Can barely use my hands right now

[mazeroth]

I work as a field service engineer that fixes laboratory equipment. I use my hands a lot but rarely have to really grunt to tighten things down. I believe it was Tuesday I found an instrument whose solvent lines were not plumbed correctly. I probably have to unscrew and reattach 24-30 lines of about 1/4" ID that I tightened down pretty well. That day and the next two days I did a lot of work with my hands but nothing super strenuous and out of the ordinary. However, on Thursday morning I had to tilt up a ~150lb instrument just enough to adjust its feet to make sure it was level. I did this with one hand on the instrument and while bending over a little bit used my other hand for the adjustment. I do believe I used my left and right hand, at different times, to lift and to screw, so they both got roughly the same workout. On Tuesday morning I had to carry two 5 gallon buckets full of tools, probably 30lb each, about 1500 feet to get to the instruments. On Thursday I had to carry them back. That night I had some trouble falling asleep due to my arms being sore. Then, Friday morning I noticed my hands were a bit weak and my arms, mainly forearms, were soar. I had to go to the paint store to have paint mixed and it was difficult carrying a gallon of paint in each hand. Now today it's even worse. Trying to put my car into drive took two hands as I couldn't depress the shifter button with my right thumb. I can't make a tight fist with either hand. If I bend my hands back and forth they are very soar and so are my forearms.

If you got this far, thanks! Any clues as to what happened? I use my hands a lot but did some extra work this past week. I've been taking 400-600 mg of ibuprofen without any relief and even tried 500 mg of naproxen. ANY insight is greatly appreciated! If you know how I can relieve this and get my hands back I'd greatly appreciate it. Hell, I may even Paypal you as a thank-you! I'm 30 and in pretty good shape, if that matters!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Sounds like you pinched a nerve.

Sorry, that's not very helpful. I think what happened is the sheath around the median nerve was irritated by the work done by the tendons that pass through your wrist. Essentially carpal tunnel syndrome. If your pinky finger and ring finger don't hurt, that's probably what happened. To recover from it you can take analgesics like you've been doing, rest (the most important thing) and diuretics can help if your wrists and hands are puffy. I would also recommend using a wrist brace of some kind.

 

[mazeroth]

On both hands/arms?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

On both hands/arms?

Yes, the nerves that serve your thumb, index and, middle fingers pass through the carpal tunnel along with all the tendons that control your hands. The nerve bundle serving your ring and pinky finger passes outside the carpal tunnel. When you use your hands heavily, the tendons put pressure on and, irritate the nerve sheath causing it to swell and put further pressure on your nerves. You experience this as pain.

 

[mazeroth]

So I pinched the nerve in that area, not in my spine? Ok. Sorry, I'm a newb when it comes to anatomy.

So, how do I fix it?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

As I said, to recover from it you can take analgesics like you've been doing, rest (the most important thing) and diuretics can help if your wrists and hands are puffy. I would also recommend using wrist braces of some kind. Basically, you "over did it." It should go back to normal in a few days unless you continue to aggravate the problem.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Sounds like you pinched a nerve.

Sorry, that's not very helpful. I think what happened is the sheath around the median nerve was irritated by the work done by the tendons that pass through your wrist. Essentially carpal tunnel syndrome. If your pinky finger and ring finger don't hurt, that's probably what happened. To recover from it you can take analgesics like you've been doing, rest (the most important thing) and diuretics can help if your wrists and hands are puffy. I would also recommend using a wrist brace of some kind.

If there is no numbness or tingling, it is not going to be nerves. With the history, it sounds fairly obvious that he overworked his intrinsic and extrinsic hand musculature. Sounds like multiple muscular strains, likely grade I or II. Could even be something like rhabdomyolysis, which happens with extreme overuse. Give it time - it should reduce. Keep using your hands for light stuff - don't just stop using them. The light exercise will help flush the inflammatory/painful compounds out and bring new blood in. Let your symptoms be your guide - if it hurts, stop.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Yes, the nerves that serve your thumb, index and, middle fingers pass through the carpal tunnel along with all the tendons that control your hands. The nerve bundle serving your ring and pinky finger passes outside the carpal tunnel. When you use your hands heavily, the tendons put pressure on and, irritate the nerve sheath causing it to swell and put further pressure on your nerves. You experience this as pain.

