Hello, I just had knee surgery and have been using crutches for 7 weeks now while totally off left leg. I have dupuytrens In right hand. Since using crutches I have almost complete numbness in pinky finger down to that side of palm. Can anyone tell me if they have had similar experiences and if after this extreme use of my hand the feeling will return?
Carolynrivers:Hello, I just had knee surgery and have been using crutches for 7 weeks now while totally off left leg. I have dupuytrens In right hand. Since using crutches I have almost complete numbness in pinky finger down to that side of palm. Can anyone tell me if they have had similar experiences and if after this extreme use of my hand the feeling will return?
Hi Carolyn. I was hoping someone else with actual experience would respond. Instead I have done a quick google and it seems to be quite common. Hand, wrist, nerve numbness using crutches after leg or hip operations. One example https://patient.info/forums/discuss/anyo...rutches--494530. I don’t know if it’s too late but there are lots of tips for avoiding the problem on different patient sites. I think in your shoes I would see my GP first. Nerves can recover from minor damage and inflammation, once the original cause is removed. Best wishes SB
Your problem appears to be a so called Ulnar mononeuropathy at the wrist (UMW) which involves an "injury of the ulnar nerve" and results in motor and/or sensory deficits in the distribution of the ulnar nerve. This disorder is also referred in the medical literature as Guyon’s canal neuropathy.
Common causes include external compression caused by repetitive hand usage and compression from ganglia or other mass lesions. In your special situation the constant (mis)use or inappropriate adaptation of the crutch to your physical condition may be the cause of your symptoms (see attached figure). There are appropriate advises available for the better handling of crutches e.g from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (see attached advice).
However the clinical presentation of UMW) is determined by the location of the injury with respect to the branches of the distal ulnar nerve, in your instance the most distal part directly at the wrist. However, you should eventually exclude other causes of the nerve injury and consult your orthopedic surgeon with regard to a better adaptation of your crutches.
The nerves should have some "recovery potential" when there is a better protection of the pressure zone ...
Thank you for your advice. You are spot on. I going to adjust my use of the crutches immediately and seek medical attention should numbness continue. I’m starting to use my bad leg slightly and this has helped already. Thank you again.
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