Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group tingling in thumb?

Hi all,
Since shortly after the onset of this flare, I've been getting tingling down the arm that's attached to the shoulder that is most severely affected this time - goes right into my thumb. Sometimes I can stop it by adjusting my posture, sometimes not. Anybody else get this ever, and if so did you get an explanation? I have MS too, but seems too closely linked to the AS flare to be MS related...
Any insights?
Laurie

Laurie
Go on Google or another search engine and look up TOS
(Thoracic outlet syndrome)..There are several causes for it,
one of which is slumping posture...Could also be a neck prob
I guess also..

From what I've been told there are two groups of nerves,plus
blood flow going through this region of the back...One nerve
group being pinched caues top of arm,thumb and index finger
to go numb,other set causes bottom of arm and pinky to"bad finger"
to lose feeling...Nerves are easier to pinch,because blood has
pressure to keep it flowing...

One simple test you can do is raise your hands above your
head,TOS will cause hands to go numb pretty quick....

I am no MD,it is just my experience in arms and hands going
numb,along with explanation by Neuro and Vascular Docs...

If you can make it go away by standing straight,by all means
stand as straight as you can.....Good Luck!!!!

David

Thanks for the info David -
PT ruled out TOS with the test you described, and figured it was because of constriction in the upper spinal cord due to massive swelling/inflammation/spurs. Guess I'll have to wait to talk to the rheumy. The spectre of MS is raising its ugly head again, so now I'm not sure what I'm hoping - that it's "just" AS, or a recurrence of MS. Yuck!
Laurie

Laurie
You are lucky to have some PT's so well informed..I had to
look up my symtoms,and go to my Neuro and tell him to do
an EMG for TOS..Abnormal EMG caused him to send me to
a vascular surgeon...The doppler test showed 15 points
blood pressure difference between left and right side(has to
be 20 points to be vascular TOS)...

The bad part is MRI didn't show anything that should
be causing it...So I just live with it....

Hope you get your prob solved... Good Luck!!!!!

David

Hi! I have a friend with ms and she says that she gets tingling in arms and legs. I had my first herniated disc in neck that made my arm and pointing finger go numb with burning. But I had alot of pain with it that drove me nuts. But doc said with that there is weakness in arm strenghth. Good luck in finding out what is going on. Connie

Laurie, I hope you feel better now!
But I wonder, how can you tell the difference between AS and MS related numbness/tingling? How can you differ the two?

byebye
Jade

I've never had tingling in thumb. I am a "wee" bit stooped and my left shoulder is not so great so I do get lots of pain tingling or stinging down my arms but it seems to end and centralize in a point at the center of the base of my hand palm facing up. ON rare occasions it will radiat out even from teir into my fingertips.

Does the pain your your thumb radiate from the point I'm awkwardly describing?

 
stevec-they also serve who stand and wait

Hi Laurie,

I get a pins and needles thing down my forearms when I sit back in a chair. Doc said it is likely nerve irratation around C7.

Kerry

Steve,
Yah, that sounds right. And it seems to get worse when I sit, as Kerry said, so I guess it's somewhere C-ish. Hopefully will find out when I see the rheumy this Thursday.
Laurie

Jade,
At this point, I don't really know - that's what worries me. I would prefer to just deal with one at a time, but no body ever asks me!
Laurie