Definition Of Term..

[thelewisgang]

I have had problems for several months with trigger fingers on my left hand & after a delay, had an operation to correct this. That was in March this year. My fingers (middle & ring) had considerable swelling after the surgery & I was given exercises to do. Several weeks on from this op, the same problem arose & after seeing an Occupational Therapist she recommended I saw a specialist hand consultant. Have now done that & he is going to give me a supraclavicular block & a plexus catheter in the next few weeks. In his letter he said he was worried over the sudden onset of the initial triggering & the delay between surgery & the fingers locking down again. He went on to say he wonders if this is about a supratentorial origin for this problem. What does that mean?? Someone mentioned that it meant it was in my mind! & if this is the explanation, how can I have my two fingers permanently locked down to my palm with one hell of a lot of pain in the backs of the affected fingers.

[Sqad]

LOL........sorry.

I will let somebody else answer for you.

[thelewisgang]

LOL back!! why let someone else answer me??

[Sqad]

OK...it means that there may well be an emotional overlay causing the problem.

[thelewisgang]

well....I certainly would like my fingers to be straight & cannot believe that there is an emotional reason that might be the problem. How on earth could I "imagine or bring it on myself" that I cannot release my two fingers.

[frugalfred]

In anatomy, the supratentorial region of the brain is the area located above the tentorium cerebelli. The area of the brain below the tentorium cerebelli is the infratentorial region. The supratentorial region contains the cerebrum, while the infratentorial region contains the cerebellum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supratentorial

[themorrigan]

sqad is laughing because supratentorial is a code word used by doctors and nurses in front of patients

[woofgang]

I mean ha bloody ha but this is a person with a real problem....using silly doctor speak is neither helpful nor professional.

[themorrigan]

woofgang -the op asked '' He went on to say he wonders if this is about a supratentorial origin for this problem. What does that mean??''

and he got an answer

[pixie373]

She...

[thelewisgang]

PIXIE373. The doctor who said this in his letter is a HE not a SHE. I'd like to thank WOOFGANG for this comments. Yes, it is a worrying problem for me & damn painful too. Haven't slept through the night for several weeks as the pain wakes me & I cannot take the likes of Ibuprofen which would possibly help. I will not believe it could be an emotional reason. I just want it fixed once & for all.

[pixie373]

I was responding to themorrigan who described you as "he". I apologise if that was wrong

[Sqad]

woofy...day in, day out, week in, week out, year on, year out doctors deal with the moans and groans of an endless " conveyor belt" of patients and yes, itnis the job that they chose. Surely, they can be forgiven for developing their "own language" to lighten what can become at times a difficult and tense situation.

[Sqad]

Woofy.........the term " supratentorial" has been used for indicating anxiety and emotional states to explain seemingly organic symptoms and is both helpful and professional in my opinion.
What do you think the response on AB would have been if the OP had the doctor replying," it is in your mind?"

I am surprised at your attitude as you were once on the medical line of business and it has put the doctors in a position of " damned if they do and damned if they don't"

Ha! bloody ha!.......response was equally unhelpful but as usual with Best Answers it was the popular response.........however I'll conceived

[woofgang]

Sqad if the doctor thought that there was an emotional or psychological aspect to the OP's problem then he should be addressing this with the patient in an honest and polite manner, not making what I can only describe as a sneering and superior comment. and your initial response in my opinion is neither helpful not polite either.
I keep in mind that doctors have in the past decided that both stomach ulcers and ME are "supratentorial" illnesses and have been proved wrong.

[thelewisgang]

PIXIE373. themorrigan was, if you read it again was referring to my comment that the doctor stated & was correct in saying HE.
If this was "all in my mind" why then don't my fingers straighten when I am asleep?? He also said there is 'significant' maceration especially around the base of the middle finger.

[pixie373]

She said "the OP asked..." ( you)
and at the end said "and he got an answer"

[Old_Geezer]

"How on earth could I "imagine or bring it on myself" that I cannot release my two fingers."

My thought is that the conscious, that likes to think it is all there is, or at most thinks it is in control, is just a very small part of the whole you. If the subconscious stuff stops acting in the way you have taken for granted for years, then it comes as a bit of a shock to realise your view of yourself and how things are, aren't quite as you thought.

A bit like driving a car and thinking you are in control, and then something fails and it doesn't do what you are trying to force it to do. And you realise you have to sit back and accept things.

[thelewisgang]

I apologise pixie. I didn't notice that lol

[pixie373]

No problem, hon x