Aa
For Quix on burning sensations
Today was the first time (that I can recall) having a burning sensation that seems to radiate from under the skin (as if there was a hot light bulb inserted underneath). One spot was on my right hip, the other on the top of my left foot. Rubbing or scratching the areas made the burning more intense. I tried to stretch my foot and that also intensified the burn. Can you shed any light on what this might be? Is this just one more of the symptoms that occur with lyme, MS, fibro, etc..?
I would appreciate any information you might have.
Thanks.
I would appreciate any information you might have.
Thanks.
Hi Quix- Thank you. I erroneously thought that if I listed all that was happening/has happened to me it would be more useful to a neurologist so a diagnosis could be made or send me to the proper specialist who could help me. Yes, I would happily accept your help formulating something more coherent to present to the neurologist.
For the record, I am not making any of this up…I just want answers. I am seeking the proper diagnosis so I can receive the treatment I need to feel well.
And I read the tongue lashing on the other post. Again, thank you. Given to the wrong person, advice from that particular forum member could be devastating.
Thanks for sharing some of your personal experience, and I repeat that you do so much in this forum to help others. Helping others in an online forum cannot begin to compare to what you lost as a practicing MD, but please believe you are certainly appreciated here. That sounds so trite but hopefully you will not see it that way.
Yesterday the Tour de France stated with the prologue in London. Watching cycling only motivates me more to find an answer so I can get back in the saddle!
For the record, I am not making any of this up…I just want answers. I am seeking the proper diagnosis so I can receive the treatment I need to feel well.
And I read the tongue lashing on the other post. Again, thank you. Given to the wrong person, advice from that particular forum member could be devastating.
Thanks for sharing some of your personal experience, and I repeat that you do so much in this forum to help others. Helping others in an online forum cannot begin to compare to what you lost as a practicing MD, but please believe you are certainly appreciated here. That sounds so trite but hopefully you will not see it that way.
Yesterday the Tour de France stated with the prologue in London. Watching cycling only motivates me more to find an answer so I can get back in the saddle!
I did everything but answer your basic question. Burning is another form of paresthesia - which is a false signal from a sick nerve. Yes, burning sensations can be felt in any type of neuropathy be it a pinched nerve in the back, MS, diabetic neuropathy, B12 deficiency - whatever.
I couldn't help myself. I just flamed medco. I don't often do that, but you're right. He was totally out of line. Hope you don't mind. Quix
Ahh...I found the interchange that you refer to. He was being a rather judgmental pr**k wasn't he. I'd like to see you shine him on and stay around for whatever we can offer. In fact, I have found that there's almost always someone like that in every forum. I've read your longer posts where you list your symptoms and the deterioration you've suffered. And I see the anger at being arrogantly dismissed in the ER. I cringe for my profession - not that I had any illusions about the egos that inhabit it.
As an elite athlete you know your body better than most. This shows up often in two ways. The first is that trained athletes rarely develop health anxiety and severe somatization (the body "creates" symptoms to express stress). They are do'ers, not stewers. The second is that when they begin deteriorating very fast the terror/fear/anxiety is real and horrible. Of course, you're upset/anxious. Your well-tuned body is falling apart! This is my experience at least.
The onset of your problems I thought was interesting. An off-day with poor stamina followed by persistent crushing fatigue. The fatigue and weakness you describe sounds very neurological and resembles what I experience with MS. We both know, of course that I can't diagnose you with anything, but your course and symptoms are very suggestive of MS and that will be my focus as I post.
The list of symptoms as you printed it is overwhelming, but very suggestive of MS. This is where what I need to say is tricky. I practiced medicine for 23 years, so I have a good idea of how to evaluate people's complaints. The way you have them listed truly "looks" like they were copied from a website on MS after "symptom-surfing". I KNOW they weren't, but from the very first time I read your post I wanted to help you develop the list to be more informative, more credible and to tell your story better.
Before I went to the MS clinic after being accused by my neurologist essentially of being a Muenchhausen's - one who fakes symptoms in order to obtain medical attention and medical procedures - (that was fun) I also made a list of all the things that I had been going through. I would have to look, but I suspect there were as many things on it as yours. However, I listed them in a way - as a timeline - that made the new neurologist read it and between that and my physical exam, he made the diagnosis that day.
Now, if I haven't offended you, stay here a little while and I'll tell you what will make those same symptoms more compelling and more cogent.
I read your post about falling today. My experience with the fatigue, exertion and the heat of the day is that, while I don't feel great, I initially slug along. The collapse comes pretty much all of a sudden. There's no ramp up - you just suddenly drop. And for me, there's no moving on to finish the task. I'm done. I've heard others say pretty much the same. It's not like fatigue that other people know (Everybody says. "Yeah, I know what it's like to be really tired." Hah! they haven't a clue). I trained in a huge county hospital (LA County General) I routinely spent 36 hours on my feet on the run. That was tired, but if at the end, there was still an emergency, I could always summon SOMETHING. Now, when the fatigue kicks in hard, there is nothing to summon. There are no reserves.
