Pregnant and worried

[Kristin01]

I am 13 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child.  About 6 weeks ago, I went to the doctor because I would wake up several times in the night with my hands tingling.  They would never tingle at the same time.  One night it would be the left, the next night it would be the right.  He assured me that this was normal in pregnancy and was carpal tunnel.  I wasn't aware that carpal tunnel could start so early in pregnancy.  Then about 2 weeks later, my right foot fell completely asleep while I was sleeping.  I had to get up and jump on it for the tingling to stop.  This happened three times.  The hand numbness at night still continued.  Then, this morning I woke up and my right pinkie and ring finger were numb and tingling.  It only lasted a matter of seconds.  I was able to shake it out right away, but I know from doing research that that is not a symptom of carpal tunnel.  The only other thing I have are random muscle twitches when I lay down.  They never occur in the same location.  Am I flipping out over nothing or does this sound like onset for MS.  I went to a neurologist who examined me, but didn't feel that my numbness was consistent with MS, since it would last less than a minute and I am always able to shake it out.  I have not yet mentioned the twitching to him.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

[Heather3418]

Welcome to the MS Forum.  Congrads on your pregnancy.

I have been diagnosed with MS for over a decade.  What you describe sounds like it may be coming from a pinched nerve in your neck.  

Nothing from what you descibed sounds like MS.  MS is a disease with symptoms that last weeks to months with no break in between.  I believe that your Neurologist was correct, but certainly keep a journal of what you have been experiencing.  Pregnancy by itself, would improve a person with MS.  MS patients that are pregnant have shown a remission of symtpoms until about 4-6 months after the baby is born, when they will have definite attack.

Keep us posted and Happy baby....Lots of stickybaby dust coming your way.

Heather

[Quixotic1]

Hi, I am so sorry your are having this problem and worrying about soemthing like MS during a pregnancy.

I know very little about what weird things are normal in pregnancy, so some of our experienced members will help with that.

What you are experiencing does not sound at all like MS.  I agree with your neuro.  In MS the tinglings and numbness are caused by real damage to the nerves.  Thus the sensations you get in MS are not brief and do not "shake out."  

Random muscle twitching is a common occurence in regular life.  I don't know about pregnancy, but everything else happens then, so why not?  Generally the twitching you are describing are called benign fasciculations.  They are annoying, but harmless.  The more you focus on them, the more you are aware of them.

The other rule of thumb is that MS rarely presents during pregnancy.  It can, but it is not the typical time.  This is because during pregnancy the immune system is suppressed so that you do not reject the baby.  MS is not usually active during times when the immune system is suppressed.

So, as a physician with MS, I think this is one worry that you can let go of.

Others will chime in, I'm sure.  Congratulations on your soon to come little one.  I was a pediatrician for 23 years.

Quix

[Kristin01]

Thank you for responding so soon.  I guess the reason I am so worried is that I have been looking at a lot of MS forums, and so many people say that they have numbness in their hands and feet at night that go away a few minutes after waking up.  Someone even mentioned that it was the only symptom they had.  I just don't want to overlook it.  

[jensequitur]

The kind of numbness you get from sleeping on your arm, or from crossing your legs too long, is very different from the MS numbness.  

From my experience, MS numbness feels like the body part just isn't there.  There's a loss of where it is in space relative to your body, as well as a loss of sensation.  Sometimes I can feel it if I slap my leg, but not if I brush it with my hand.  

If it helps, I'll tell you one of my experiences...  One day I woke up to answer the phone.  I jumped out of bed and walked toward the phone, and my left leg gave out from under me and I hit the floor.  I managed to stumble to my feet and get to the phone, but the whole time I'm noticing that my left leg doesn't register at all.  I can't feel it there, even though I'm standing on it.  Evidently my brain can tell it to move, because it's working, but I can't feel it.  Very peculiar!  Gradually it came back.

So I don't think you have anything to worry about.  If you start noticing numbness and tingling in your face and hands, go back to the doctor.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

I also agree that your symptoms are likely not MS, from what you are describing.

During pregnancy there is an increase in blood volume, as a normal part of pregnancy.  Along with hormones going all over the place. I would think that this would make you more suspectible to nerve compression.  To me what you are describing sounds like mild nerve compression, probably related to posture / position.  I think this because it happens during sleep when you are not moving much and blood flow is less, so maybe blood pools in some areas.. and because it goes away in a short time with movement / changing position.

For now I would put this down as one of the vague things that happen during pregnancy, view it with humor, and not worry too much about it.

BTW I am also pregnant - about 14 weeks now.

Best wishes

Sally

[mrsturbo]

I am pregnant as well, 16 weeks.  I am not yet diagnosed.  If this continues and becomes worrysome to you, they can always do an MRI.  Most docs will do them after the first trimester.  But it does sound more like a nerve being pinched when you lay down.  Of course I would never tell you to ignore something that is weighing on your heart.  If you need the MRI to rule things out, or even make sure that a nerve isn't being pinched in your neck, then request it from your doc, all they can say is no.  And just remember that each pregnancy is different.  Just because there is a new symptom in this pregnancy that you didn't necessarilly experience the first pregnancy doesn't mean that something is wrong.  This is my fourth pregnancy in four years.  I can tell you from experience that each pregnancy has it's individualized quircks that you can usually relate to your child's personality later.  Not to say that this child will get on your nerves! (just kidding).  Keep us posted on how you are doing!