Re: Of shoes ans ships and ceiling wax....

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Lyndal! I sleep on my left side with my left arm bent at

the elbow because my shoulder is frozen. My husband cmae home with a

silly putty recipe that uses borax and white glue so guess I'll mix up a

batch. Again, thanks! Lavon

At 11:42 AM 10/23/2000 -0400, you wrote:

>Lavon,

>

>I have some atrophy in my right hand between the thumb and

>forefinger (the fleshy webbed area) but not the thumb pad. I

>used to sleep with my right arm bent and my hand snuggled

>up against my chin. A few months back I started noticing I

>was getting faciculations in that area of my hand. I also

>noticed that the only way the faciculations would calm down

>and quit -- allowing me to fall to sleep -- was if I stretched my

>arm out straight. The faciculations were what caused me to

>notice the atrophy in the first place.

>

>I mentioned it to my neurologist in August when I saw him. He

>didn't seem too concerned about it and said that it was pretty

>common. Apparently there is a nerve that runs down the back

>side of your arm, and when it gets stretched constantly (by

>bending the elbow tightly like when you talk on a telephone) it

>can affect that area of your hand, weakening the muscle and

>causing atrophy. He suggests that people who use a telephone

>a lot should get headsets to prevent this, and in some cases he

>recommends an elbow brace to prevent the elbow from bending

>more than 90 degrees.

>

>After learning this, I trained myself to sleep with my arms

>straighter at night and the faciculations (which happened at

>night and often during the day) have gone away entirely. I also

>have resumed hand exercises with a small foam rubber ball

>(squeezing it) and using therapy putty (like modeling clay) to

>strengthen the grip. (I had gotten very lax in that area and

>noticed my handwriting had gone downhill.) Since then, I've

>noticed my handwriting has vastly improved and, so far, I've

>gained " some " muscle tissue back in the area of atrophy.

>

>Lyndal

>

>In a message dated 10/22/00 9:39:56 PM Mountain Daylight Time,

>lockwood@... writes:

>

> > Third, anyone have disuse atrophy? I noticed I have lost a lot of muscle

> > between the thumb and hand of my left hand and the thumb pad at the base

>of

> > my left thumb is almost gone- never noticed this before. Think I should

> > call the neuro or let it slide until March as long as it doesn't spread?

> >

> > Lavon

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Lavon,

I have some atrophy in my right hand between the thumb and

forefinger (the fleshy webbed area) but not the thumb pad. I

used to sleep with my right arm bent and my hand snuggled

up against my chin. A few months back I started noticing I

was getting faciculations in that area of my hand. I also

noticed that the only way the faciculations would calm down

and quit -- allowing me to fall to sleep -- was if I stretched my

arm out straight. The faciculations were what caused me to

notice the atrophy in the first place.

I mentioned it to my neurologist in August when I saw him. He

didn't seem too concerned about it and said that it was pretty

common. Apparently there is a nerve that runs down the back

side of your arm, and when it gets stretched constantly (by

bending the elbow tightly like when you talk on a telephone) it

can affect that area of your hand, weakening the muscle and

causing atrophy. He suggests that people who use a telephone

a lot should get headsets to prevent this, and in some cases he

recommends an elbow brace to prevent the elbow from bending

more than 90 degrees.

After learning this, I trained myself to sleep with my arms

straighter at night and the faciculations (which happened at

night and often during the day) have gone away entirely. I also

have resumed hand exercises with a small foam rubber ball

(squeezing it) and using therapy putty (like modeling clay) to

strengthen the grip. (I had gotten very lax in that area and

noticed my handwriting had gone downhill.) Since then, I've

noticed my handwriting has vastly improved and, so far, I've

gained " some " muscle tissue back in the area of atrophy.

Lyndal

In a message dated 10/22/00 9:39:56 PM Mountain Daylight Time,

lockwood@... writes:

> Third, anyone have disuse atrophy? I noticed I have lost a lot of muscle

> between the thumb and hand of my left hand and the thumb pad at the base

of

> my left thumb is almost gone- never noticed this before. Think I should

> call the neuro or let it slide until March as long as it doesn't spread?

