Right Hand Issues with BFS?

Hi Guys,I know I have been on here a lot and lately it has been mouth issues worrying me, but I have a question about my right hand.Can BFS cause the following feelings?It is like a stiffness with a slight numb feeling/verge of pain feeling/pressure feeling in hand. When I raise my hand up to nose level it feels as if I am not as coordinated (i.e. when I scratch my nose). My right hand is where i first worried because of feelings of lack of coordination when typing (only after my fears of MS began when I had eye issues, and then *** fears once twitching began after a complete month of constant anxiety. The stiffness makes my hand feel weak also. I had an EMG in my right hand in December (a few months after I had first noticed anything), but lately it just seems stiffer and weirder (however I think it may have been like this in the winter but with all the other worries I am a bit mixed up).So, does anyone else get all of these symptoms, especially the pressure, stiffness and feeling of weakness and lack of coordination when hand raised/elbow bent?Thanks so much.Rachel

Yes and Yes.Yes I have had that..the feeling like I'm not as coordinated as normal is what used to bother me the most. Yes it is part of BFS. The moore you think about it and worry about it, the worse it is going to seem. "It's BFS normal"

My hands are a constant source of worry for me lately. What I notice is a feeling of stiffness, especially when I first wake up, and perceived clumsiness. I say "perceived" because I'm not actually having trouble with fine motor skills, I just am more aware of my fingers when I am performing tasks that require those skills (if that makes any sense.) I have a constant twitch/tingle/buzz in my left hand under the pinky. I am especially aware of this when I am jogging and my arm is bent. Your EMG would have shown any evidence of something sinister. Your hand symptoms are most likely anxiety/BFS related. I am telling you this because I have been telling myself the same thing for a month now. It is true. It is just difficult to internalize. It is actually helpful to me to hear someone else has the same symptoms. I hope it offers you some relief as well.

Hi all, I tend to lurk on this board whenever I start to worry about the odd, random, and scary symptoms I sometimes get. My hand has also been worrying me a lot lately. In the morning, it tends to feel tight and I have a sensation of not being as coordinated as I should be. It also hurts sometimes -- like if I pick up something like a full 1/2 gallon juice container. It's not that I can't pick it up; it just hurts when I do. I keep telling myself that it's just BFS -- I started twitching almost a year ago (it started in early August last year); the twitches were everywhere and random and had me totally terrified. I had two general practitioners run every test they could think of -- both told me that I was just stressed. I still self-referred to a neurologist who did an EMG on both arms and both legs. He told me everything was normal and that there was no need for a follow-up (ever). I immediately started to twitch less (talk about mental state contributing to symptoms), but other strange things started to happen -- I would feel like chills were running down my right leg; I would have random zings in my feet; I would tend to wake up with at least one arm asleep, and my hand would sometimes hurt. Now the twitching has mostly subsided, but my hand has been uncomfortable for about a month. I keep waiting for it to subside and for the whole thing to switch over to one of those other strange symptoms, but it's been every day and I am getting worried again. If it was something truly scary, the twitching wouldn't be vigorous for 5 months, then subside, and then something would start to go wrong with my hand, would it? (On the other hand, I wonder if the cause of my hand pain is BFS at all since the twitching is almost gone.) I just want my rational mind to take over so that I can stop being scared -- but even more than that, I want to feel normal again. It makes me feel better to know others have similar experiences -- others have, right? Hand tightness and some pain happens with BFS, doesn't it?Thanks for listening to whoever reads this.Alexsis

Hi Alexis. My hand symptoms sound very similar to yours. I've had that exact pain for a few months. It comes and goes for me now. I'm not limited in what I can do, but my hands sometimes feel arthritic, especially at the base of my thumbs and in the last joint of my thumbs. I'd be more detailed, but time to get ready for work! Feel free to pm me with any specific questions.

