tingling related to menopause?

[concerned16920]

I was told by my neurologist today that since they couldn't find any reason for my tingling/numbness/burning and muscle jerks that it's probably due to menopause!  Has anyone heard such a thing?

This has been going on now for nearly 4 months.  I have had two MRI's (brain and spine) a CT and blood work and everything comes back negative.  I have pain and tingling in my feet and hands every day which sometimes goes down into my arm and leg on my right side.  I also get tingling on the right side of my face and the muscle jerks are when I'm resting.
I was told that the neck MRI showed I have bulging discs and a bone spur, but that it was just regular "wear and tear" and that it doesn't effect my spinal cord.

I was pretty much dismissed by my neurologist who said he sees this sort of thing often and usually doesn't fine a cause.  My regular doctor is stumped but doesn't offer many suggestions as to what to do next.

The diagnosis of early menopause (I'm 43) seems like a scapegoat but maybe I'm wrong.  I guess I just wait until it all either goes away or gets worse.

What do you all think?

Karen

[concerned16920]

No I have not been dx.  I have been reading this forum for awhile thinking at first my symptoms were somehow related to MS, but now I'm not so sure.
I was checked for B12 levels and they were fine.  I'm not sure about HGB, I'll check on that.  I'm am putting in a request for a second opinion so then maybe I'll get some answers.  My neurologist did say that he sees a lot of people with tingling/numbness etc. and often they never do find out the cause.  That's not very comforting.

[saveone]

I was wondering are you dx? I can't remember.  Was the blood work done to rule out mimics?  Was part of the blood work looking at your B12 levels and your HGB count?  Either or both can cause the symptoms you describe but so can a neurological disorder.  I would push for more answers even though pushing is never easy.

[Eyesnlegs]

I was told it was perimenopause / early menopause / then menopause for all of my on going neurological symptoms. In fact my neuro even wrote on going neurological symtoms due to menopause.

My first bout of ON was at 34 yet I was first told my symptoms could be linked to menopause at 42 after having some seizures, then again at 48 after another bout of ON. I was even told 'come back after the menopause'. I believe it just saves them pursuing the real cause, so don't accept this if you feel differently.

I was 50 before I reached the menopause and 54 when dx with MS. True you can get some sx that mimic menopause and some menopause sx may act like MS but make sure that you don't take this as a fact. It was only after many of my friends said how long do you think the menopause lasts - that I went back and was dx.

Ask your friends who are the same age or others on the forum who have had similar.

Loads of luck with it
Pat

[Lulu54]

Hi Karen,
I finished menopause at 45 - I think age has little to do with it and is more influenced by other factors such as stress.  While it may be possible that you are having menopause symptoms, I doubt that is the explanation for all these neurological symptoms.  I'm with you in doubting the diagnosis - sounds like the doctor is out of imagination and fell back on a pat answer. So many things get blamed on menopause.

My best,
Lulu

[Trace420]

I've read that the most common reason for early menopause is autoimmune disorder. So even if it IS somehow related to menopause, shouldn't he be looking at MS as a possible cause.

I've never heard of those things as symptoms of menopause.

I think he sounds like he's full of ****. But then again, I'm not a doctor and I'm wrong a lot. But a second opinion sounds really reasonable here.