Last night when I went to bed, my left lower leg and foot hurt so bad that I pulled out the heating pad hoping it would help. Well OMG, it didn't help at all it made it worse. As soon as the heat got too hot, it felt like I was getting electric shocks in my foot that were spidering out, if that makes any sense. Let's just say that the heating pad didn't stay on very long.
Well, your symptoms definitely sound neurological. At this point, it's hard to say what you have - you'll need to go to a neurologist for testing to eliminate some possibilities. That would include an MRI of the head, neck and spine, with and without gadolinium contrast, a lumbar puncture to check for antibodies, and possibly a VEP, although with your history of symptoms, I doubt you'll need it.
I will tell you that I have had all of the symptoms you describe, and I was diagnosed with MS in March of '07.
MS symptoms involve the entire body, because it attacks the central nervous system, which of course controls the body. So damage to the brain can cause burning sensations, tingling, numbness, pins and needles, weakness and more. I think the dizziness is because one of the cranial nerves is affected, and it definitely would affect your hearing. (That's one of my newer symptoms.) Pulling and tensing is caused by damage to the nerves that control the muscles. This is typically referred to as spasticity.
For more information, check out the Health Pages section (upper right of this forum). There's lots of informative articles written about the diagnostic process and the symptoms you might experience with MS.
Crystal, thanks for the help. I hope they figure out what is going on soon.
Quix,
When was your baby born? February 13th
When did the symptoms start? 6 years ago I started getting dizzy spells and I blacked out a few times because of them. While I was pregnant they went away. Around 5 months along with my last pregnancy, these new symptoms started. I thought they were all pregnancy related, but she is almost 6 months old and they are still present.
Where are the weird sensations? I get pins & needles and tingling mostly on my left side - foot, calf, hand and upper arm, but I've had it on my right occasionally. The muscle weakness I've had in both my hands, my left leg and my left arm. The burning sensation I've had in my left upper arm, my right thigh and my right hand and wrist. I've also had a sore throat a few time but it was more like when you go to the dentist and get frozen and parts of my tongue also.
Can you see your face "pulling" or looking distorted? How long did these sensations last? Was the "pulling down" on the left side associated with pain also? When I had the pain on the right side and the face pulling on the right side, the pain hurt so bad that I didn't want to move, so I didn't go see. The night it happened on the left, there was no pain and again I didn't go see. I should have gone, stupid me....
Where exactly was the pain on the right side (the first time?) How long did it last? the pain started in the back of my head, shooting upwards and it lasted about a minute or so.
As for the "crackly sound in your ear" and then the muffled sound, I think the diagnosis of Meniere's Disease was a little premature. Have you had any dizziness or whirling of the world? Has this happened before? You said the tingling was "all over your face. Did you have it in your hands or feet also? I felt a little dizzy, but it was more like I could feel it wanted to start getting dizzy, but never actually did. No the tingling was only in my head, I got it in my hand and feet later on that day, as I do almost on a daily basis.
Which muscles are weak? What is it that you can't do (specifically) that you could do easily before? Are both hands involved or is one more weak than the other? My left left muscles are week, my left upper arm and yes it's both hands, but I find the left is weaker than the other. I have a hard time feeding the baby sometimes, anything that is small I have a hard time working with. When I sit on the floor with the baby, I have to get one of the older two or my husband to help me get up, or I have a really hard time. At times walking alone is difficult, I hate stairs, but I have no choice to use them.
Did you ever have any episodes of things like this in the past? Nothing like this before and I noticed twice in the last few weeks where my heart seems like it wants to pound right out of my chest, but it only last a minute or so.
I hope all this information will help you help me.
Thank you so much everyone.
Hi, Welcome to the forum. You have asked the most common question that people ask when they get weird neurologic symptoms. Are you crazy and is this problem a psychological one. Our first answer, and of course we don't know, but you know your body best. You know if you typically get weird problems like lack of coordination, tingling and numbness, and facial or ear pain when you are stressed.
I have a series of questions for you that are very important in terms of getting a handle on what's happening.
When was your baby born?
When did the symptoms start?
Where are the weird sensations? Be specific.
Can you see your face "pulling" or looking distorted? How long did these sensations last? Was the "pulling down" on the left side associated with pain also?
Where exactly was the pain on the right side (the first time?) How long did it last?
As for the "crackly sound in your ear" and then the muffled sound, I think the diagnosis of Meniere's Disease was a little premature. Have you had any dizziness or whirling of the world? Has this happened before? You said the tingling was "all over your face. Did you have it in your hands or feet also?
Which muscles are weak? What is it that you can't do (specifically) that you could do easily before? Are both hands involved or is one more weak than the other?
Did you ever have any episodes of things like this in the past?
So, you see we need more specific information to have any suggestions, except you came to the right place. We all know about feeling crazy or lazy and we all know about others thinking we are nutzoid. Yes, anziety can cause some of the things you describe, but ALL of the things you describe will "cause" anxiety in the normal person.
Before anything is written off to stress, post-partum anything, or being wacko you need just what you are headed for: a neurologist who should give you a thorough history, a very thorough exam and likely order an MRI of the head.
Is this likely MS? It is hard for me (I am the local medical person, having been a physician in my former life) to say. Depending on your answers, there are many things that could cause this.
We have a lot of people here who will stop by and offer help, suggestions, empathy, and experience. You have landed on the Best Little MS Forum on the Internet! I hope to hear your answers to all these questions soon.
Quix, MD
First let me say that I do not think that you are crazy. I have batteld for 6 years now with symptoms- that according to doctors have no explanation. 6 years ago, I have a bout with the partial right side paralysis- drooping face, slurred speech and loss of sensation. I had every test known to man- on paper I was 'normal' except for an elevated protien level in my spinal fliud, but not enough to worry docs- docs offered no definite explanation. 2 years later I had a bout with blurred vision. I wne to an eye doc, who dialated my eyes and saw an inflamed optic nerve. I went to an MRI and a specialist. Again- on papaer I was 'normal'. Last month leg tremor- bad and painful- followed by left leg pain, weakness, nausea, migranes, blurred vision. For 3 weeks, I was not able to function at my normal level- with a 14 month old baby that was rough. Many doctors have mentioned MS, but after lots of test that come back normal they all say that there is no evidence to suggest that it is MS.
In the meantime I keep a journal of all of my unexplained symptoms, with the hope that one day some doctor will be able to put all of this together and figure it out. I get copies of everything and also have them sent to my GP who serves as my home base.
I am sorry that I cannot give you answers- I do not have any for myself, but I can sympathesize with you. My husband also doubts me, but know that just because docs cannot give your symptoms a name- does not mean that they do away and does not mean that they are not real- be persistent!
I wish you luck and patience.
Crystal