My great aunt's daughter had MS - I can't use my left hand - concerned

Hi folks.  I am a 37 year old Art teacher at a high school.  Wednesday night, I think I got up from a nap, and I noticed numbness in my left hand.  I can't lift the fingers or thumb up. I can't lift my wrist.  I can grab a little - curling the fingers under, but I can't spread the fingers or raise them at all.

It has persisted since Wednesday night - it is now Saturday night.  The doctor found it to be very odd. She is going to MRI my head and neck on Tuesday.  She says the nerve involved goes to the C6 vertebra.

I generally thought MS started with symptoms of falling down, but recently I spoke with my Mom, and she said that my Aunt's problem started in her hand's andf not being able to button her shirt.

Any thoughts?  I'm worried, and it is hard to do things one handed.

Thanks Shelly.  I am a bit ---well--freaked out.   My doc thought it was a pinched nerve over the phone, but when she saw the problem, she was lost.  I have had a LOT of fatigue over the years...and other symptoms that are related usually to autoimmune diseases.  I have a rare eczema that makes blisters on my palms and in between my fingers....called palmphlomex - or something like that.  I 1998- I had a case of thrush.  I don't have HIV- but the crazy doctor (at free clinic) told me that I had aids.... I don't ...and I am a blood donor...he was an idiot....but I have had a lot of problems over the years that are auto immune disease related.

wmbaw said...
Hi folks.  I am a 37 year old Art teacher at a high school.  Wednesday night, I think I got up from a nap, and I noticed numbness in my left hand.  I can't lift the fingers or thumb up. I can't lift my wrist.  I can grab a little - curling the fingers under, but I can't spread the fingers or raise them at all.

It has persisted since Wednesday night - it is now Saturday night.  The doctor found it to be very odd. She is going to MRI my head and neck on Tuesday.  She says the nerve involved goes to the C6 vertebra.

I generally thought MS started with symptoms of falling down, but recently I spoke with my Mom, and she said that my Aunt's problem started in her hand's andf not being able to button her shirt.

Any thoughts?  I'm worried, and it is hard to do things one handed.

First of all -- the genetic link to MS is very very small.  And if it DOES occur, it's with immediate family -- not a great aunt, or distant cousin.  It would be through your parents, or siblings.

This sounds very much like a compressed or injured nerve.  I suspect that is what will be found with the MRI.

MS does not start with people "falling down". There are specific signs and symptoms that are typical of MS, but also typical of other disorders.

But again. what is going on with you doesn't sound like MS, but more a "mechanical" problem, like an injured nerve.