Also, the nerve that goes through the carpal tunnel (i.e. the median nerve) only innervates the thumb and radial 2 lumbricals (for muscle) and digits 1, 2, 3, and part of 4 (thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers - for sensation). Altered neuromechanics acutely result in numbness, tingling, ants-on-skin sensation, and any combo of these to create pain/discomfort. This is not likely a nerve issue with his history of how it came about - unless he does have numbness and tingling.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

As I said, to recover from it you can take analgesics like you've been doing, rest (the most important thing) and diuretics can help if your wrists and hands are puffy. I would also recommend using wrist braces of some kind. Basically, you "over did it." It should go back to normal in a few days unless you continue to aggravate the problem.

No, no, no, no, no. Splinting is one of the worst things that he could do. Complete rest of an injured area is terrible for recovery and prolongs getting back to normal. Putting healthy, non or lightly painful tension on the musculature will allow for the collagen to deposit along the lines of force created by musculature. In addition, movement will actually help reduce edema, improving functionality. I agree that activity should be lightened (don't carry a bunch of junk, take it easy on tightening stuff, etc), but activity should not be ceased.

OP, you don't seem to frequent these forums, but I'm a doctoral student of physical therapy. This is kind of what I do, if that gives you any more understanding of where I'm coming from.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

No, no, no, no, no. Splinting is one of the worst things that he could do. Complete rest of an injured area is terrible for recovery and prolongs getting back to normal. Putting healthy, non or lightly painful tension on the musculature will allow for the collagen to deposit along the lines of force created by musculature. In addition, movement will actually help reduce edema, improving functionality. I agree that activity should be lightened (don't carry a bunch of junk, take it easy on tightening stuff, etc), but activity should not be ceased.

OP, you don't seem to frequent these forums, but I'm a doctoral student of physical therapy. This is kind of what I do, if that gives you any more understanding of where I'm coming from.

You'd think a doctoral student would read and comprehend a little faster so as not to require three separate posts. 😀

I yield to the more educated opinion regarding physical therapy. :thumbsup:

 

[SociallyChallenged]

You'd think a doctoral student would read and comprehend a little faster so as not to require three separate posts. 😀

I yield to the more educated opinion regarding physical therapy. :thumbsup:

Addressing eat post individually so as to be as detailed as possible 😛 I don't wanna miss any of the points. Post count ++ 🙂 I don't mean to undermine your opinion - just wanna optimize the OP's outcome.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Addressing eat post individually so as to be as detailed as possible 😛 I don't wanna miss any of the points. Post count ++ 🙂 I don't mean to undermine your opinion - just wanna optimize the OP's outcome.

Just remember, your greatest resource is the patient and not a text book. 🙂

 

[mazeroth]

Thank you both very much for your input; I greatly appreciate it. It seems like the majority of the pain is in my forearms when I bend my hands backward to try and touch my fingernails to the hairy part of my arm, which is the part that hurts. I know, only way I can describe it! Also, if I make a fist the bottom of my forearms tighten and are very sore. If I open and close my fingers, making a light fist, then open, repeat, it feels a little swollen, like being stung by a bee the next day and the bones/tendons/whatever they are on top of my hands hurt.

I just can't believe both hands, same symptoms, never before in my life. Played sports through school, lifted like crazy, have done tons of vigorous work at work and remodeling my house...nothing. Now I feel like a gimp. It's a chore just typing this!

Again, thanks for the input. I know a phenomenal DPT that I will likely be calling first thing in the morning on Monday to take a look. Sound like a plan, or should I see my family physician first, which will likely be a waste of time.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Thank you both very much for your input; I greatly appreciate it. It seems like the majority of the pain is in my forearms when I bend my hands backward to try and touch my fingernails to the hairy part of my arm, which is the part that hurts. I know, only way I can describe it! Also, if I make a fist the bottom of my forearms tighten and are very sore. If I open and close my fingers, making a light fist, then open, repeat, it feels a little swollen, like being stung by a bee the next day and the bones/tendons/whatever they are on top of my hands hurt.

I just can't believe both hands, same symptoms, never before in my life. Played sports through school, lifted like crazy, have done tons of vigorous work at work and remodeling my house...nothing. Now I feel like a gimp. It's a chore just typing this!

Again, thanks for the input. I know a phenomenal DPT that I will likely be calling first thing in the morning on Monday to take a look. Sound like a plan, or should I see my family physician first, which will likely be a waste of time.

The majority of muscles you use in your hands are in your forearms. that's why they hurt. Sorry, I'll leave it to the doc in training. Everything I know about anatomy is from cutting up animals.