heavy, stinging muscles, any clue what it is?

[lovemy6monkeys]

This has been going on for a bit now, at least a week. I'll be honest...I'm tired of seeing my doctor so I would like to *not* see him until after the LP on July 2nd.

I'm not sure if I can describe this well, but it is my upper arms mostly. The muscles feel very heavy but they also ache and sting, like I've weight lifted a huge amount for a long time. I can do my regular daily routine...for example I can still do dishes (darn it LOL) but by the time I finish you would think I had been doing them for days with as tired as my arms will feel.

I'll add that my latest blood work showed a slightly high CRP test (this is the second or third time in a row it has been slightly high). I think my doctor said it means tissue damage?

I'm curious if anyone knows what this is from? Is there anything I can do to help it feel better?
Thanks!
~Jess

[tjj3761]

I just wanted to say hi,

Sorry about your symptoms.  I am the same way in that every time I try to do something like house cleaning, etc. I have to just take breaks in between, because I feel exhausted, shaky, short of breath like running a marathon.

Yesterday, I decided to try and sweep the bottom of our above-ground pool in the heat, and after I was done brought on my eye pain, neck and shoulder pain lasting the rest of the evening.  I had to take a muscle relaxant.

Sometimes too, if I am out in the heat for a period of time, I get a "bee stinging" sensation in my arms.  It is there and then gone within several minutes.

It sure does seem like if it is not one symptom, it is another or others.

I think my new matto is:  "Clean--rest, walk--rest, shop--rest, get dressed--rest etc." LOL

Feel better soon!

Terri

[addicted2harleys]

Thanks for trying to find out the info for me, JJ  I have the "dents" in the thighs too.  My doc says that they are atrophying.  I just went to the Lupus Foundation web site.  A little of it fits for me, but not much.  But, enough for me to mention it to my primary doc.  Maybe I need to get tested again...it has been 5 years since I have been tested for it.

Keeping an open mind...thanks again, JJ.

Addi

[lovemy6monkeys]

I think I may have an answer on my arm heaviness and stinging.

Yesterday I did a thorough cleaning of my kitchen, and made a nice Sunday dinner...and it exhausted me. I was tearing up as I was telling my husband it took me 10 minutes just to sweep the floor because I had to stop to rest.

So, I definitely overdid it a bit yesterday. And last night as I was laying in bed, I could feel myself twitching. My arms and legs both. Like I was made of pop rocks (anyone remember that candy? LOL) It lasted about 30 minutes...I think until the gabapentin (sp?)  kicked in, then it settled down and I was asleep soon after.

It made me realize that I do feel twitches in my arms often through the day, just not as strong as I was feeling last night.

Ahhh, I guess one more thing to get used to in my new normal.
~Jess

[supermum_ms]

Hey again Addi,

I can't find where i put the Lupus thing, so i cant explain what i was thinking, seems to be the story of my life at the moment. I tried googling to find it again, not a good idea, way too many body building, musclular skeleton, Lupus, diabetes and the list goes on and on. I suppose it could also mean nothing at all or another sign of the condition you've got, id make sure to add it to your list just in case it adds some meaning some where along the diagnostic trail.

Cheers.......JJ

PS lost some where on the garden path lol

[supermum_ms]

Hey Addi,

The dint in your thigh, i've read something about that, i'm think (but will find it again) that its connected to Lupus. From what i can remember off hand, is that its rare for 'natural' dints to form, the Lupus dints are in the muscle and unlike celulite type dints which are in the fat. I'll go and find it because my brain isn't what it once was, and i dont want to lead you down the garden path, so to speak!

BTW Lupus is a big MS mimic and just as tricky to dx, its a thought that might be worth further exploration.

Cheers........JJ

[RedFlame]

Jess, Just know that you aren't alone with these symptoms and losses.  It's a terrible that is happening to our bodies!  I also have the 'slight-moderate' elevation with the CRP and ESR now for a year.  

