Some don’t like it hot.

Frustratingly, the symptoms in my hands became gradually worse and I began to notice that it was severely exacerbated by heat. It was a constant occurrence to wake up with severe tingling fingers/ hands whilst being warm. Then as the day wore on the tingling would become less. The heat as an accelerant of my symptoms became increasingly obvious on a Sunday morning after a warm bath. After a quick dip (10 minutes) both my hands became useless, which resulted in an outward display of frustration (me throwing my antiperspirant on the floor because I couldn’t hold the bottle or press the button with my finger). This was really starting to pee me off. Although I still hadn’t undergone my Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) I thought that the rapid progression of my symptoms, coupled with the lack of sensation, was sufficient enough to warrant a trip to A&E.

After a short wait I was seen by an on call consultant who gave me a brief physiological examination. I couldn’t help feeling rather sheepish, as since my arrival in A&E I had cooled down sufficiently to have gained some grip and reduced tingling, which made me feel like a hypochondriac. But what happened in the bathroom had really startled me. I explained briefly about the up and coming NCS and the progression of my symptoms after being warm. The consultant did express some concern that the symptoms I was displaying were not specifically related to the Ulnar nerve and there may be some median and radial nerve inflammation too, but the NCS would reveal any abnormalities’. He also asked whether I had a family history of Multiple Sclerosis or any other neurological disorders. My reply was “none that I can think of”. I was advised that taking Ibuprofen would reduce any existing inflammation, so with that being said I went on my way. But a seed had been planted, particularly as I know heat can exacerbate symptoms of MS, and online Self Diagnosis began!