Back pain and tingling/burning on right side....nerves or MS?

[mom2gandb]

I am a 29 female in overall good health (5'8, 136 lbs). I've suffered from back and neck pain off and on for the past 2 years. I attribute my aches and pains to the physical demands of caring for my 2 little (big) boys(3yr is 42 lbs and 1 yr is 30 lbs.) However, the past few weeks the pain has been chronic and ranges from my lower to mid back. This past week I've noticed my right side to be especially sore. 4 days ago I started to feel a burning/tingling sensation in my right foot that radiates up to my calf. Now the same tingling/burning is felt in my right hand and arm. These feelings are slight but certainly present and do not affect mobility or strength.  The nurse practioner at my health care clinic ordered x-rays for me - the only abnormality revealed is a slight curvature in lower spine. The nurse says my numbness is probably due to nerve irritation.  Is it normal for nerve irriation to affect the ride side only (arms AND legs?)

Should I be concerned about Multiple Sclerosis? My Mother has MS and she experienced similar symptoms (tingling/numbness in left arm) when first diagnosed. I had  Bells Palsy, also on right side, approx. 4 yrs. ago. that lasted 1 week. I do feel a little tired often but what Mom of 2 active toddlers doesn't? I feel light-headed sometimes too. Otherwise, I don't seem to have any other symptoms that are often associated w/ MS.  Poor circulation runs in my family - my hands and feet are perpetually cold.  This tingling and burning seems to amplify my feeling of coldness, although to the touch they're no cooler than the left side.    

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

It is possible to have an abnormal disc or spinal cord problem in the cervical spine region which could produce unilateral symptoms in the arm and leg. What I would recommend is for you to see a neurologist. They will be able to examine you and determine if other areas of the nervous system are working properly. They may then order a MRI of the spine to look at the spinal cord, nerves, and structures surrounding it.  You should discuss your MS concerns with them. After examining you they will be able to beter determine if MS is a possibility. Good luck.

[The Crusader]

BEWARE OF SPINAL NERVE BLOCK INJECTIONS THAT USE STEROIDS MIXED WITH ANESTHETICS TO TREAT PAIN.  SOME DOCTORS MAY TRY TO CONVINCE YOU THAT THE PAIN IS FROM YOUR SPINE.. WHICH COULD BE TRUE, BUT BEWARE IF THEY SUGGEST ANY INJECTIONS CONTAINING THE STEROID DEPO-MEDROL!

Depo-Medrol is not approved by the FDA and "no longer recommended" by the manufacture, Pfizer/Pharmacia for epidural injections because of the many thousands of reported complications they and the FDA have received!

Pfizer has recently issued a warning to doctors that this drug is harming people when administered by the epidural route.  As I said, the drug is "no longer recommended" by the drug maker because of the "severe medical events" that have been reported to them and the FDA! There are new studies that link severe chronic pain syndromes with complications of this non FDA approved procedure. (Arachnoiditis, Epidural Fibrosis, etc.) Using the Freedom of Information act, we have discovered that there have been well over 15,000 adverse event reports and 356 deaths attributed to Depo-Medrol between 1998 and 2002. (A very high number despite that fact that only 1.5% of all adverse events get reported to the FDA!) (A 1999 Harvard Study)

Pfizer Inc. recently purchased Pharmacia/Upjohn, the manufacturer of the most commonly used injectable steroid, Depo-Medrol! They have recently issued a new WARNING on the use of this non-FDA approved drug for spinal surgery as well as for epidural administration. They say that Depo-Medrol is "NO LONGER RECOMMENDED" for epidural administration in a newly published Pfizer document titled: "DEPO-MEDROL - REFORMULATION-EPIDURAL USE" The warning covers BOTH formulations they make!

(Another misconception is that there is a preservative-free formulation of the drug, which supposedly is safer in the opinion of the doctors who use it! These doctors are not only wrong about this, it's incompetence if they believe this is so!

