carpal tunnel or something else?

Hi all,

I am having significant pain in my hands and wrists, and would like your input on whether it could be something besides carpal tunnel.

Over a year ago I completed a course of steriods over several months, and when was off them completely I started having severe pain in my wrists and hands. I was referred to a specialist who said it seemed to be a rebound inflammation after going off the steroids.

I started sleeping with those wrist guards on and that helped keep the pain from waking me, but I continued to have the soreness and numbness. I went through another course of steroids (for a lung condition) over a 10-month period, starting at 60 mg, and the pain instantly went away.

I went off Prednisone in November, and my hands did not hurt for several months. Just recently the pain and numbness came back. I started wearing those wrist braces to sleep, which sometimes helps.

My hands get so numb that I have to drive switching hands so that I can keep a grip on the wheel. If I let them hang down, the numbness goes away.

Do you think this is carpal tunnel (or was it ever CT)? I don't know if it could be lupus-related. Ibuprofen and Etodolac help with the pain but it would be great if I could alleviate the numbness.

Thanks!
Laura

I do not know what your pain is. But I can say that my hands (and feet) go numb all the time! If I am holding the phone to my ear for more than a couple minutes, at night I wake up with numb arms and hands, or even worse I wake up to pee and my feet are numb! Thats always lots of fun to walk on....
I think it has to do with bad circulation. Like Raynauds or vasculitis in your hands. It may be neuropathy too. I have heard great things about the parrafin wax baths to help increase circulation. They also prescribe calcium channel blockers for Raynauds, maybe that would help?
Good luck!

Often the Drs don't make the distinction, thus the patients don't know either.

Chill out a bit, Sarah Jean, I had to edit your post a bit.