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Touch Screens, Hand and Feet Pain???
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 5:09 am
by FishJunkie
Using a touch screen (phone or pad) causes lingering/chronic pain in my hands and feet. The pain spreads up the arms and legs. This symptom has progressively gotten worse to where the pain is quite significant, and now only slightly subsides when not interacting with the devices. In the morning most of the pain has gone away, but as soon as I start using my touch screen again...BAM! Also, it doesn't matter if I'm holding the device or have it setting on a surface. Since it is in my arms and legs I assume the pain is coming from the neck area. Unfortunately, I've tried pretty much all the pain meds associated with MS treatment.
Just wondering if anybody else has this situation. I've done many internet searches but have never seen anybody else experiencing this.
Pretty frustrating not to be able to use these devices without pain since that's the world we live in now.
I can't complain much though. Besides this symptom I am pretty lucky in my overall health.
Cheers
Re: Touch Screens, Hand and Feet Pain???
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 5:42 am
by Scott1
Hi,
Can you go into a bit more detail? What is the sensation in your fingers? Does it vary across the hand? Do the hands feel the same at the same time? Similar or identical?
Do you feel anything in the shoulders? Do you have back pain? Is it low down, in the middle or somewhere else on the back? When you use touch screens are you stretching your arms? Does twisting around make it worse? Does reaching above your shoulder height make a difference?
For your leg pain - is it related to the arm problems in some way? Does standing make a difference or not? Where particularly are your legs sore? Does it always start at the feet?
What do you find helps the most?
Regards
Re: Touch Screens, Hand and Feet Pain???
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 6:42 pm
by FishJunkie
Thanks for the response. The pain is pretty sharp prickling or burning/icy sensations in the pads of fingers and palm, and also on the backside of the hand. When it's bad, the pain extends up the forearms but is less severe. Pretty similar with the feet and lower legs as well. I have not found that sitting or standing makes us a difference. I think it's the position my neck is in when using these devices. Normal use of a computer does not cause these more pronounced issues thankfully, since I'm on one all day at work. I tried testing lying on my stomach, but that is not an easy position for me to keep since I am very inflexible, and who wants to use their phone like that? LOL Besides my flexibility issues, I am in good shape and can workout. I haven't found anything that helps except for sleep.
Thanks
Re: Touch Screens, Hand and Feet Pain???
Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 4:46 am
by Scott1
Hi,
It's a bit hard to tell via this forum but the back of the hand would indicate the radial nerve. You may have other nerves that are involved. Different fingers can indicate other nerves.
Often people with MS can show signs of thoracic outlet syndrome. Being a syndrome it's just a collection of things rather than something that's easy to point at.
I'd go to a good physio or osteo and get some stretching exercises to do from them. Alternately, have a look on youtube for exercises for the Ulnar, radial and Median nerves and see if you can do some of them. They hardly will seem like exercises.
I'd also find someone who is good at pressure point massage who can identify which muscles in your back may be tight and see if they can release them.
Lastly, I try Pilates (not a big group class, they're not worth it) for some very specific work that looks at isolating specific muscles. You need to exercise the little muscles not the big ones.
Regards