Both formulations, the single dose and the multi-dose formulation, have preservatives added, MGPC and Benzyl Alcohol respectively... both are neurotoxic and potentially damaging to neuro-tissue. Besides, both formulations contain huge amounts of Polyethylene Glycol, a chemical cousin of automobile antifreeze and a major ingredient in DOT-3 Brake Fluid! If this isn't bad enough, they then mix Depo-Medrol with other chemicals, such as anesthetics, like Marcaine, and ionic dyes, such as Isovue, again AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION OF PFIZER! PFIZER CLAIMS THAT THIS PRACTICE CAN INCREASE THE "TOXIC RISKS BECAUSE OF CHEMICAL INCOMPATIBILITIES", THEREFORE THEY HAVE WARNED DOCTORS NOT TO DO IT!

Any doctor that may be reading this should call Pfizer immediately and ask for a written copy of their newly posted Warning.

All patients should be advised that they will not be told this information unless they specifically ask their doctors for it. Even then, there is no guarantee that their doctor will even know this latest update.

Try this Google search: "Depo-Medrol Harm"

Kindest regards,
Dennis J. Capolongo / EDNC
Center for Pharmaceutical Safety
Washington, DC

[nurse12hr]

All right, already.  We got it.

[KimSb]

I'm curious what the Neuro MD thinks of the Crusader's comments?

[lil sunshine]

I would hazard a guess that they get these people all the time. If you ignore them they go away.

[BLONDIE2000]

Hello,  I am also having some concern about numbness.  I am 37 years old.  I sit at a computer all day.  First I had some burning and tingling in my hands a week ago and thought it was maybe a pinched nerve in my back or signs of carpal tunnel, then a few days ago, my right side of my tongue has a feeling like Oragel was put on it.  It won't go away.  I still have both hands feeling a little tingly and like someone is pushing on my armpit.  I have also have headaches in the past with my periods.  My doctor showed me breifly a handout about a study that has just come out about numbness with birth control pills, and ask if I had symptoms, because it could cause stroke.  With all this I am lost.  I am not sure if I should see a regular doctor or my gyn. Any help would be grateful.

[yeyekari]

Well, I have a bulding disc and the doctor said the pain that I was having was from my scaitic nerve which cause me to have the pain running down my right side. I was given 3-shots in my right side and 1- in my left side and went through the procedure of buring the nerve to block the pain but it didn't work. Now the pain is in the same place my right hip bone and the right side on my knee with burning sensation in my right calf. I would like to know if any one else is having that same problem. The pain is unbarable at times. This is a pain management doctor that I am seeing.

[audi]

I SUFFERED A BLUNT TRUMA TO THE BUTTOCKS AND LOWER BACK A FEW MONTHS AGO.  I KNOW I DO NOT HAVE MS BECAUSE I WAS TESTED.  HOWEVER MY MRI SHOWED 3 BULGING DISC IN MY LOWER BACK.  MY NEUROSURGEON PERFORMED A DISCOMGRAM WHICH WAS NEGATIVE.  BUT I SILL HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH UNRINARY AND FECAL INCONTINENCE. THIS ALL STARTED AFTER MY FALL BUT, I WAS RATHER RELUCTANT TO MENTION ANY OF THIS TO MY SURGEON.  I CONSTANTLY HAVE LOWER BACK PAIN, EXTREME PAIN THROUGHT THE RIGHT BUTTOCK AND DOWN MY RIGHT LEG.  THERE IS ALSO A GREAT DEAL OF NUMBING IN THE SADDLE REGION IF I SIT OR LAY FOR TOO LONG A PERIOD.  IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT I MAY HAVE DONE SOME SORT OF DAMAGE TO THE PELVIC AND BUTTOCK REGION?  I WILL BE SEEING A NEUROLOGIST WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS BUT I FEEL ABSOLUTELY DEVASTED AND EMBRASSED WITH WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.  I AM 51 YEARS OLD, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN GOOD SHAPE, I AM NOT OVER WEIGHT AND PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT I WAS WALKING 5-6 MILES ON A DAILY BASIS.  I MISS GOING TO WORK NOT TO MENTION THE AFFECT THIS HAS HAD ON MY FAMILY.  I CONSTANTLY FIND MYSELF BEING CONCERNED ABOUT BEING OUT IN PUBLIC AND HAVE AN EPISODE.  I DO WEAR CONSTANT PROTECTION DAY AND NIGHT BUT THIS DOES LITTLE TO EASE MY MIND.  I WOULD WELCOME ANY FEED BACK.