>

> Lavon

>

[Guest guest]

I have the same loss of muscle between my thumb and first finger on both

hands. It appeared more noticeably first on my right hand but by

the time I actually noticed it there was also some on my left hand.

My symptoms were initially more right sided so even though I am right handed

the loss of muscle on the right hand fits in with that side of my body

initially being more affected.

I probably first noticed the muscle loss about two years after diagnosis

in '93 and for a year or two it continued to progress very slowly but in

the last few years hasn't really progressed. That is in keeping with

my general physical condition which has pretty much plateaued for that

time.

Lockwood Family wrote:

Ok folks, have three totally unconnected things to say...

....<snip>

Third, anyone have disuse atrophy? I noticed

I have lost a lot of muscle

between the thumb and hand of my left hand and the thumb pad at

the base of

my left thumb is almost gone- never noticed this before.

Think I should

call the neuro or let it slide until March as long as it doesn't

spread?

Lavon

--

.

,-._|\ Covington

/ Oz \

\_,--.x/

v

[Guest guest]

Lavon,on the contrary,the weather here is just beautiful,Sat,Sunday and

Monday,temps.60-70 degrees.The 5 day forecast is for more warm and dry

weather,with a slight chance of rain on Fri. Regarding the issue of the

thong,I'm still trying to figure that out also!I guess we'll have to ask

Rita,she's the one that started all that commentary.Seem you on Friday,have a

safe trip.

.

[Guest guest]

Lavon,

Your messages are still coming in dated in Jan. 99. Did Y2K sneak up on you?

Also, I believe I mentioned it before in response to someone else, but I have

had a " twitch " , or fasciculation, in my left hand between my thumb and

forefinger for about 3 mos now. My neurologist said he could increase my meds

if I wanted it. I declined. I have found that massaging the area helps loosen

the muscle. Right now it is just a nuisance and doesn't occur very often. I

have noticed some atrophy in both hands around the palm near the thumb and on

the side near the thumb. I have had carpal tunnel before and it caused some

atrophy in the major part of the inside palm around the forefinger and thumb.

The doctor told me I would never regain it. So far, he's been right. One of the

few who have. I have also mentioned the atrophy in my shoulders and upper back.

He said it is from not using it. (My neurologist.) Trouble is, I have been

using it. It is concerning me and if it continues, I will have to call him.

Mike

Lockwood Family wrote:

> Ok folks, have three totally unconnected things to say...

>

> First, Jeff- I am so embarassed by the thong comment. Several months ago

> three ladies who were going to a pLS get together proposed providing

> entertainment. The chose rowdy names and hinted at risque

> performances. Somehow FrakC ended up being proposed as part of the group

> and his atire was to be a thong. I really hoped someone else would explain

> the inside joke. No, I am not a little old lady in a raincoat.....

>

> Second, what is the weather like up in Ct. these days? We did have a cold,

> rainy weekend so our temps didn't quite hit 80- I suspect that has not been

> what is going on in the NE.

>

> Third, anyone have disuse atrophy? I noticed I have lost a lot of muscle

> between the thumb and hand of my left hand and the thumb pad at the base of

> my left thumb is almost gone- never noticed this before. Think I should

> call the neuro or let it slide until March as long as it doesn't spread?

>

> Lavon

>

[Guest guest]

C:

You know I forgot how the whole thong thing started. I think you were

suppose to wear on poolside in VT. Hope the weather is good for the

weekend, they are saying rain, and I can't fly on my broom in the rain.

Are you joining us for dinner Friday? Can't believe it's this weekend,

time has flown by.

Anybody want a puppy? My son's Siberian Husky gave birth to 8 puppies

this afternoon (I sorta feel like a new Grandma).

See you soon:

The Wicked Witch of the North!

Rita

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.

[Guest guest]

Rita,we are having dinner with you all Friday nite,Dolores,and Alan,will be

coming also.I thought you broom people could fly in any kind of weather?Oh

well I'll see you Sat.evening,broom or,no broom!

Wish you all a safe trip..

P.S.I think we have T.V.coverage for the Sat.conference.That should a big

help towards our PLS fund drive.

[Guest guest]

C:

Even us broom people have a choice as to WITCH kinda weather we fly

in!!! See you Friday!

Rita

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.