, that might be it. It's the mouse that I think would cause the most problem. Thank you for the link, I will follow it. BTW, Dr. Berg's self-massage tool (Amazon) that I use it at night if I get an attack, really works. Mayoclinic won't allow me to post a link, sorry.

REPLY
pattee | @pattee | May 7 9:15am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@pattee If you have pain/numbness/weakness going down neck, shoulders/arms and hands bilaterally, it could be cervical..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@pattee
If you have pain/numbness/weakness going down neck, shoulders/arms and hands bilaterally, it could be cervical spinal cord and/or nerve root compression/flattening by herniated disc(s), bone spurs/osteophytes, hypertrophy, or ligament thickening. You should see an orthopedic spine specialist for evaluation and MRI of soft tissues in neck to see if you have cervical myelopathy/pinched nerve roots/nerves. You would want to have a neurologist do an EMG/nerve conduction study to see which nerve(s) are compressed causing radiculopathy to arms/hands/fingers.

Jump to this post

Thank you! You've described it. I know from XRays that the disc is not herniated, but for the rest, I will look into that.

REPLY
1 reply
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | May 7 10:10am
In reply to @pattee "Thank you! You've described it. I know from XRays that the disc is not herniated, but..." + (show)
@pattee

Thank you! You've described it. I know from XRays that the disc is not herniated, but for the rest, I will look into that.

Jump to this post

@pattee
Be careful with neck adjustment by a chiropractor since it can worsen symptoms in your cervical spine. You can have bilateral arm/hand/finger symptoms if you have a broad central herniated disc. I currently have this at c6-c7 and going for ACDF surgery in 2 weeks (May 2025). My spinal cord is being compressed as well as nerve roots/nerves causing radiculopathy symptoms to arms/hands/fingers. I had ACDF done on c5-c6 in 2022 due to myelopathy/radiculopathy symptoms. I also had carpal tunnel release surgery on my right hand mid-March 2025 and it helped some of my symptoms . I need to do the left hand later in the year.

Disc issues won’t always show up on X-ray so it is good to get a MRI of all soft tissues, including discs, plus EMG/nerve conduction studies which checks peripheral nerve communication and health to muscles in limbs.

REPLY
pattee | @pattee | May 7 12:45pm

Good luck in surgery, and thank you so much for the advice.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.