Strange sensations

[Carrie]

Lately, since like, Monday, my bpi hand has had some strange sensations. Every once in awhile the top of my hand by my thumb and index finger feels cold like a cold breeze is hitting it. Then, other times it feels like its burning. This is new. It isn't painful, just, odd. I've tried rubbing and getting circulation going but it doesn't seem to be that. Any thoughts? It's my right arm, so it isn't a heart attack or anything.

[Kath]

Carrie
I am just guessing but our bpi arms do not seem to know how to regular hot and cold.
My arm is freezing most of the time but if I warm it up with fleece and leave it on too long it gets over heated...

I hope you can find out what is going on.

Kath robin

[marieke]

Sounds like neuropathic "pain"/sensations or neuropathy. These can be painful or just annoying.

"Peripheral neuropathy is a general term referring to disorders of peripheral nerves. The peripheral nervous system is made up of the nerves that branch out of the spinal cord to all parts of the body. Peripheral nerve cells have three main parts: cell body, axons, and dendrites. Any part of the nerve can be affected, but damage to axons is most common. The axon transmits signals from nerve cell to nerve cell. Most axons are surrounded by a substance called myelin, which facilitates signal transmission. Peripheral neuropathy can be associated with poor nutrition, a number of diseases, and pressure or trauma. Many people suffer from the disorder without ever identifying the cause.

In all neuropathy and neuropathic pain, there is abnormal conduction of nerve impulses from the input (usually peripheral in the extremities) to the spinal cord and brain. The pain of neuropathy is a result of the abnormal processing of nerve impulses that originate in these peripheral nerves. The terms neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy are often used interchangeably to describe the same process. Neuropathy can cause strange and extremely unpleasant sensations to arise in the affected area, including paresthesia (tingling or numbness), causalgia (burning sensations), and dysesthesia (unpleasant, burning, crawling, itchy, tingling or numb sensations)--or just plain pain.

Pain associated with neuropathy can be very intense and may be described as cutting, stabbing, crushing, burning, shooting, gnawing, or grinding. In some cases, a nonpainful stimulus (such as a feather drawn across the skin) may be perceived as excruciating, or pain may be felt even in the absence of a stimulus. If a problem with the motor nerve has continued over a length of time, muscle shrinkage (atrophy), or lack of muscle tone, may be noticeable. Autonomic nerve damage can also occur and is most noticeable when an individual stands upright and experiences difficulties such as light-headedness or changes in blood pressure. Other indicators of autonomic nerve damage are lack of sweat, tears, and saliva; urinary retention; and impotence. In some cases, heart beat irregularities and respiratory problems can develop.

Neuropathy often results in numbness, abnormal sensations called dysthesias and allodynias that occur either spontaneously or in reaction to external stimuli, and a characteristic form of pain, called neuropathic pain or neuralgia, that is qualitatively different from the ordinary nociceptive pain one might experience from stubbing a toe or hitting a finger with a hammer. Neuropathic pain is usually perceived as a steady burning and/or "pins and needles" and/or "electric shock" sensations. The difference is due to the fact that "ordinary" pain stimulates only pain nerves, while a neuropathy often results in the firing of both pain and non-pain (touch, warm, cool) sensory nerves in the same area, producing signals that the spinal cord and brain do not normally expect to receive."

http://neurology.health-cares.net/neuropathy.php

You should go speak to your doctor/neurologist (if you have one) and see if they can find the cause (apart from the BPI) as this is a new sensation for you.
hope this helps some...
Marieke (31, LOBPI and 2nd yr nursing student)


Message was edited by: marieke

[Mica]

Marieke,

I learn SO MUCH from reading your posts!!! Thank you for sharing what you have learned (both in your studies and from living with an OBPI)!
You are going to be a truly gifted nurse!

mica

[marieke]

Thanks Mica!
I am actually a moderator on a message board for people with Transverse Myelitis and a support group leader for Canada as well for them (TMA). I have TM as well (3 yrs as of tomorrow). This is why I posted this info... I have a ton of info when it comes to neuro things!
Glad to help!
Take care,
Marieke
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com (if you look at the right side there are links to various sites, TMA being one of them, if you are curious)


Message was edited by: marieke

[Carolyn J]

YES!! Marieke you are a gift to our UBPN Family in soooo many ways as is Amy our future OT. We all need this information posted even repeated when questions arise. I for 1, NEVER want parents or individuals to ever hear the words: "It's all in your head"...or.."it's just growing pains", the way I heard for 65 years until I found UBPN in 2004.

HUGS all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI


Message was edited by: Carolyn J

[Kath]

Marieke

Now I understand what I am feeling.
Thanks so much for all the sound medical information.

I love your posts and I think you will be a great Nurse and perhaps you should consider becoming a Nurse Practitioner...
It means more studies but you can use your assessment skills and prescribe treatment here in US.... don't know about Canada.

thanks again
Kath robpi/adult

[marieke]

YEs, I have thought about becoming a nurse practitioner, but it means another 4-5 years of school, we'll see! And here too in Canada I could prescribe meds. It's a new field here in Canada, with the first grad class last year as far as I know.
Love you all!
Marieke

[Kath]

I love my doctor's NP and see her all the time.
My doctor is so busy all the time and has two NP and 2 doctors working with her. I won't see the physicians assistant he does not seem to try to understand obpi.
It is not a new field here in USA, I have a friend who was a nurse then became a NP and now she is a Professor at Columbia University teach studies for NP.

I wanted my daughter to on to become a NP... who knows for now she is busy with three kids.
When you finish school will you have a BSN?
Kath robpi/adult

[marieke]

Hi Kath,
No, I am doing my RN (equivalent in the usa in the ADN program). I plan on doing my BSN after, though most likely part-time so that i can actually make $ and gain more experience.
Marieke

http://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/departments/tech/nurse/


Message was edited by: marieke