Can you get Spasticity in your hand/fingers?

[julia111]

Recently, I have been getting this tightness in the ends of my fingers.  It is mostly in my left hand, where I experience periodic numbness/weakness in my pinky and fourth finger as well.

It feels like the skin on the ends of my fingers is being stretched --  and it is most pronounced / gets tighter when I spread my fingers out. It lessens when I bend them in to make a fist.

I've been told that this is just stiffness caused by fibromyalgia, however this tightness which I am reffering to is usually worse in the evenings - and it is my understanding that stiffness related to Fibromyalgia occurs in the AM.

This is just another "Just Wondering" question for anyone who might experience the same thing . . . . .

Thanks,
Julia

[Quixotic1]

Yes, you can have spasticity in any group of muscles.  That definitely can happen in the hands.  If you hands spasm into a "claw," that indicates spasticity of the muscles on the underside of the forearm and the palm that flex the hands.  If they stay outstretched, then the muscles affected or in the top of the forearm and hand.

I would see a ask the neurologist if this could be spasticity and see what the reflexes are like in that arm.  You have to pursue this.  Loss of the use of your hands is drastically life-altering and disabiling.  Also you are going to need aggressive occupational therapy.

You may need to be seen at an academic center that has access to advanced diagnostic tools, like measuring the resting tone in the muscles of the hand or forearm.

AND, Welcome to our forum!  

Quix

[Robrob422]

Julia, I have tight skin on all the fingers on my left hand. I can not even force them to bend. The joints are not swollen and I do not have arthritis. My fingers look like wax and the knuckles are red. I've been to two hand specialist, an arthritis doctor and a neurologist  as well as general doctor. Only one offered  a possible reason wich is scleroderma. I have read about that and it doesn't fit. My fingers are not blue nor do I have skin discoloration. Also with scleroderma the fingers get stuck in the bent position, just the oposite of mine. I am worried because my right hand is starting to feel tight. Let me know if you find out anything about your finger problem.

[julia111]

I am in my fourth week of Lyrica w/ no relief from pain.  Actually, my pain really isn't bad at all except for during a "flare" when it does get bad in my legs.

I am hoping to begin tapering off the Lyrica as the side effects have been unsettling and I have not noticed any improvement w/ pain. Mayo suggested I try Neurontin so maybe we'll try that next.

I take 20 mg of Amitriptyline every night to help get good REM sleep.  I think it has also helped w/ pain.

I am in a "wait and see" stage with my symptoms having only had a MRI of my brain without MS protocol (.25 Tesla, in fact.)  - and if something changes or gets worse we'll do further testing.

I hope you will have some good results trying other pain meds.

Thanks,
Julia

[doublevision1]

I have similar sensations in my left hand that began nearly 4 months ago with my last flare up.

I am treating with the max daily dose of Neurontin.  Not really sure if it's actually helping.  The pain/burning/numbness/tightness/tugging sensation in my fingers is always present, is best in the a.m. and at its worst by evening.  Fatigue worsens it, esp exacerbating that tight/tugging sensation, esp in my index finger and thumb.

In my case this is neuropathic pain caused by lesions on my spinal cord - aka cervical myelopathy.

I'm exploring other meds but my neuro is reluctant to make a change at this time.  Are you on any pain meds for this, and are they helping at all?

db