My left hand was doing this yesterday while I was out walking
June 6
Unless I think about it and physically uncurl it my left hand curls.
June 6
Hand curling is actually a recognized symptom for people living with MS — so you're definitely not alone in experiencing this. It happens when MS lesions interfere with how nerves communicate with the muscles in your hands and arms.
There are three main MS-related reasons this can occur:
- Spasticity — Involuntary muscle Show Full Answer
Hand curling is actually a recognized symptom for people living with MS — so you're definitely not alone in experiencing this. It happens when MS lesions interfere with how nerves communicate with the muscles in your hands and arms.
There are three main MS-related reasons this can occur:
- Spasticity — Involuntary muscle stiffness or tightness that keeps joints bent and hard to straighten (called flexor spasticity). Around 84% of people with MS experience some form of spasticity.
- Muscle spasms — Between 40% and 80% of people with MS experience these involuntary contractions, which can cause fingers to curl.
- Joint contractures — When untreated spasticity causes muscles and ligaments to harden, a joint can become "frozen," limiting movement. If left untreated, fingers can become permanently curled, so it's worth talking to your neurologist sooner rather than later.
Treatment options can include:
- Wearing a splint or brace
- Physical or occupational therapy and stretching exercises
- Medications like baclofen or tizanidine to relax muscles
- Botox injections for involuntary curling
- In some cases, surgery to repair nerve or tendon damage
A MyMSTeam member shared, "My hands will spasm into claws so badly that I refrain from driving any farther than the store." — so others truly understand what this feels like.
June 5
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