Metformin side effects

[Mini]

i am suffering with tingling and stiffness in my fingers, after 2 years of being told it is arthritis, I have now seen a orthopaedic consultant who says I need a carpal tunnel operation in both hands, just a long shot but thinking back this only started when I started taking metformin, I have had blood tests for all vitamin levels, except for low iron, all else ok,has anybody got any ideas to help me, I am on a very long waiting list for the operations. Thanks

 

[Wirrallass]

Hello Mini ~ I'm sorry I can't help you with your symotoms but others will come along and chat with you soon. My experience of Metformin ~ commonly known as Metfartin! was of the laxative kind! 😱 Hope you get answers soon, take care x
WL

 

[Amigo]

i am suffering with tingling and stiffness in my fingers, after 2 years of being told it is arthritis, I have now seen a orthopaedic consultant who says I need a carpal tunnel operation in both hands, just a long shot but thinking back this only started when I started taking metformin, I have had blood tests for all vitamin levels, except for low iron, all else ok,has anybody got any ideas to help me, I am on a very long waiting list for the operations. Thanks

I’ve had carpal tunnel surgery which was very successful despite having nodal arthritis in my fingers too. It’s weakly associated with type 2 diabetes and a few other conditions but I didn’t have diabeties when I had it and I’m not aware of a link with taking Metformin. Quite often it’s overwork of the hand that causes it. My symptoms were numbness especially on a morning, tingling and pain especially in the thumb and two fingers next to it. Apparently those are the worst affected by the median nerve which is implicated in carpal tunnel. Years of excessive written work caused mine I reckon. This explains;

‘Symptoms most often occur in parts of the hand supplied by the median nerve: the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, and half of the ring finger. The median nerve doesn't affect your little finger. So if your little finger is affected, you may not have carpal tunnel syndrome.‘


The surgery isn’t anything to fear and mine was done under local anaesthetic and arranged reasonably quickly on the NHS. Hope you get some relief from it soon.

 

[Pine Marten]

i am suffering with tingling and stiffness in my fingers, after 2 years of being told it is arthritis, I have now seen a orthopaedic consultant who says I need a carpal tunnel operation in both hands, just a long shot but thinking back this only started when I started taking metformin, I have had blood tests for all vitamin levels, except for low iron, all else ok,has anybody got any ideas to help me, I am on a very long waiting list for the operations. Thanks

Carpel tunnel syndrome is quite common - I wear a wrist brace sometimes as I've got a touch of it. I don't think it has anything to do with diabetes or Metfartin (definitely windy and laxative 😱), I've got at least two friends who have had it and one of them has had surgery on the wrist. It does seem to be associated with overwork.

 

[Mini]

I’ve had carpal tunnel surgery which was very successful despite having nodal arthritis in my fingers too. It’s weakly associated with type 2 diabetes and a few other conditions but I didn’t have diabeties when I had it and I’m not aware of a link with taking Metformin. Quite often it’s overwork of the hand that causes it. My symptoms were numbness especially on a morning, tingling and pain especially in the thumb and two fingers next to it. Apparently those are the worst affected by the median nerve which is implicated in carpal tunnel. Years of excessive written work caused mine I reckon. This explains;

‘Symptoms most often occur in parts of the hand supplied by the median nerve: the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, and half of the ring finger. The median nerve doesn't affect your little finger. So if your little finger is affected, you may not have carpal tunnel syndrome.‘


The surgery isn’t anything to fear and mine was done under local anaesthetic and arranged reasonably quickly on the NHS. Hope you get some relief from it soon.

Thank you for your reassurance

 

[Mini]

I’ve had carpal tunnel surgery which was very successful despite having nodal arthritis in my fingers too. It’s weakly associated with type 2 diabetes and a few other conditions but I didn’t have diabeties when I had it and I’m not aware of a link with taking Metformin. Quite often it’s overwork of the hand that causes it. My symptoms were numbness especially on a morning, tingling and pain especially in the thumb and two fingers next to it. Apparently those are the worst affected by the median nerve which is implicated in carpal tunnel. Years of excessive written work caused mine I reckon. This explains;

‘Symptoms most often occur in parts of the hand supplied by the median nerve: the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, and half of the ring finger. The median nerve doesn't affect your little finger. So if your little finger is affected, you may not have carpal tunnel syndrome.‘


The surgery isn’t anything to fear and mine was done under local anaesthetic and arranged reasonably quickly on the NHS. Hope you get some relief from it soon.

 

[Mini]

Thank you for your reassurance

 

[Kentoldlady]

I have cts as well. Going to have the tunnel "snipped" later this year. There is a link with diabetes and other autoimmune disorders. I have hypothyroidism and both things are very common. But it could also just be wear and tear. Hurts tho!!!

 

[Drummer]

I take alpha lipoic acid - once a day, as I am a musician I was a bit concerned about my hands and feet and so ordered up a couple of tubs of the pills.
I can't swear it is the pills but my flexibility and typing speed has improved in the time I've been taking them, but everything seems to be good - energy levels and weightloss, general aches and pains, all improving.