Have developed painful hands at night that wakes me from sleep. They feel like I they have fallen asleep. Pins and needles, numbness and pain. My hands do not look swollen. Not sure if its from Gabapentin or do I have carpal tunnel syndrome. taking 600mg a day. Do get occasional swelling in lower legs and feet. Takes a few hours after I wake up for pain to go away. Have appt. with doctor. Not sure who to see.
Evaluating painful hands and swelling in your extremities is also a task for a neurologist, Pebbles. One thing to watch is your levels of blood glucose. If they're high, you could be dealing with a pre-diabetic symptom of some sort.
And by the way, 600 mg per day of Neurontin is on the very low end of the range considered therapeutic.
Regards, Red
Your symptoms sound similar to some reported histories of possible peripheral neuropathy or impaired veinous circulation.
A neurologist can administer the appropriate tests. Good luck!
Blessings,
Rick
I think your regular doctor would be an okay place to start -- just in case it's something that does not require a specialist - if it was just your tingling hands - I would say neurologist - but Red is more expert than I.
Keep us Posted!
I have had this as well, and I am a newbie of just 3 weeks. My hands have stayed asleep sometimes for hours after I wake up. My physical therapist father poo-pooed this away as me not moving in my sleep because of pain medication. Please tell us what the doctor says.
I am not diagnosing you, just telling you that I have CTS and my symptoms are just as you describe. Your GP should guide you in the right direction. As Red says a Neuro is your best bet after an initial consult. The op for CTS is not severe and very little pain is involved.Keep us posted.
The swelling that Lauren reports was the reason my instinct was in the direction of some form of peripheral neuropathy rather than carpal tunnel syndrome. However, as others have pointed out, Lauren may need to see a family doctor anyway, to get referral, if she doesn't already have a regular relationship with a neurologist.
Regards, Red
i have the same thing but in my legs, it started after I took the Tegretol. I spoke to my neuro about it and he said he believes me, but had not heard of that drug causing it. I got to the point where I couldnt walk while taking it.
Just to toss it out there, it may be a drug reaction. Red could verify that or not,
Wendy
Crash, I re-read the drug data on Carbamazepine (Tegretol) at rxlist.com. Although this medication is associated with quite a wide range of serious side effects, I see no indications that peripheral edema or swelling in the extremities are among those commonly noted. There are obviously other medication reactions that can be highly disabling if not recognized promptly. High on that list is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a whole-body toxic allergic reaction. So I would have to say that swelling in the hands, feet, arms or legs would be relatively rare as a reaction to Tegretol as such. Not impossible, but certainly not something that a physician would expect or look for routinely.
Go in Peace and Power,
Red
To All,
Thank you for responding. I have seen hand Doctor who did emg test. Yes I have carpal tunnel and in both hands. Not servere enough for surgery. Blood levels are ok. Thank you Red for suggesting. I have regular blood test. I will see doctor again in few weeks. I was given a splint to wear, if no relief will give me injections in hand to relieve pain. Ugh! now another problem. Lucky I am on low levels of Meds. Nortriptyline 40 mg a day and gabapentin 600 mg a day, so it doesn't seem to have been the meds. My hands did hurt before my facial pain. I am guessing it was the start of the CTS. Thank you Jackie for suggesting it.
Lauren, I had that injection and wore the splint and it gaveme over a year of relief. It did not hurt much, absolutely nothing compared with TN!!! Glad it is nothing more serious, always good news!
Thanks Jackie, I do have to go for MRI. Possible bone erosion in the right hand. But I will go. Hate to have MRI always makes my face hurt. But I glad injection might help me as it did you.
Jackie said:
Lauren, I had that injection and wore the splint and it gaveme over a year of relief. It did not hurt much, absolutely nothing compared with TN!!! Glad it is nothing more serious, always good news!
So far he believes its carpal tunnel. Had emg and if splint doesn't help, he will give me injection of steroids
Carolanne said:
I have had this as well, and I am a newbie of just 3 weeks. My hands have stayed asleep sometimes for hours after I wake up. My physical therapist father poo-pooed this away as me not moving in my sleep because of pain medication. Please tell us what the doctor says.
I did forget to mention I have Raynauds in hands and feet. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433. If you don't know what this is follow the link.
I had neuropathic arm and hand pain that came on one day while I was on Tegretol ... so bad that I was crying and sitting in the ER with my arms held up in the air (touching anything felt like razor blades). Neuros were convinced it wasn't the Tegretol but it faded as the drug wore off after stopping it. So who knows really but thought I would say that's what happened to me :)