Numb hands - help!

[Joyce in RSA]

I'm coming to the place where there's always someone who knows! Since
I've been using a walker quite a lot, and putting all my weight on my
hands, they've become numb, and very difficult to use effectively. Is
there anyone who has had this problem, who can give advice ?

I'm taking vitamin B6, recommended by DD Margot (a nurse practitioner),
and am trying to make thick pads for the handles, but having a problem
with anchoring them. I've fallen once and almost fallen a couple of
times, so have to make sure they don't slip round with my weight on them.

I'm almost certain the cause is the walker, walking stick and elbow
crutches, as I've had carpel tunnel problems before, and operations, and
this is completely different.

If anyone knows a remedy, and/or how to anchor the padded cuffs, I'd be
grateful. I'm becoming more and more helpless, and angry because of it!
I have thought of glue, but where - onto the thin foam cuffs?

Joyce in RSA.

[Janice]

You might try using some hook and loop (Velcro) tape. Either stick (if
adhesive-backed) or glue one part to the walker and the other part to
the foam cuffs enclosed in fabric. Use more than one strip on each
side of the walker, if necessary.

Janice

[Joy Beeson]

There's also handlebar padding -- haven't shopped for any lately as
what I bought fifteen years ago is holding up fine -- cycling gloves,
and weight-lifting gloves.

Try to find more than one way to hold the walker. Bikes have "drop"
handlebars that allow you to keep shifting your hands around on long
rides, but walkers appear to be badly designed in this respect.
Perhaps the designers think you will sit motionless except when you
need to hobble a few feet to the bathroom.

I really, really love a staircase that's just a little wider than I
am, and has handrails on both sides.

--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://roughsewing.home.comcast.net/

Any advertisement linked to one of my words
was linked without my permission
and is probably a scam.

[Trish Brown]

Joyce, don't be too sure the problem is stemming from your hands: it
could be a problem in your neck (from 'walker posture'?)!

The symptoms of carpal tunnel are very specific and your very best bet
would be to ask the doctor. The reason I say this is that we had all
assumed Mum's hand numbness was because of carpal tunnel, but after
she'd had all the conductivity tests and MRIs, it turned out she's got a
trapped nerve in her neck! Of course, that needn't be your problem, but
you'd do best to get it checked out properly so that you can get the
best treatment for it.

From Mum, I know how awful any dysfunction in one's hands can be. Don't
leave it - see about it as soon as you can!

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

[Joyce in RSA]

I did go to the doctor, and he suggested it could be a nerve, but to try
padding. The trouble is, I can't afford to have any more medical
expenses until next year's medical aid kicks in! They'd pay for an
operation, but the allowance for doctors' visits, etc. are long
finished. Anyway, we're going on holiday with the family on Tuesday, so
must wait until we come back for that.

Did your Mum have an op for it, and was it successful?

Joyce in RSA.

[Joyce in RSA]

On 2012/11/03 10:53 PM, lucreti...@fl.it wrote:

> I will swing past a place here on Monday where they have all sorts of
> things to help. It's possible they have some handle grips you could
> push on to the walker, if the grips were more bulky it might affect
> your hands less. I'd be able to ask them what solutions they might
> have anyway.
>
> I found, when I had to use a walker after my knee was done, that it
> was my shoulders that killed me lol Old age and infirmity is a bitch!

> I will swing past a place here on Monday where they have all sorts of
> things to help. It's possible they have some handle grips you could
> push on to the walker, if the grips were more bulky it might affect
> your hands less. I'd be able to ask them what solutions they might
> have anyway.
>
> I found, when I had to use a walker after my knee was done, that it
> was my shoulders that killed me lol Old age and infirmity is a bitch!
>
We are a little limited as to what is available. Our local discount
chemist was burned down a few months ago, and has reopened in another
shop, but I haven't been able to find anything yet. I don't go shopping
any more than I have to now. I agree about old age, but consider the
alternative!

Joyce in RSA.

[Joyce in RSA]

On 2012/11/03 10:53 PM, lucreti...@fl.it wrote:
> On Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:58:24 +0200, Joyce in RSA
> <jo...@africanbush.co.za> wrote:
>

> I will swing past a place here on Monday where they have all sorts of
> things to help. It's possible they have some handle grips you could
> push on to the walker, if the grips were more bulky it might affect
> your hands less. I'd be able to ask them what solutions they might
> have anyway.
>
> I found, when I had to use a walker after my knee was done, that it
> was my shoulders that killed me lol Old age and infirmity is a bitch!
>

I tried to make my pads as gloves, but realised I'd never be able to
cope with taking them off every time I want to do anything. That's why
I have to find a way to fix them to the handles. I don't mind making
several pads. I do vary my grip, but the damage was done before I
realised, and nothing seems to improve the numbness.