[NicoleSt]

Does numbness and tingling related to MS radiate to all extremities or is it more localized?  I've had tingling and numbness in both legs and arms for about 5 days now -- and still awaiting my neuro appt. and am worried.  I had the same symptoms about 7 years ago and the dr's told me it was a pinched nerve and/or stress.  I am under a lotstress, I've just moved into a new home, have a very demanding job and am also in grad school and taking care of my kids.  Could it just be stress or anxiety related?  I find it hard to believe that stress could really cause physical problems.  Just trying to gain piece of mind before my dr's appointment.

Thanks,
Nikki

[countrygal000]

I saw your message about you having problems using the restroom...I know it sucks but I have it too. I have been to 9 different doctors and they all don't seem to really agree on what is wrong w/ me. I was diagnosed w/ L4-5 bulge disc & annular disc tear, L5-S1 heranited disc w/ annular disc tear, a chronic lumbar radiculopathy affecting L5 to S1 levels bilaterally. My urniating problem started in Aug 03 and I was finally referred to a bladder doc. They tested my bladder and found that the muscles around the bladder are not contracting...releasing the uriane. Based on the results the doctor did not know if it was caused by the medications or the discs but it was not the bladder itself that was not properly functioning. I was seeing a surgeon at the time who only did one surgery and that was endoscopic surgery..he goes in w. a needles and strinks & the damage..don't have to be cut open. However..I had HMO insurance who denied the surgery. I changed insurance as I had open enrollment..I changed to BCBS. I had the endoscopic surgery Jan. 12 04..I felt better afterwards but right before I went back to work & started PT the sympts. came back all over again. My back is swollen, tendor to touch, urinating stayed the same, shooting pains in both legs, tendor on both side of legs, tingling in back of both thighs, and pressure & pain in lower back. It is like my back is the same before the surgery but different?? I was out of work for 7 months with no pay and my health & dental insurance pres.

anyway, I am having another lower EMG (Nerve Conduction Test) done by my neurologist. I went to day and spk w. his assistant and she said she thinks I still have lumbar radiculopathy...I am not too happy about that. I went back to work since I started feeling better before all this happen..I am going to try to keep on until I can't go anymore. I am off the medications...so on my bladder problem can't be the medications...my surgeon thinks it could be my kidneys...so I am goin to go to another bladder doc to test my bladder & kidneys on Tues. I am goin to another spine doc to see what he thinks..this Monday,.

I think you should go to a bladder doc..and have them test your bladder...it could be from your back problem. I know mine is and no doc is going to say...or no it is not. when someone have pressure on their spine and "trauma" the whole body is affected.I know it sucks but I am in a lot of pain and I need some relief. That is common sense..not a doctors knowledge. I have finally realized that. When I first got hurt my 1st surgeon yelled at me and said I was addicted to vicdin and I should go to a dectoxcation place...and I was making all this up....I tried to leave as I was so upset and crying he was saying those things to me...and him and his office "b" would not let me leave. Finally I got the heck out of there and never went back.

[therapist]

yeyekari

'shots' or pills, will only numb, or block the pain for a limited time.

if there is a mechanical problem, eg, something is out of alignment, it has to be fixed, or further damage is likely elsewhere, due to muscles pulling, or stretching incorrectly.

look for an osteopath, or similar therapist, who can do this.
i'm a bit biased, as i practice gentle therapies, which achieve excellent results for many conditions.

r m