Oestoarthritus

Thanks BikerGran I suspect that is what I have.

I was suffering from pins/needles/numbness tingling in hands for almost a year,used to wake up with hands feeling numb and couldnt grip anything, eventually went docs..then to physio who diagnosed Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.Gave me some splints to wear on wrists but only at night.
It seems to happen at night when the wrist are sort of bent. When it gets bad and my wrists ache, I wear the splints for a couple of nights and it eases it for a few weeks.

I have just found this thread after I had already posted a little while back one about my pins and needles.

I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica and thought the steroids I am taking caused the problems in my one arm, however from reading some of your comments it could be the illness itself that is causing it. It ebbs and flows during the day but is worse when I am trying to get to sleep.

When the miracle of getting a doctor's appointment happens I shall ask the Doctor about this added nuisance.

That is interesting about the Doctor not asking questions. I think this is quite common, they just wait for you to give the info. Even though my doctors are very nice, I am reluctant to go with a shopping list of complaints so I just tell them briefly the one thing that is bothering me..

So, in three years I have been three times, complete loss of appetite, sleeping badly and losing weight. Vitamin D deficiency was diagnosed. Next time I went because I was tripping over my feet, feeling dizzy, falling over when I bent down. Still losing weight and feeling tired.I got tablets for Vertigo. This time the doctor did full bloods and asked lots of questions. She said, "you need to tell us the whole story when you come otherwise we can't properly diagnose".

I don't think it is as easy as that. I put everything down to 'getting old', not realising that the numbness in my hand and feet, loss of appetite, the exhaustion pain are all connected.

I recently had a couse of physio for neck and shoulder pain. Neither my GP or physio asked about pins and needles. I wonder why?

Those of you with pins and needles, I would advise to go to GP. I was forced into it by my son who is a medic. I am awaiting result of X-ray and GP is going to send me for physio. She thinks the problem is starting in cervical spine. I have suffered with neck pain for years and this is the first time it has been taken seriously.

I have anti-imflamatories but the pins and needles drive me mad.

Thanks tanith very interesting

My Tai-chi class has a number of members who have arthritis, some O/A. They all say the movement and relaxation are beneficial. You would need to find a class that concentrated on the health aspect of Tai-chi, sometimes taught as Qui-gong and check with the teacher.

ninathenana Carpel Tunnel can be caused by O/A in the wrist so you it could be O/A in your hand and wrist, have a read of this and scroll down to the bit about Carpel Tunnel too.

www.nhs.uk/ipgmedia/national/arthritis%20care/assets/osteoarthritisofthehandandwrist.pdf

I found this very interesting.
I get pain in my hand joints, pins and needles and numbness. I have Googled OA previously and there is no mention of pins and needles.
Only knobbly joints (which I have to some extent) and stiffness. I was thinking carpal tunnel but maybe not.

The only thing that relieves my O/A is anti-inflammatories and pain relief. Others find tens machines useful or heat/cold pads everyone's experience is different. Non weight-bearing exercise such as gentle cycling and swimming is also good to keep the joints moving.

You have my sympathy O/A is a bugger

I get pins and needles and numbness in my hand when I'm driving, just from holding the steering wheel! I haven't found a way to relieve it except for exercising it. I think that keeping things moving is the key to it.