Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Multiple Sclerosis

by Sajid
(Pakistan)

Dear Doc

I have typical symptoms of cts e.g family history, pain related to median nerve entrapment area, waking up at night due to pain and then getting relieved by shaking, muscular wastings /weakness and feeling of swollen right hand etc.

My doctor insists that it is due to MS (suspected case). Only one out of three EMG tests suggested CTS. What should I do? Pl comment especially constant pain in right hand and constant muscular wasting below thumb.

Hello Sajid,
So, the pain definitely goes into the middle finger, and often the ring finger, but never the pinkie? In which case, a very strong likelihood of CTS, not MS. As they say: "if you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebra."

There are four likely areas of impingement, often what's called a "double-crush". More than one of these areas: Lower cervical nerve root irritation, often UncoVertebral Joint Luschka degenerative changes. And/or
Thoracic Outlet syndrome ... and/or Pronator Teres impingement or a pure carpal tunnel syndrome ... Median nerve irritation in the wrist only.

Has it affected your eyes? Often one of the first signs of MS. A brain scan is the only way to be absolutely sure. By your "doctor" do you mean the local GP, or a neurologist? Only the latter can make a definitive diagnosis.

I hope this contributes.

Dr B

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Chiropractic help Questions (General).





Did you find this page useful? Then perhaps forward it to a suffering friend. Better still, Tweet or Face Book it.

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Then forward it to a friend. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.