My doctor says I have carpel tunnel but I do not have pain, only weakness and atrophy of the muscle in my hand. Can I have carpel tunnel without pain?
No you don't have to have pain. However if you have weakness and wasting of the thumb muscles I would generally expect you to have some loss of sensation too. If you want to know all about it follow the link from related information at the right hand side of this screen to carpal tunnel net (you may have to scroll down to see it) - Dr J Bland
Hello Anna
I've had surgery for carpal tunnel in both wrists. My problem was numbness not pain, I would notice it in the morning when driving to work, I would loose feeling in one hand. It would be difficult to pick up a pen or a piece of paper. The surgery was local and I wore a bandage for about two weeks. Have you had testing for carpal tunnel ?
Alpine
Thank you very much for this information. I don't have any loss of sensation or tingling. In addition to weakness and atrophy of the muscle, I have been dropping things a lot lately and sometimes stumble when walking. The neurologist I saw was fixated on carpel tunnel and did not respond to the other symptoms. I am going to find another neurologist that I have more confidence in.
Thank you again,
Anna
Thank you very much for this information. I don't have numbness, but one of the first signs was that I had trouble holding a pencil and writing legibly and I have also started dropping things a lot. Haven't had testing yet, but am going to schedule with a new neurologist and see what he/she thinks.
Thank you again,
Anna
Dropping things is common in CTS but the lack of sensory symptoms would be very odd unless you have something like diabetes as well, and IF the stumbling when walking is part of the same problem then that is clearly not CTS. Which muscles in the hand are wasted - in CTS it should be just the ones at the base of the thumb. JB
Just the thenar muscle is wasted in the right hand. I only noticed the problem with my hand two weeks ago. The doctor had even commented that in carpel tunnel it was unusual to have such a rapid onset. The stumbling has been going on for a while so it is possible it is not connected. I do not have diabetes.
Thank you again for your help.
Anna
OK, with that slightly odd presentation you need some nerve conduction studies doing. Good luck with getting it sorted out. JB
Yes, I am calling a different neurologist and hopefully I can get some tests scheduled.
Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
Anna