Alexis,Yep, all of that sure does happen with BFS...and quite often at that unfortunately.Sometimes, what we call "hot spots" last only a day, sometimes they last months or even years. There really is no "normal" other than "BFS Normal"...which can be different for everyone. The symptoms are the same, just happen at different times, in different places, and for different lengths of time, and some people might expierence all of them, some only a few of them. If you and I were to both be exposed to the same cold virus, one of two things would happen, 1) we would both come down with a cold but maybe you get over it a couple days before me and your symptoms wouldnt be as severe, or 2) I may get sick and you may not at all. We are all different, our bodies, our immune systems, our anxiety levels...all of these things play a part in BFS.I want to reassure you, that what you are describing is "BFS Normal"...and you are just fine. ~*~Amy~*~

Thanks guys for the responses and also, I am glad that the post helped others also.In regards to my hands, I have been getting pain in it the last few days, light throbbing.My hand feels so weak right now, and this always happens after I have been using the computer and I feel like my fingers are slower. As this is a symptom i did not describe may I repeat my question whether anyone gets this.Basically after using my hands they feel filled with twitches and my right hand especially has a strange sensation of weakness.The best way to describe it would be if you were to lie on your hand until it goes to sleep and then you can't move it until the blood comes back. Well, it feels like the blood has partly come back, but not enough to get fluid and strong movement. That is how my hand feels but without the numb sensation. The awkwardness etc. though is there. The other day and then today, I was stirring a pan of spaghetti and gripping the wooden spoon seemed awkward and weak. However if i do the standard strength tests there does not seem to be weakness. Also, I went through a lot of stress this week and my speech seems worse than ever. Slower between consonants. e.g. subsequent words beginning with N. 'th' sounds etc. HELP!I need some more reassurance. I just can't see how these symptoms can be benign...

Hi everyone, Thank you so much for your responses and reassurances -- it helps so much to know that others are experiencing the same thing, it almost makes me want to cry (which I can't do in front of my family; I was driving my husband absolutely insane with my worries last fall and just cannot talk to him about this). I also have had the feeling of my hands being slower or weaker after I use them a lot (and I do use them a lot; in my job, I am constantly writing, either on a computer or by hand -- after particularly busy days, I feel especially not right for a while (sometimes even days), but I get worried because there haven't been any problem-free days in a long time). Like Rachel, sometimes my grip does not feel right while doing mundane things like cooking or even holding my cell phone, but if I test myself (and yes, I know that is a mistake because that can just fatigue our already disturbed muscles) it seems to be fine. So then I try to just tell myself that it is fine because doctors told me I was fine and because I can still squeeze tight and lift heavy things (albeit with some discomfort). I also remind myself that the hand thing has happened sporadically before (not as consistently as recently, but they were bothering me last fall (shortly after the twitching started) and then something different would cause me to worry (perceived speech issues, random chills down my leg -- it was always something), and now it's back to the hands. I truly believe we are okay, but it is just crazy that there is this condition that causes such a disturbing array of symptoms. I think the bottom line is that, as long as I know it won't kill me, I can live with it and not go crazy, but I sure would like to feel totally normal again.Alexsis

