swollen, painful, numb, hands-thumb/forefinger both hands more painful than 3,4,5

by David Condolora
(Phoenix, Arizona)

I have had 2 cervical surgeries-1994,2010 with plate and screws.2 MD's seem to believe problem coming from neck but no one has any interest in treatment
What course of treatment do you suggest, if any? I'm 66 and in fair condition.
Thank you for your response

Hello David,
Your neck surgeries would not directly cause swelling in the fingers. I take it this has developed since the last surgery, and is not like any pain you had in your hands before the surgery. My thoughts are:
1. Let's be sure it's not arthritis in the fingers. Wouldn't cause numbness.
2. Carpal tunnel syndrome certainly causes swelling and numbness, but won't affect the pinkie.
3. Smoker? Cough? Tumor in the apex of the lung (Pancoast tumour) could produce these symptoms, but unlikely in both hands.
4. Likewise a deep vein thrombosis in the arm - unlikely bilaterally.
5. Thoracic Outlet syndrome - again unlikely bilaterally.
6. Cervical spine stenosis - unlikely to cause swelling of the fingers.

Do any movements of your head and neck provoke anything down the arm(s)?

And then there are probably several dozen rare conditions that could produce these symptoms.

Go to the Carpal tunnel syndrome page at C-H, look for the graphic of the Pronator teres muscle in the forearm. Press hard in the muscle, prod around. Is it very painful, does it radiate towards the fingers?

A first rib fixation, painful scalene muscles and a positive Adson's test should be part of the exam.

The Search this site function at C-H will give you some answers to these terms.

I hope this contributes.

Dr B