I happened upon the paper on "Weakness" a couple of days ago.  How did she (Quix) know that I have to prop up my arms to wash my face or brush my teeth.  I can brush my hair but have to take breaks, my hair isn't as long as Addi's is but is so heavy.  I had felt so ashamed and embarrased of these things before I read her paper.

My legs feel so heavy like there are bricks tied to them.  Certain muscles burn with pain at times and become spasms.  My arms have just started to get heavy.    I use a walker when I have to go out.

Addy the PT was very helpful when I had it a couple of months ago.  The massage and stretches felt good to me.  I have kept up with the stretches on my own but of course but can't afford private massage.  It helps, but only short term I think.

I can still dress myself and do the dishes--but some days that's all that I do

I am still in the diagnostic phase, but there seems to be many that are diagnosed that have your symptoms.

[Heather3418]

I just wanted to add that I have a lesion in my upper thoracic spinal cord.  I always wondered whether this may have anything to do with my arm issues.

[addicted2harleys]

Thanks for the reminder on that Health Page.  I just went and re-read it.  I head read most of those when I first joined this site, but I don't think my mind really absorbed it all.  So, it was good to go back and read it again.

So, if I am reading and understanding it for me, then am I correct in saying that if the weakness feels like you have run a marathon with BOTH arms, then it is probably due to fatigue.  If it was due to a lesion then it would probably be only on one side?  Is this correct?

I also have the issue with my legs.  Walking around the house is okay for me, I generally don't have problems.  But, to go walk around Wal-Mart for a couple of hours, does not work.  Both my legs feel the marathon and within a couple of hours it is not uncommon for me to not be able to go any further.  It is like my legs "just quit working".  This is all the time....for the last 2 years.  But, if I attempt stairs, for instance, it is more centralized in my right leg that won't lift.

So, for my legs, would this sound like fatigue, too?

Now, about PT.  I did ask my primary doc about doing this.  Since my mobility has been affected in a great way, I have been gaining a lot of weigh.  The muscles in my thighs have begun to atrophy.  Yesterday, my daughter noticed a "dent" in my calf.  I looked, and sure enough...

My doc said the PT would not do me any good.  Should I be questioning this?  And maybe insist that I give it a try?

Thanks,
Addi

[twopack]

See if this Health Page about being weak vs. feeling weak helps explain anything for any of you.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Weak-vs-Feeling-Weak/show/1146?cid=36

I just noticed it today when I was doing some review.  I hadn't realized Quix had written it up as a Health Page topic.  It was a very helpful explanation for me in the past and again today.  I guess I need to look for additons every so often.

Mary

[supermum_ms]

I've had issues with my arms since my early 20's, i did a lovely swan dive into a concrete pool, yep head impact, lost all function down one side, scarry time but everything was aok after wearing a collar for months, just whip lash. A bit over 2 years later, so i dont know if its connected or not but i've always asumed the connection, though the ER didn't think it relivant at the time, so i dont know.

But anyway...... I cleaned a spill on the carpet and lost the use of my arms within hours, it started as an ache, like i'd been lifting heavy weights, then tingling in my fingers that travelled upwards, I couldn't move them or my neck and the pain was bad. The pain stopped after getting some strong pain meds but the useless limb part has come and gone ever since.

I'm right handed but due to the right going useless easier, for years i relied on my left arm for strength, now there is no stronger side. i can't lift my arms above my head without them going dead on me. I've ripped the muscle off the bone on both arms, doing nothing but pulling myself up or lifting shopping. I even felt that same burning pain in the bisep when i popped the lid on the blender once, every muscle contraction returns the burn until it goes away, which is probably from not using it more than anything else.

As weird as this is going to sound, this is not a constant state, i can use my arms and then i cant, its unpredicatable but worse when fatigue sets in. The lifting of a fork does seem heavy, brushing my long hair (was just below my knees but cut it back to my butt) is too much, truth but on bad days it will take me all day and the next day i cant brush it at all, so how lazy is that!

If it wasn't for my legs doing the same type of things and all the brain cog issues, i'd still be thinking there not connected but its suss if they arn't connected, so i'm thinking its probably neurologically based. But I did see this reponse on the neurological forum that seems to be saying it could be either.

