Aa
What is it
I am a 37 year old female.
In Oct 2006 - I started experiencing "pins and needles" sensations in my left arm and toes of left foot.
As well as a "stocking" tight feeling on left side of face.
My Limbs started to feel as though they were weighted down (this lasted for 2 days) and I was very lethargic. My calf muscles on left, became very stiff and archilles tendon on right became very painful. My muscle strength has depleted significantly.
Having an extremely hot bath does not affect me at all, but once winter arrived the symptoms seemed to abate, spring is here now and they are starting all over again.
I went to a neurologist in Feb 2007 and had an MRI which was clear, the nerve test and eye test done all were negative - I do have muscle areas that are very painful for no reason - such as hip and thigh muscle. All this has be very concerned - fibromyalgia or MS???
In Oct 2006 - I started experiencing "pins and needles" sensations in my left arm and toes of left foot.
As well as a "stocking" tight feeling on left side of face.
My Limbs started to feel as though they were weighted down (this lasted for 2 days) and I was very lethargic. My calf muscles on left, became very stiff and archilles tendon on right became very painful. My muscle strength has depleted significantly.
Having an extremely hot bath does not affect me at all, but once winter arrived the symptoms seemed to abate, spring is here now and they are starting all over again.
I went to a neurologist in Feb 2007 and had an MRI which was clear, the nerve test and eye test done all were negative - I do have muscle areas that are very painful for no reason - such as hip and thigh muscle. All this has be very concerned - fibromyalgia or MS???
Ahh ok, cool.
Well for Fibro to be diagnosed I think you need to have pain in a particular amount of certain areas. Let me see... at least 11 of 18 pressure points that are specified, but even though you don't have pain in these areas now, you'd be suprised when you touch them. I am still tender in areas when I press on them for no reason at all. Having said that I was never diagnosed - they just didn't think it was my primary condition.
I didn't have pain all over all the time either - that was actually rare - but the pain I did get could travel to any other part of my body as quickly as it came. One moment my arm was in agony, the next it was my leg and my arm was fine.
I don't think you can necessarily rule Fibro out. Do you have fatigue at all? Have you been to any Drs yet and what have they said?
Mel
Well for Fibro to be diagnosed I think you need to have pain in a particular amount of certain areas. Let me see... at least 11 of 18 pressure points that are specified, but even though you don't have pain in these areas now, you'd be suprised when you touch them. I am still tender in areas when I press on them for no reason at all. Having said that I was never diagnosed - they just didn't think it was my primary condition.
I didn't have pain all over all the time either - that was actually rare - but the pain I did get could travel to any other part of my body as quickly as it came. One moment my arm was in agony, the next it was my leg and my arm was fine.
I don't think you can necessarily rule Fibro out. Do you have fatigue at all? Have you been to any Drs yet and what have they said?
Mel
No I live in SA,
Thanks for the quick response, the pain I experience in my thigh muscle is a deep intense pain - as you described as though it goes all the way to the bone. But I dont have lots of areas hurting at once, 2 main ones - the thigh front aspect and my left bicep muscle which too is severe at times.
So could it be fibromyalgia or do you have to have many areas hurting at once???
Help
Caz
Thanks for the quick response, the pain I experience in my thigh muscle is a deep intense pain - as you described as though it goes all the way to the bone. But I dont have lots of areas hurting at once, 2 main ones - the thigh front aspect and my left bicep muscle which too is severe at times.
So could it be fibromyalgia or do you have to have many areas hurting at once???
Help
Caz
Hey there.
Having had Fibromyalgic symptoms (was never diagnosed, just due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) I would need to hear more about where your sore spots are and how they feel to you, other than sore. My pain was so deep in the muscle tissue that it actually felt like it was in the bone to me and sometimes when I had a really bad attack, it felt like all of my bones were breaking at the same time. It was a horrible feeling, but more of a deep ache than pins and needles. Also, I have to admit I think my muscles felt worse with rain etc than with heat.
Funnily enough I am on here because I think I may possibly have MS too and have started experiencing the pins and needles that you mention. Mine too are in my left side (arm and foot) and sometimes only affect certain fingers or toes.
I am certainly no Dr though, just someone who has been through a bit health wise.
Do you live in Australia too? I figured since it was spring for you, as it is for me too, that you might be.
Keep us posted.
Mel
Having had Fibromyalgic symptoms (was never diagnosed, just due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) I would need to hear more about where your sore spots are and how they feel to you, other than sore. My pain was so deep in the muscle tissue that it actually felt like it was in the bone to me and sometimes when I had a really bad attack, it felt like all of my bones were breaking at the same time. It was a horrible feeling, but more of a deep ache than pins and needles. Also, I have to admit I think my muscles felt worse with rain etc than with heat.
Funnily enough I am on here because I think I may possibly have MS too and have started experiencing the pins and needles that you mention. Mine too are in my left side (arm and foot) and sometimes only affect certain fingers or toes.
I am certainly no Dr though, just someone who has been through a bit health wise.
Do you live in Australia too? I figured since it was spring for you, as it is for me too, that you might be.
Keep us posted.
Mel
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Australia
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