The heavy muscles that shake and tremble. I know them. I have chronic vertigo and the fatigue from reading, the trouble with shortterm memory. The foggy brain... I walked away from medicine when one morning I couldn't respond to a baby's sudden respiratory distress. I passed it along to a colleague and left practice. So I know the anguish that you feel when you see your dreams disappearing with a body that won't behave. And I was dismissed by my doc for over 2 years. So I know that anger, too.
So, if you want I'll be glad to help you present your symptoms in a way that is more likely to get you heard all the way through. What do you say? Quix
As an elite athlete you know your body better than most. This shows up often in two ways. The first is that trained athletes rarely develop health anxiety and severe somatization (the body "creates" symptoms to express stress). They are do'ers, not stewers. The second is that when they begin deteriorating very fast the terror/fear/anxiety is real and horrible. Of course, you're upset/anxious. Your well-tuned body is falling apart! This is my experience at least.
The onset of your problems I thought was interesting. An off-day with poor stamina followed by persistent crushing fatigue. The fatigue and weakness you describe sounds very neurological and resembles what I experience with MS. We both know, of course that I can't diagnose you with anything, but your course and symptoms are very suggestive of MS and that will be my focus as I post.
The list of symptoms as you printed it is overwhelming, but very suggestive of MS. This is where what I need to say is tricky. I practiced medicine for 23 years, so I have a good idea of how to evaluate people's complaints. The way you have them listed truly "looks" like they were copied from a website on MS after "symptom-surfing". I KNOW they weren't, but from the very first time I read your post I wanted to help you develop the list to be more informative, more credible and to tell your story better.
Before I went to the MS clinic after being accused by my neurologist essentially of being a Muenchhausen's - one who fakes symptoms in order to obtain medical attention and medical procedures - (that was fun) I also made a list of all the things that I had been going through. I would have to look, but I suspect there were as many things on it as yours. However, I listed them in a way - as a timeline - that made the new neurologist read it and between that and my physical exam, he made the diagnosis that day.
Now, if I haven't offended you, stay here a little while and I'll tell you what will make those same symptoms more compelling and more cogent.
I read your post about falling today. My experience with the fatigue, exertion and the heat of the day is that, while I don't feel great, I initially slug along. The collapse comes pretty much all of a sudden. There's no ramp up - you just suddenly drop. And for me, there's no moving on to finish the task. I'm done. I've heard others say pretty much the same. It's not like fatigue that other people know (Everybody says. "Yeah, I know what it's like to be really tired." Hah! they haven't a clue). I trained in a huge county hospital (LA County General) I routinely spent 36 hours on my feet on the run. That was tired, but if at the end, there was still an emergency, I could always summon SOMETHING. Now, when the fatigue kicks in hard, there is nothing to summon. There are no reserves.
The heavy muscles that shake and tremble. I know them. I have chronic vertigo and the fatigue from reading, the trouble with shortterm memory. The foggy brain... I walked away from medicine when one morning I couldn't respond to a baby's sudden respiratory distress. I passed it along to a colleague and left practice. So I know the anguish that you feel when you see your dreams disappearing with a body that won't behave. And I was dismissed by my doc for over 2 years. So I know that anger, too.
So, if you want I'll be glad to help you present your symptoms in a way that is more likely to get you heard all the way through. What do you say? Quix
I will check later today to see if you have an answer about the burning skin, if not I will not be returning to the forum and I hope I have not put you out in any way. This forum looked like it might be productive but I have found it to be the quite the contrary. You are a wonderful asset here, and I admire you for helping so many. Unfortunately there are others who find it necessary to do the opposite. Referring someone seeking help as a “nut case” (as I was) is inappropriate in a forum like this. (I can find better uses for my time.) Directed at the wrong person comments like that could have deviating consequences.
Good luck to you in your life and keep up the good work here!!
Good luck to you in your life and keep up the good work here!!
Today I was working out in my garden again, and as the day continued I was getting weaker; my left leg was getting more difficult to move as the day progressed, to the point that as I moved a load of mulch in a wheelbarrow I lost my footing and fell over, dumping the mulch into the garden. My comment to my husband was, “Well that’s one way to get in there.” That was the second time I fell down today. This is so hard for me to understand because I have always been such a strong person…freakishly strong according to my sister-in-law. Right now my left foot is burning again, and I feel like a wet noodle.
Do my symptoms sound nonspecific to you? Someone posted in another forum that my symptoms are nonspecific and that I should try another SSRI.
Advice like that I can get at my hospital's ER.
Do my symptoms sound nonspecific to you? Someone posted in another forum that my symptoms are nonspecific and that I should try another SSRI.
Advice like that I can get at my hospital's ER.
Didn't think you were ignoring me at all!! I appreciate that you put so much thought into your responses.
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