Marie Elium
Marie Elium Posts
Our theme for this May/June issue is “Inside the Great Outdoors.” Summer is my favorite time of year, and I spend a lot of time outside enjoying the sun, the heat and yes, even the humidity.
The best part about being outside are the plants and trees that change daily — sometimes hourly if you’re watching closely. I start most mornings in my flower beds with a walking tour in my pajamas, drinking coffee and pulling an occasional weed. I go back in the evenings, usually spending an hour or two tinkering.
The worst part about being outside is the animals — snakes, specifically; horses more broadly.
Animals fall into three categories: Animals I Love, Animals I Don’t Like, and Animals That Terrify Me. Dogs, birds, cats, turtles and bees are in the Love It category. I’ll toss in amphibians and most farm animals, reptiles, insects and mammals.
Fleas, lice and yellow jackets are in the Don’t Like category. I haven’t experienced bed bugs, but I’ll go ahead and throw those in there, too. I’m guessing I wouldn’t like them very much.
During my first trip to the Spicy Lamb Farm (our cover story), the dynamic owner Laura Minnig introduced me to her horses, casually warning that one “tends to eat clothes.” That’s just one of my issues with horses.
I’ve given horses a chance — lots of them. It’s never worked out. They’ve kicked me and thrown me. One gave me a concussion. I don’t trust animals that are so intuitive that they sense my fear — at least that’s what their owners always tell me. I’ve been married to a dear man for 32 years who isn’t half that intuitive.
Because it was chilly when I visited the Spicy Lamb, I didn’t see a snake. I know they’re there.
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By Scott M. Zimmer, MD
QUESTION
Why do I have numbness in my hand at night?
ANSWER
If you ever need to “wake up” your hand and wrist at night because they feel numb and tingly, it could be a result of pressure on the median nerve in your wrist or a condition called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). This condition is the most common cause of numbness and tingling in the hand.
If pain is interfering with your ability to get a good night’s sleep, you may be able to make a few simple changes in your sleep routine before seeing a specialist. The easiest thing you can do is wear a wrist brace to bed. This will keep you from compressing the nerve that is causing you pain.
You may also want to think about the position of your arm when you sleep. Propping your arm up on a pillow may help symptoms, while sleeping with your hand under the pillow will likely worsen the pain. Anti-inflammatory medication can ease symptoms but should be used under the care of a physician.
CTS can be associated with a variety of medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, alcoholism, obesity, diabetes and hypothyroidism. In most cases, there is no associated medical condition. Some other daytime symptoms include numbness and tingling when driving or holding a device or book for an extended amount of time. It is common for both hands to be involved, although one side may be worse than the other. Over time, some might experience decreased grip strength.
It is important to see an orthopedic hand specialist to get the proper diagnosis before any permanent nerve damage occurs. There are several clinical tests for CTS they conduct, including manual compression on the nerve and a test for loss of strength and muscle.
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