Neuropathy or arthritis?

Hello @jeanner7, Welcome to Connect. Neuropathy or arthritis is a good question but it's something a doctor needs diagnose with some testing and an exam in my non medical opinion. Here is some information that might help explain what might be happening.

"There is a link between RA and carpal tunnel syndrome, a mild form of neuropathy involving nerve damage. The main symptom of carpal tunnel is numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers."
-- Can rheumatoid arthritis cause numbness and tingling?: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/rheumatoid-arthritis-numbness-and-tingling.

You might also find the following discussion helpful:
-- Neuropathy in Hands: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-in-hands/

Have you discussed your symptoms with your doctor?

Sounds like Carpal Tunnel to me as I have the same symptoms. So I purchased two wrist supports for sleep and I started doing PT on my wrists 2x day and I’m much improved. I purchased Futora brand supports but there are many available. Note: I bought from Amazon due to ease of returns as the first one I purchased did not work, had no metal support bar for palm so I returned it. A medical supply place might work but it’s winter and I shop easy.

It does sound like carpal tunnel. I read somewhere that one technique to differentiate between carpal tunnel and other neuropathies is that CP tends to always affect the same finger or fingers and with sensory neuropathy, the sensations move around.

Agree completely with @johnbishop that this is a question for a doctor, though. A neurologist might be best, especially if wrist supports don’t seem to help.

Thanks to this group, I’ve recently starting using the night time supports. It’s adjustable so I am able to keep my Fitbit on underneath, though I imagine it would be best to remove at night. But I use the Fitbit as my sleep monitor…. AND, my sleep quality and time have improved since wearing the supports!! I’m not being awoken by paralyzed hands and fingers and having to shake them back to life. My sleep and arm positions are taking less thought. I bought Meuller Nighttime Support Brace, and love the low weight, and the palm supports. Thanks to all of you on here that steered me to this help!

@jeanner7 Have you tried seeing a massage therapist, one who specializes in nerve impingement and trigger points? Chiropractor clinics often have these type of therapists. I get numbness and tingling it arm and hand from time to time and a massage or two always seems to work it out. Hope you find answers and relief soon!

Welcome @beachysol, I think that might be a great suggestion for @jeanner7. There is another discussion that specifically talks a Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) that can be helpful for many different conditions.

-- Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/.

Have you heard of or tried MFR?

@jeanner7
To be included on the list of 'to dos' the low level light laser is a treatment for carpal tunnel, if that is what it is, although this treatment might help regardless. My fingers were going numb when I knit, and sometimes numb due to sleeping positions, so I tried the therapy on my hands and they seem to be doing much better. I have used the laser therapy on my feet for neuropathy, and my pain was reduced immensely, still lurking, but tolerable.

WHAT IS LOW LEVEL LIGHT LASER TREATMENT?

can CBD oil help with Neuropathy I have gone to specialist and all the med's did not agree with me. My feet hurts so much. there cold, tingle and num.

Good evening @bjhmomm1 and welcome to Connect. This forum is about sharing and so I want to do my best today to help you with your feet. You indicate that you experience cold, tingling tangles, and numbness. You haven't mentioned whether you have seen a neurologist or had a skin biopsy to determine if you might have SFN (small fiber neuropathy.)

I also have cold and tingly feet. I use a medical cannabis topical balm by Papa & Barkley. It comes in two different dosages, a 3:1 CBD/THC for chronic pain and a 1:3 CBD/THC for acute pain. THC works best for pain.....so that is why this product is formulated in two different
ways. Here is the website if you would like to read about these products. They tell the story well. http://www.papaandbarkley.com. For those who just want CBD.....there is another site. http://www.papaandbarkleycbd.com.

When you say meds did not agree with me, what do you mean? It would be helpful to others to know. Were those meds topicals, ingested pills. or injections. It is just so unbelievable that we all can react so differently to treatments and medications.

May you be safe, protected and free of inner and outer harm.
Chris