Hi,I just wanted to mention my hand again (it is obviously vying for attention). I have been still getting the symptoms, but if I use my computer at ALL or do strength tests and the like, my fingers don't feel like they want to work properly afterward. I am not talking directly afterward, but even throughout the next day. I only have to be on the computer for a very short time and then I am paying for it the next day. As I have to use the computer daily, my hand is just feeling awful. I feel like they are not quite responding as quickly as they should and fell slightly stiff when I try to manipulate objects.I have also been getting a lot more twitching in my arms and especially near the shoulder blade on my right side.Before my EMG in December I would get a similar thing, but only after typing for a while, and then my fingers would feel like they were giving in and very uncoordinated while typing, but now it seems to happen even with the slightest use of the computer.Because I had an EMG, even after having some mild symptoms in my hands, does this mean that even if they are worse right now, it can't be the dreaded 'you know what'. Is it possible that it could be a type of exercise intolerance combined with maybe mild RSI? If RSI then why more twitches and no real pain (only very slight achiness sometimes). My thumb and ring and little fingers just seem to feel strange and I am not sure if they are as strong, my middle finger gets the same way after I have been using it on the touch pad.I am really panicking now. Any reassurance would be a great help. Anyone else feeling like their hands just are not working properly? I was having numbness in the little finger and half ring fnger a lot last year, but this has subsided, however my hand has the sensation of pressure/numbness inside, if that makes any sense.Sorry my explanation is all over the place. It is so hard to put it down right. I am starting college (I am 38 so don't think I am 18 LOL) next month and I know that I will need to be on the computer hours then. I want to rest my hand but even five minutes on the computer or as mentioned, doing strength tests, puts me back a lot. My fingers feel weak when I press them, and even though I don't drop things I feel like I am having to do things more carefully not to. Saying that I lifted a brass canon (don't ask) the other day that probably weighs 2 to 3 pounds and I could lift it by pinching it between my thumb and each finger in turn...Please let me know if anyone has any experience with these symptoms.My neck has been feeling a little weak too and has pressure like the tendons and muscles are taught even though I can move the neck freely when I want to (and no pain like I would get if I was tense).Thanks so much. You guys are always wonderful!!!

I have been struggling with similar symptoms for the past 8 months on both hands and arms. Had a clean emg. For me I think it's wear and tear of having two young babies to always have to pick up and take care of... and I can never even get one day off to rest my hands and arms. I get some weakness or tightness... I think the tightness causes the weakness it seems to stem from my elbow tendons sometimes my shoulder. Best thing I do is try to get my husband to massage my neck and upper back and loosen up the knots I develop everyday. Try resting your arms and hands... try a massage not a gentle massage but a really good massage that will loosen up tight muscles

I had some similar issue with my hands. Focusing on it, strength testing, wiggling your fingers, etc. etc. will only make your perception of the problem worse. I know it is probably hard to do, but try to stop thinking about it. I an 100% convinced that the brain can make things better or worse, depending on how you are perceiving things.If you had an EMG, you have even more reason to relax. Do a search with the word hand in it. You will find dozens of posts on here with people describing similar issues. I finally dusted off my old heavy-duty hand gripper and found that I could still do sets of 50 reps...in fact, I even did so many sets one day I woke up with a blister on my pinky the next morning. It's crazy what this obsession can do to you if you let it. I would also pick up the guitar to see if I had any issues playing...none...so I finally let it go. I'm no doctor, but from what I've read, your strength won't come and go or be available on an "as-needed" basis if you are truly sick...once it's gone it's gone.The twitching will probably stay, but I bet if you get your mind off of your hand issues they (like many of the related symptoms of BFS) will subside and go away.

Thanks so much. My fingers just give in sometimes when I use them (A LOT over the last few days), and I keep worrying that the issues last year must have been benign as I had a clean EMG but these worse symptoms and my neck may not be, but I know the chance of worrying about something, being cleared and then suddenly getting similiar issues that are not benign would be incredibly unlikely.Argghhh.... I just wish that I had never started on this downward spiral of worry; all because of some visual distortion, fear of MS, a month of terror which then brought on twitching and then connecting twitching with other very slight symptoms such as very slight hand stuff and fear of speech issues which led me to fear the worse. I had a clean EMG and clinical exam and although I wanted to get rid of the fear, the symptoms just would not let me. I still feel that my speech is difficult and with all this I have been a mess. I don't talk to anyone about it too much as they have heard it. I keep telling myself to stop worrying and then the fear will go, but it is making that step when I am constantly reminded that makes it so difficult. Everyone on here is wonderful and I really appreciate the wisdom and sensible attitude that people instill on others. It really helps.Thank you again.

my right hand is stiff on and off during the day and especially when i wake up in the morning. I have to crack my knuckles to get releif. Anyone else?