[[by Dr. A. Srivastava, MBBS, DOM, PGDFM , 9 hours ago
Hi, Thank you very much for your questions; Generally pain or numbness in the arm and shoulder originates from the neck problems due to irritation in the cervical (neck) spine since the nerves that supply these areas start in the upper cervical spine.

Mostly, this kind of pain aggravates after turning head and typically occurs in patients with previous neck injuries that causes disc bulge and in patients with marked arthritis of the upper cervical spine. In addition, this pain exacerbate with prolonged sitting in a stooped posture and when working on a computers for long hours.  

If you suffer continuous pain, numbness at these areas, please arrange an appointment with a neurologist right away who will evaluate the possibilities here and can provide you an appropriate treatment. Further referral to a physiotherapist for spinal exercises could be beneficial and may produce relief of symptoms. Hope this information proves helpful to you.Take Care & Regards!!! ]]]

No answers just understanding!!

Cheers.......JJ

[addicted2harleys]

Oops.  I forgot to say that my doc does say it is neurological...

[addicted2harleys]

You two are definitely not alone.  I am undx'd.  Have had neuro probs for 5 years now.  Was diagnosed MS 5 years ago and then new neuro took it away.  

My arms will feel that way just from cutting up spaghetti on my plate.  lol  I have to stop halfway through and rest a minute and then continue.  Dishes is even worse.  Hell, driving seems to kick my butt...but no worries there because my eyes and legs stopped me from doing that anyway!

My hair is down to my bottom.  So, Heather, I completely get what you are talking about.  My family is trying to *gently* talk me into cutting it off.  I can't.  I feel like I have lost so much...I don't want to give up more...you know?  I can't color it myself anymore either...my mom has to for me.  But, it would be like that whether it was long or short.  *grin*

I don't walk a whole lot outside my home.  My legs end up giving up on me if I try.  And, I have tried.  I still try periodically and find myself in a jam every time.  So, yes, I have it in my legs, too.

I have talked to my primary doc about this.  We are both doing everything we can to get me to the right doctors to get this figured out.  He tells me, for now, to just do what you can, when you can, basically.

So, I feel for you both!  And, you definitely aren't alone...

Addi

[Heather3418]

What you describe sounds very familiar.  (I do have MS)  I have had that same feeling in my legs for years.  The stinging, as my Neuro said, was from the muscle spasms I was having.  She said that it was like working out at a gym and having that stinging feeling from over-worked muscles.  (Remember what they say, do that exercise till it burns at the gym's or exercise classes?)  Since the spasms are making the muscle contract and release, just like working out at the gym, that is what causes the stinging.

If you are not having muscle spasms, then I do not know what might be causing your stinging sensations.  I can totally relate to the horrible fatigue like feeling in the arms.  It takes alot of energy for me to just wash and rinse my hair.  I do believe that it is a neurological symptom.

I take it that you have informed your doctor of this stinging, fatigue feeling in your arms.  Like you just been through a marathon with your arms.  Jess, even after being diagnosed for over a decade, I cannot tell you what actually causes this feeling in the arms.  

Just out of curiosity, do you have any problems with restless leg syndrome?  I have it in my legs, as well as my arms.  The doctor's now refer to it as Restless Limb Syndrome.  I believe it's a misfiring of the nerves, which also is a neurological problem.  I am wondering if the two sensations (RLS and the fatigue and heaviness in my arms) have anything in common.

I hope someone can come along and tell us what they feel may be causing these feelings in the arms.  I feel that it's a more common complaint then is reported.  If any of our members have this problem in their arms, please let us know.  Jess, Jan and I want to know that we are not alone.

I feel for you, Jess and Jan and completely understand how bothersome this symptom is.

[janbubears]

Hi there

Would just like to say i have exactly the same problems - i only go on my laptop for half hour and my arms feel real heavy tingling sore. mainly my left arm but now in both i am awaitin my LP. My history is wrote on here starting with have i got ms..
Jan xxx