What to expect with PN in hands

Hi @paul14, I also have idiopathic small fiber PN and some minor tingling and numbness at times in my hands and fingers. I too have been in the pre-diabetes category most of my life and only the past 3 or 4 years started working on lifestyle changes. It's good to hear you are thinking about eliminating as much sugar as possible. I do believe it has helped me. I always pooh poohed the pre-diabetes category until doing more research and learning about the metabolic syndrome and it's connection with the nervous system. Here's some information if you want to learn more:
--- The Metabolic Syndrome and Neuropathy: Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3881591/
--- Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for neurological disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21997383/.

The only limitation I've had is hand strength and grip so I also have to be a little careful picking things up. Hoping some other members might have some suggestions for you. I do use one of those rubber flexible pads for opening jars and bottle that I can't grip tight enough to twist. Here's another article that might provide some suggestions:
--- Nerve Pain in Hands: Causes and Treatment: https://www.verywellhealth.com/nerve-pain-in-hands-5114530

I actually am using copper compression braces on my hands about 24$ each through Amazon. They help alot with driving. I have yet to find anyone willing to step out and tell me hey eventually you won't be able to walk or use your hands. That's my frustration just tell me so I can prepare my home and my family. Prayers for you we are all looking for the same answers

My hands were basically crippled at the same time as my feet when I had a sudden infliction of PN. Not only was I in a wheelchair for 6 months, but I needed special tools to use my hands. Extra wide fork and knife handles to eat (no sharp knives!!) and having to learn safe toileting. Special grippers to open things. But long story short, Physical Therapy. I started at rock bottom, and made a ton of improvements with 6 months of PT for both hands and legs. For hands, regaining strength was key. Sure it’s not 100%, probably only 75%, but sooo much better. It involved mental coordination too to help if sensation is bad, so you can be more alert and safer around stoves and ovens. A lot of gripping exercises, squeezing balls of all sizes; picking up tiny things, like emptying a bag of skittles or jelly beans and picking them up one by one to sort by color etc (there are non sugar things you can use, chips, pills, etc); practice shuffling and dealing cards; sticking little pegs in holes. PT helped me learn and practice so much! I’m so grateful to be able to do what I can now. I can live with what I can do now; my condition might not let me sew or knit, cheap newspaper pages are hard to flip, and I still will drop things, but PT has afforded me the luxuries of gripping a steering wheel, starting the car, typing awfully, cooking & cleaning, and flossing my teeth! I hope you consider it to help maintain or improve and fight the chance of it getting worse. Hugs!

Thanks very much. I will look on Amazon. I have same fear. Walking is getting harder and new sensations in hands over the last week is terrifying. Prayers to you as well.

Thanks for the hugs, the same back to you for what you’ve been through. I’m hoping my hands won’t be crippled. I’m doing hand exercises each day to stay on top of it while I hope there’s time. Thanks very much for sharing your very difficult and inspiring experience.

I have numbness and tingling in my right hand for over a year now.
It affects me holding things and picking things up.
Unfortunately it’s my right hand, which is my dominant one.
I am unable to apply makeup and blow dry my hair with a round brush for example,because I can’t hold brushes,etc.
I also can’t put clothes on a hanger that you have to pinch to open,etc.
This is all very annoying and upsetting, and I do have a follow up appt at my neurologist in 2 weeks.
I’m curious as to what he’ll suggest,if anything.

I have mild numbness in my hands that came on quickly in March to add to some numbness in feet. It was very worrying. I changed my diet - I had concerns that I too was pre-diabetic - and it seems to have stabilised. I take the usual supplements (R-ALA, B12, ALC ..). My palms are about 90% fine and my fingertips about 75% - fine work with my fingertips like buttons is slightly more tricky but I can manage. I think it has improved and I hope this will continue. Best wishes.

Good idea to cut down on sugar. My hands need help as well as my feet. Hands still usable, able to type and play the piano. Hope it doesn't get worse.
Good luck!

Charlie@807
I have a question for you to help me understand what is going on? My right hand has one deformed ring finger and a painful middle finger. It's very painful when this deform ? ing $ thing happens. Now my left hands is starting also ring and middle fingers. It starts where I cannot straighten them they want to lock in a curved way ??. I mentioned this to my pain doctor and he said there's no way this is PN.
He said that it cannot go other places it just stays in my feet. He said it is arthritis?? What do you say?? What I read on this site says that it can and appear elsewhere. I'm just confused they just hurt. Thanks for your helpful support much appreciated.

Forgot to mention in the message I sent earlier that I don't have numbness,but my left hand has trouble holding things. Mugs and coffee cups the worse. Part of this is my neck and part I believe is PN. charlie@807