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Numbness in fingertips

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Numbness in fingertips

Posted by Alexandria Dumas on July 19, 2003 at 00:31:49:

Dr. Stoll, and the Board:

A friend, who is in her 70s, has been experiencing numb fingertips in all 10 fingers for a year or more and it keeps getting worse. I noticed last night that she can hardly button her buttons anymore. I've searched the archives to no avail and am asking the board for their thoughts.

She has diabetes but takes extremely good care of herself, religiously checking her blood levels, and takes many vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. She has only been injecting insulin for about three years, before that time, for about 7 years, she was just taking diabetes drugs. She thinks her fingertips became numb because of pricking the tips of her fingers to check her blood for 10+ years. (She now pricks the sides of her fingers.)

Her "work" is taking care of her yard and she has the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood. She does not drive. And the only medication she takes besides the insulin injections is high blood pressure pills.

Her doctor has no answer for her except her age, but he doesn't think pricking her fingers caused the numbness.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Thank you.



Re: Numbness in fingertips

Posted by Happygal on July 19, 2003 at 08:24:34:

In Reply to: Numbness in fingertips posted by Alexandria Dumas on July 19, 2003 at 00:31:49:

Hi Alexandria,

Sometimes numbness in the hands is caused by tight neck and shoulder and upper arm muscles. However, usually the pattern of numbness is different than in the fingertips. If you don't find anything else to try, and if you can tell her neck and shoulder muscles are tight, massage might be worth a try, although that may not be it. Or chiropractic.

Best wishes,
Happygal



Re: Numbness in fingertips

Posted by Gen on July 19, 2003 at 14:08:20:

In Reply to: Re: Numbness in fingertips posted by Happygal on July 19, 2003 at 08:24:34:

I agree with Happy she could need to see a chiro. Massage is very helpful. Use peanut oil for arthritis. Very good for the skin. She should be massaging her hands, legs, anyplace she can reach or have someone else do it for her. For diabetes, eat jerusalem artichokes, they contain natural insulin. Her insulin meds are probably interfering with her body circulation. If she cannot get fresh (fresh is always better) the Cayce Corner store has dried capsules of jerusalem artichokes. Call toll free 1 866-812-8778.



Re: Numbness in fingertips--THANK YOU HAPPYGAL & GEN

Posted by Alexandria Dumas on July 19, 2003 at 14:53:54:

In Reply to: Re: Numbness in fingertips posted by Gen on July 19, 2003 at 14:08:20:

I will be sure and relay your suggestions and comments.

Thank you both so very much!

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Re: Numbness in fingertips (Archive in neuropathy.)

Posted by Walt Stoll on July 20, 2003 at 07:00:03:

In Reply to: Numbness in fingertips posted by Alexandria Dumas on July 19, 2003 at 00:31:49:

Hi, Alexandria.

I am glad to see that you are listening to Happygal and Gen.

If that does not resolve the problem, I would suggest she try sublingual vitamin B12. At her age a selective inability to absorb B12 from her stomach would be common. Since nerves regenerate at 1/2 inch a month it might take her a year for the symptoms to disappear if this is the problem.

I agree with half of what her doc said: This is not from her "pricking".

Let us know how she does.

Walt

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