How would this sentence be punctuated. Would otherwise be joined to the first sentence by any punctuation


She complains of some tingling in a stocking-glove distribution throughout her hand if she holds it in the same position with her elbows flexed because she is reading a book. Otherwise no numbness or tingling in the distal extremity.

That whole sentence bothers me as it could have been dictated much clearer. I also don't like the word "because," as the dictator appears to mean "for example, when she is reading a book," which, if it were dictated that way, I would set off the phrase "for example" with commas.

The way the sentence stands I wouldn't put any punctuation in it, as I am able to decipher what the dictator is saying without any punctuation, though as I said before, the word "because" seems awkward.

Just one person's opinion!

Anyone else have any ideas/opinions?

I agree with kkb about the first sentence, although I don`t think I`d put in "for example", just "when" instead of "because".

The second one is not a sentence, since there is no subject or verb, so how about "Otherwise she has no numbness or tingling in the distal extremity."

But it does depend on how much your employer allows you to edit.

HTH

You're right,Carol,that is better! Hopefully editing is allowed.

I wouldn't change any of the wording. I would just add a comma after otherwise.