Quix-if your feeling up to it, ?'s

[Jenny Wren]

Hi Quix, hope you are feeling better!  You have answered a few of my posts in the past.  I have been suffering from migraines for the last 8 years, about 8 months after the migraines started I began to have this weird ticklish sensation on the left side of my face, same side as the migraines.  Its been 7 years now that I get these weird bug crawling sensations while wearing clothing, especially on my back, if I pull my shirt away from my skin while it is happening, it stops.  Well I have been to the neuro many times, had a ton of bloodwork done, 2 brain MRI (each a year apart, after 6 years of symptoms), 1 c-spine (bulging disk), everything is normal they tell me.  Now, in the past month I have been suffering from burning skin.  Its been happening everyday, at different locations in small patches throughout my body.  Xanax seems to calm them down alot, and it doesn't keep me up at night, in fact, I would like to sleep all day just so I don't have these feelings.  My neuro the last time I was there mentioned that it could be small fiber neuropathy and we may never know what caused it.  My question to you is ...  Could this be what I have?   Could Lyme cause this, I have been tested 2 times for this but heard its not that reliable.  Could I be paralyzed?

Thanks, hope your feeling well,
Jen

[Jenny Wren]

Thanks so much for the post.  I have read a whole bunch on MS and Lyme, I have kinda put the MS to the side because I really don't have the normal symptoms, even though I know everyone with this disease is different.  Lyme is still in the back of my mind, but you would think that after this long of time if it were Lyme I would have other more pronounced symptoms.  I plan on keeping my appt with the neuro for Friday, and then possibly contact IGENEX for the test kit.  I have already spoke to a LLMDs office thats only about an hour and a half from here, so this I think will be my next step.  I appreciate you taking your time to assist me.  I hope you are feeling better.  Take care for now.

God bless, Jen

[Quixotic1]

I don't understand all of the neuropathies and small fiber neuropathy is indeed hard to diagnose.  The Xanax is not very specific for the discomfort of neuropathy and is used most often short term for anxiety.  It is highly (READ THAT VERY HIGHLY) addictive and difficult to come off of.  It seems like you are, indeed, going to be having these disturbing sensations (which can really drive you bonkers) so you woud do well to see a neuro or ask your neuro for a medication which more specifically treats neuropathic pain and sensations like neurontin, or Lyrica.  Even some of the SSRI's do.  But do not keep going up on the Xanax.  It is a real time bomb if you take it daily.

About the Lyme.  Lyme Disease is notorious for causing all over paresthesias.  So, if you have not had specific testing (through one of the recognized labs) with a Western Blot test, yes, I believe it is well worth while to be tested properly and retested.  The people more knowledgable in Lyme would tell you that this isn't even enough for diagnosis, and that you should see a Lyme Specialist in your state.  You can call (email) the Lyme Association for names of doctors who treat Lyme and explore this option.  The bug that causes Lyme doesn't often paralyze, but it can wreak havoc with your body.

If you go to "flash.lymenet.org" you can get more info than I can give you.  Quix