TMJ 'dysfunction' - Health implications

For several months I have been experiencing tingling, numbness and pain in my right hand, wrist and arm, along with swelling of the wrist and thumb muscle atrophy. My GP suspected that it was carpal tunnel syndrome, put me on diuretics for a month and suggested that I wore a splint at night. I wasn’t convinced as I had tingling in my little finger, which is not connected to the median nerve, and I felt it had something to do with my ulnar nerve.

A month later I returned to my GP with severe muscle atrophy in the other side of the heel of my hand, loss of strength, a thickening and lumpy wrist, increased tingling in the fingers and hand, and similar symptoms appearing in my left hand. I have been referred to a specialist to determine what it is; the possibilities being carpal tunnel syndrome, a problem with the ulnar nerve or rheumatoid arthritis.

I have been a patient of Dr Amir’s for some time and having told him about my symptoms he made me a brace to deal specifically with this problem. Dr Amir also said that I have a slight swelling because of superimposed Rheumatoid arthritis consequential upon my gut problems.

The day after my referral, I picked up my new brace.

I got up the next day and wrote the following to Dr. Amir….

‘My hands don't tingle all the time and I have very little pain in my arms - you're a genius! I've found if they do tingle, swallowing helps, and the tingling goes ......... I do think you are amazing to discover this treatment!’

That was yesterday. Today, once again I have got up to find I have no tingling or pain. I am so grateful to him, and I have probably avoided having a diagnosis which would have involved some kind of damaging surgical intervention.