I manage stairs with a railing one side, using crutches or stick when I
know I'll have to cope with them. The walker has a seat, which is great
when I get tired, but is not easily managed with steps. I don't know
how I'll cope if I have to give up and accept the wheelchair. Just
getting around the house would be very difficult.

I'll try phoning around to find out about thick pads and grips. I
hadn't even thought of a bicycle shop!

Joyce in RSA

[Joyce in RSA]

On 2012/11/04 08:01 AM, Joy Beeson wrote:
>
> There's also handlebar padding -- haven't shopped for any lately as
> what I bought fifteen years ago is holding up fine -- cycling gloves,
> and weight-lifting gloves.
>
> Try to find more than one way to hold the walker. Bikes have "drop"
> handlebars that allow you to keep shifting your hands around on long
> rides, but walkers appear to be badly designed in this respect.
> Perhaps the designers think you will sit motionless except when you
> need to hobble a few feet to the bathroom.
>
> I really, really love a staircase that's just a little wider than I
> am, and has handrails on both sides.
>

I have tried different positions, but it doesn't help much. i hadn't
thought of trying a place like a bicycle shop for handlebar grips - I
don't even know where there is one! I'll have to do some phoning
around. Shopping holds no pleasure any more, so I do as little as possible.

The walker has a seat, which is very useful, but I use crutches or a
walking stick when I know stairs are involved. I manage them with one
handrail if I can free both hands.

You're right about the designers of walking equipment! I wonder why they
think people use walkers if they don't put all their weight on them?
Yet the foam grips are very thin, and don't cushion the hands at all.

People are very helpful, but stationary objects are easier to use. I'd
much rather become independent again!

Joyce in RSA.

[Trish Brown]

Joyce in RSA wrote:

<snip>

>> From Mum, I know how awful any dysfunction in one's hands can be. Don't
>> leave it - see about it as soon as you can!
>>
> >
> I did go to the doctor, and he suggested it could be a nerve, but to try
> padding. The trouble is, I can't afford to have any more medical
> expenses until next year's medical aid kicks in! They'd pay for an
> operation, but the allowance for doctors' visits, etc. are long
> finished. Anyway, we're going on holiday with the family on Tuesday, so
> must wait until we come back for that.
>
> Did your Mum have an op for it, and was it successful?
>
> Joyce in RSA.
>

Mum's nerve is in a difficult place and the operation was considered too
invasive and dangerous. Since they could give her no guarantees of much
improvement, she decided not to go ahead.

I think the criterion is which nerve is trapped and also where/how it's
affected.

Enjoy your holiday and have lots of fun with the family! DH, DS and DD
all send their love (as do I, of course). ;D

PS. Almost forgot! The physio told Mum to try windmilling her arms
whenever she thought of it. This is in order to keep the muscles
flexible and to prevent 'hardening' (not quite sure what they meant by
that) in the shoulder joint.

[Joyce in RSA]

On 2012/11/04 02:04 PM, Trish Brown wrote:

>
> Mum's nerve is in a difficult place and the operation was considered too
> invasive and dangerous. Since they could give her no guarantees of much
> improvement, she decided not to go ahead.
>
> I think the criterion is which nerve is trapped and also where/how it's
> affected.
>
> Enjoy your holiday and have lots of fun with the family! DH, DS and DD
> all send their love (as do I, of course). ;D
>
> PS. Almost forgot! The physio told Mum to try windmilling her arms
> whenever she thought of it. This is in order to keep the muscles
> flexible and to prevent 'hardening' (not quite sure what they meant by
> that) in the shoulder joint.
>

Thanks, Trish, for the info and the wishes. I hope mine is a nerve, and
that it is operable. It's so frustrating not having control of one's
hands! I've always said if I had to lose anything, let it be the legs,
not the arms or senses. Well, I lost my legs (figuratively) to
arthritis, so it's not fair to have my hands go too! Meanwhile, I'm
still managing to cook and bake, but it all takes so long!

By the time we get back, Ellie's pictures should be up! I hope she has
a wonderful time. Love to all of you, too. I look back on my short
stay in Newcastle with gratitude and pleasure.

Joyce in RSA.