I need  medical information that will help explain why my fingers are
freezing in a claw-like position.  My fingers freeze (generally the
middle finger in My both hands and I have to use some force in
straigtening them out.  It happens primarily when I am sleeping and
someimes involves the whole hand.   I had cervicel spinal surgery
recently from C2 through T7 and I also have osteoarthritis.  CAn
either of these conditions cause this sympton? or, are there other
explanations?

bettejane,

Thank you for your interesting question. This claw-hand condition must
be very painful for you, and I urge you to see your primary care
physician about this. In my answer are potential  causes of what is
happening to your hands, but the information is only that—information.
The fact that I have included as many causes as I found in no way
implies that you have or could have any of the named diseases. To
adequately diagnose and properly treat your hand condition, you need
to visit your doctor.

From your description, it sounds like you may be suffering
contractures. Contractures are a shortening of your muscles or
tendons, which causes a distortion in the shape of your hands.
(Contractures can occur elsewhere in the body as well). Generally, as
we move our muscled, through normal body movement, our muscles
contract and expand. For whatever reason, a contraction occurs when
the muscle contracts, but does not release. Contractures appear to be
a permanent condition.
http://www.merckmedicus.com/pp/us/hcp/hcp_patient_resource_allhandouts_content_search.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/crs/crs/contract.htm

http://www.medmedia.com/05/122.htm

The contractures then deform your hand into the “claw-hand” form you
describe. Clawhand can be acquired (from other disease processes, such
as muscular dystrophy) or congenital, meaning you can be born with
this condition. By your description, I can assume this is a relatively
new condition for you.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003169.htm#contentDescription

As with many things, exercise is the best therapy for contractures. A
form of therapy is the use of orthotics, such as splints or braces.
Orthotic devices can help keep the joints extended.

If this condition is virtually painless, it could be Dupuytre’s
contractures. This disease often presents in middle-aged women, of
European descent. Your doctor will be able to distinguish is and what
kind of contractures you have. Do you have lumps or dimples under the
skin on your palms? Custom splints, massage and/or surgery can
alleviate the symptoms.
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/dupuytre.html

http://www.hand-clinic.co.uk/David/conditions.htm

http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw009.htm

Another form of hand contractures, more commonly seen in children is
Volkmann’s contractures. Symptoms can include  burning pain, weakness
or paralysis in hand and can come about  from “impaired circulation
following an elbow injury or improper application of a tourniquet”
http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/2865.html


Arthritis can also cause contractures. This site has a small picture
of an  x-ray of arthritic hands.
http://www.merckmedicus.com/pp/us/hcp/diseasemodules/modules_dyn.jsp?pg=/pp/us/hcp/diseasemodules/osteoarthritis/diagnosis.jsp

http://users.rcn.com/smith.ma.ultranet/CMTAfactsI7.html



Rarely Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease can cause claw-hand”
http://www.medmedia.com/o16/94.htm

Even rarer, Hurler’s Disease can cause claw-hand
http://chorus.rad.mcw.edu/doc/00165.html

Another very  rare cause is leprosy:
http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic266.htm

Scleroderma is know to cause claw-hand
http://www.sclero.org/medical/symptoms/skeletal/a-to-z.html



Probably not true in your case, but tetanus can cause claw-hand.
http://www.merckmedicus.com/pp/us/hcp/hcp_patient_resource_allhandouts_content_search.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/crs/crs/tlockjaw.htm

This website features different types of splints that may bring relief
to your hands. Before purchasing any of these devices, please discuss
them, along with exercise and drug therapy with your doctor.
http://www.rehabmart.com/contractures.asp


From Medline Plus’s site, an illustration of  clawhand of the first
and second finger.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9196.htm

bettejane, as you can see, the possible causes of your symptoms are
numerous. I’d like to see you get to the root cause as well as some
physical therapy by visiting your doctor! As far as your spinal
surgery being the cause, it may be a swollen or compressed
nerve...something only your doctor can verify!

If you find any part of my answer unclear, please use the Answer
Clarification button. This will enable me to assist you further before
the answer is rated.

Regards,
crabcakes

I was impressed with the response and would use the service again.  Thank you!

It doesn't really sound like contractures, in the common sense of the
term (shortening of tendons, or scarring of muscles), because what is
described sounds like a spasmotic condition; ie, it resolves
completely when stretched. If that is a correct understanding of
what's going on, then it may be of neurological origin, in someway
related to the cervical surgery, or possibly a variation of a thoracic
outlet syndrome, wherein certain positions of the arm may affect
circulation or nerve function, or both. If, when sleeping, you tend to
fold your arms upward under your head, this could do it. If there is
some degree of permanent clawing, or you can see or feel hard tissue
in the palm of your hand, then indeed it could be the start of some of
the above-mentioned conditions, or one called dupuytren's contracture
(it's definately not volkmann's contracture, which is a surgical
emergency when seen). In any case, it's hard to come up with an
accurate diagnosis without physically examining, and probably doing
some neurological and/or vascular tests. The way to get to the bottom
of it is to see your doctor.