Any suggestions?

[Stephie]

I posted a question about a month about some problems I was having.  I'll start over.  I'm a relatively healthy 21 year old female.  About a month and a half ago, I had a really bad headache that was in my right temple.  At the time of the headache, I started getting pins and needles feeling in the right side of my face.  Went to see my doctor, and she said it was just tension headaches, but sent me for bloodwork.  Was checked for diabetes, thyroid, etc.  Came back normal.  Within 2 days the tingling spread to my arms and hands, and my legs and feet.  The headache went away.  I was getting this pins and needles feeling all over my body.  Not a constant thing, just a sporadic tingling that lasted for a few minutes at a time.  I was also getting sporadic muscle twitches all over my body.  My doctor thought that it may have been a viral infection.  I was sent for an MRI that was also normal.  I took your advice on getting a neurological exam.  Went for the exam, that was also normal.  The neurologist thought that it may have been manifestation of migraine.  I've never heard of that.  He also thought it may have been a side effect from the birth control I was on.  I had been taking ortho tricyclene for about 2 1/2 years.  I developed cysts on my ovaries and my doctor changed by birth control to Alesse.  I took the Alesse for about 3 months.  It made my cycle irregular, so I was put back on the ortho tricyclene.  At the time of the symptoms I had already been back on the ortho tricyclene for about a month.  My symptoms have started to get better, but I'm still a little concerned that it may be something serious like MS or ALS.  My questions for you are:

1.  Is it possible that it was manifestation of migraine even if I wasn't having headaches anymore but also still having tingling sensations?
2.  Could it have been from the birth control switch?
3.  Does it sound MS or ALS related?
4.  Viral infection?
5.  Do you have any idea of what else it may be?
6.  Is there anything else I should do?  See another doc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  This is a great site!!!

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Stephie:

Sorry your still having problems.  No, this does not sound like MS or ALS.  Your neurological exam was normal as well as all the neuroimaging and lab testing.  No, it does not sound like an atypical migraine as your still having fasciculations.  I doubt this is from your birth control switch.  The symptoms you describe could be from a viral infection, something akin to post viral syndrome.  What you describe sounds very much like benign fasciculations.  This is where one has muscle fasciculations that come and go, often for no apparent reason.  They can have some sensory symptoms such as pins and needles but usually they are not present.  They do no harm to the muscle or nervous system.  They are made worse by anxiety, fatigue, and illness.  The time course is very individual, I have seen patients having these for many years on a sporatic course.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Stephie]

I forgot one more thing!!
For about a week, I've been getting a sharp pain down the left side of my leg.  From my hip to the middle of my leg.  I heard this is sciatic.  Could this be related to the pins and needles feeling?  Or could it be something else?  Is this serious?

Thanks again!!