Something NEW I never experienced!

[Diamond57]

Hi all!

I am finding in this friged cold weather in MI my symptoms seem more larger than life. Something that has never happened before. I was lying in bed on my side trying to nurse a painful pressure ulcer and my left toes started cramping as if I was going to go into a charley horse and ALL my toes just spread and remained in that position for a period if time. ANNNNNNNNNNNNND, one other thing I got a little freaked out at was my left thumb has been locking up on me now and then. I try to move my fingers around. Anybody else have this???? Or any suggestions??? Laying so much trying to help this pressure ulcer is taking forever...........and you have to stay off of it so I'm more stiff and getting fraustrated. Hope all is well with everyone. Look forward hearing from you.

Susie Q.

[22cyclist]

Awe Susie Q. I am sorry you are having such a rough time. Cold is worse for me than the heat and I live in a warm climate. I get a bone chill and nothing fixes it but a hot shower. I would suggest a heating pad for your toes and foot.

Good luck and feel better!

Lisa

[rdmc]

My thumb locks up, it's called trigger thumb. It can happen to a finger as well, then it's called trigger finger It can lock open, or it can lock closed, both are from the same problem, it's
an inflammation of the sheath that surrounds the tendon at the base of the thumb or finger.

Mine results from a hand that tends to curl up, and the solution is to try to keep the hand from
curling by using a hand splint or thumb splint...and if it's painful, go see an orthopedic doctor and they can give you an injection in the finger or thumb...problem is, while the shot is effective, at least in my case, it only lasts for about 3 months...so I went the splinting route and I avoid the shots. Worst case scenario, if neither of those approaches work is to have surgery to release the tendon.

As far as cold and spasms, I can only imagine how those in cold weather are affected. I'm in Florida and if the temp drops below 50 degrees F, I can feel my body stiffen.

Here's a link about trigger thumb:
http://www.braceability.com/thumb-in.../trigger-thumb

[MSW1963]

I had lots of painful, stiff and loss of function/paralysis I my index and middle fingers. Eventually I mentioned the problem to my MS doc. He explained that those two fingers indicated a problem in a specific section along the spinal cord?, sorry, wish I could recall my doc's explanation exactly, but I just don't remember.

You can search images/illustrations of the spinal cord and it's relationship to the peripheral nerves that effect your finger sx's. If I remember correctly my sx's in my fingers were c-spine related, but it was a long time ago. Mine was most severe when my daughter was taking horse riding lessons and I spent the 2hrs in my cold car during her lessons. It was predictable and related to exposure to cold temps.

Sorry you are experiencing this new sx, and I hope it resolves VERY soon.

[Diamond57]

Thanks everyone!