Hello!

I have left sided hemiplegic CP & also have a lot of hand pain! (I'm 22 by the way!) I had a wrist fusion in June because i've had hand pain for a couple of years which wasn't being helped by other means. The pain can be described as a deep, intense aching, which is often made worse when I'm doing other things (my hand tenses up) I'm having botox in my wrist flexors tomorrow because as a result of my fusion i'm getting increased pain in my fingers (the flexor tendons are too short). If you want my advice, i'd say ibuprofen is probably the best painkiller to use. However, I would suggest that a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon/consultant is sought, because it might be increasing spasticity or another underlying cause causing the pain. In this instance, there are things that can be done, botox is always a good starting point, then possibly surgery for a permanant solution.

Hi, I have tetraparesis CP and also have hand pain. My dr thinks its down to increasing spasticity, and I´d describe the pain the same way you described yours. I´m 29. I´ve been given a pain relief gel which has ibuprofen in it plus a lavender extract and my partner and carers massage it into my hands. I get most pain right in the centre of my palms of my hands and also the length of my fingers and wrists. The pain also alternates between a tingling sensation like my hands are not there to intense cramps in my hands and wrists. I use a small hand therapy ball to try and make fist movements but I find that´s getting increasingly difficult. I use a plastic book holder to hold open the pages of books and Dragon Naturally speaking voice recognition to access the computr. I find regular hand massages and finger exercises help a bit if only when they are being done to me and not afterwards but it´s nice to feel the relief. I doin´t have much hand movement and suffer from spasms and hand tremors. but do find the things I suggested help, particularly the gel and massages. I also used hand massage bars which look like very small bars of soap and contain essential oils like lavender. and eased the pain too. They do tend to melt a little in the sun so you have to put them in the fridge.
I´ve never had botox I´ve not been to anyone else about this yet as don´t know what avenue to go down next, and have not found a long lasting solution other than pain gel but even that wears off. Can anyone suggest anything? also my hands seize up often. I´m not sure about botox as don´t know how it´ll affect me. I also have hydrocephalus with a shunt and am a wheelchair user.