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Going for another MRI

Well today I'm going for a lumbar MRI, already had the brain and c-spine, normal, except for a bulging disk.  I really don't think that my problems are all anxiety.  I have on a daily basis cold water feelings running through my body, weird facial feelings, bug crawling sensations on my entire body.  I really am tired of all this.  Yes, I do admit, I have anxiety, but because I don't know what this is, its causing me anxiety.  I don't know where to turn next. All bloodwork was excellent, according to my doc.  I have been taking Prozac for 3 weeks now, all I want to do is sleep.  The Prozac has magnified the weird feelings by about 100X.  I will wake out of a dead sleep because of cold feelings that run through my body, then I feel like I'm trembling inside. If someone can relate to this, please let me know.  I know that MS is hard to diagnose, but I truly feel that this is my reason for all these strange feelings.  I just want them to go away, forever.  Say, for instance, if I do have MS, and a lesion has healed, would I still have these symptoms.  What about everyday?  I have no vision trouble, bladder/bowel problems, weakness, or numbness.  I am truly a basket case.  Someone help, please!!!!
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Avatar universal
I can totally relate to what you are going through.  Ive been on the forums here, migraine forum and ms forum as it was intially suggested possible Ms for me. ITs great to have these forums to know we are not alone. There are so many of us that have similar problems, and not getting answers, and doctors quick to put it down to anxiety and depression blah blah blah.  It just really annoys me that they do that.  What I would like to say on that note is ...yes I am anxious about what is happening to me, yes it does get me a little anxious when these symptoms disrupt my life so much and I cannot get answers.  We are only human.  I am sure if the doctor was on the receiving end they would feel the same way too.
Having said that, yes being anxious about our situation does in fact make things a little worse. So yeah we probably do need to try and reduce the anxiety and the stress while we are trying to cope with our symptoms and have all these tests and appts and try to get through our daily lives but its easier said than done.    But for many of us, anxiety and depression is not the cause of our symptoms.  And we need to make that very clear to our doctors as best we can.  

I know that I did not wake up one day and suddenly decide I was going to be depressed and anxious and stressed out and then get these weird neurological symptoms.  I was happy, led a full life, worked in a job that I loved doing, then bang, my life was hit with all this and now I can barely cope with working at the moment and every day is take it as it comes because I dont know if its going to be a good one or bad one with these "episodes".
What I cannot stand is someone saying, relax, dont worry about it so much........blah blah blah........its just easier said than done and unless they are going through it themselves they really have no idea.
Ok Ive said my bit....lol sorry got on the band wagon a bit there but yes I can so totally relate.

To Jenny, DEFINATELY get your b12, folic acid, Vitamin D tested, anemia, lupus, diabeties if you havnt already had that done too.  Facial stuff- have you had a cat scan of your sinuses done?  The facial stuff is something i have had too.  It might pay to get a CT of sinuses done? Did you actually see a neurologist and get a full neurological exam?
Also I recently have had my doctors tell me they think it might be Familial Hemiplegic Migraine that I have.  IF you google FHM some symptoms are very similar to yours.  The fact you have a bulging disk and migraines you should be seeing a neuro specialist in my opinion anyway.
Sorry this was long winded.  But good luck and please know your not alone.




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Avatar universal
I had a mri today and half way through it the guy came injected me with contrast and asked me questions like does one side hurt more than the other and where else are u hurting . then went up for a ct scan and the guy up there asked the questions before he began , when he was done he said so ur going to see the neurosurgion now right  ? I said no he said why . my question is if the techs that do the test they dont read them they send them off to be read  . dont they know what they are looking at and know i feel like i have something worng because of the way they were asking me . what do u think ?
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ennny I know just what you mean about husband, family thinks your making this up.  I was 44 yrs. old when this started, 49 yrs. now.  My husband will say calm down, stop concentrating on those sensations, you  think about them to much, well how can a person stop thinking about something that never stops, 24/7 - I wish my husband and my family could live in my shoes for just a few months -not years and then they might understand how this affects and ruins a persons life.  Do they think we enjoy feeling this way!!!!   How did your sensations start? Have you taken any medication at all for this, if so what, did anything help your sensations at all? Some nights i just pray to go to sleep and not wake up. I know it sounds terrible but it is true. I could not imagine living like this another 20-30 yrs. like this.  I wish we could find an answer. I have 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren why would I want to not wake up if this wasn't true feelings -sensations.  I used to love life so much, had alot of energy but all these sensations make me crabby, short tempered and angry. Angry at my husband for wanting to go to the dominican republic. Me feeling wonderful until then- feeling rotten since.  Please give any info. on how yours started or any doctors or ANYTHING. Do you have any muscle loss, not weakness -loss of muscle?
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Avatar universal
My story is a long one, but I'll try my best, and hope that I don't let anything out.  Here it goes, my migraines started about 8 years ago, after a minor fender bender, then 2 years after that (6 years ago), I was stressed out one day after taking my son to preschool, he cried and didn't want me to leave, when I came home I started getting this weird feeling in my left cheek, kinda like a hair tickling me, or a bug crawling on my face, but of course there wasn't anything there.  I started worrying about that and the migraines, fearing that I had a brain tumor, then one night when my husband and son was in bed, I went to walk over to the christmas tree and started seeing black spots on everything, I panicking, woke my husband and told him I thought I was having a stroke, my left side of my face and left arm went numb, just for about 3-4 minutes, this happenend again about a month later while watching TV.  I was so worried, then while out to dinner on new years eve, I had what I guess was a anxiety attack, I felt weak, nauseous, felt like I could vomit, sweaty.  I went to a neurologist because of the migraines and she wanted me to have a MRI, I didn't do it, didn't have insurance then.  Well the nausea lasted 3 months, I had all kinds of bloodwork done, the only thing that they found was that I had a reactivated EBV infection, although the only complaint was nausea, I was not tired or anything else.  I had a colonscopy, hepatabiliary scan, upper gi series, nothing showed.  So, one day I was googling nausea, and MS came up as a cause, I freaked out, my gram had MS, diagnosed at age 60, thats when all the strange feelings started happening, and over the years they have gotten worse.  I tried Prozac before and it didn't take the feelings away, but gave me energy.  I just recently started taking it again, it has made every symptoms a hundred times worse, when I go to bed at night I get cold water feelings in my face and legs, and sometimes my back.  They say that when you first start taking an antidepressant that the anxiety is sometimes worse the first couple weeks, well, its been a month and a half now, at 40 mg, and its still there.  Xanax helps with the bug crawling feeling on my face, but not with the rest of the feelings.  I have had a brain MRI w/ and w/o contrast in April this year, a c-spine in Sept, and a alumbar MRI just last month, the only thing that showed up was a bulging disk at C-3, which doc said this could possibly cause the migraines.  Do you suffer from migraines?  The neuro answered a question a few months back for me, he explained about a thing called "increased central sensitization", might want to try to google this if you suffer from migraines, he feels that all these feelings that I get are from this and migraines.  Who knows though?  Try going to power-surge.com, being your 49, maybe its hormone related, this is a real good sight, there are alot of people there with the same symptoms.  I wish I could help you, but I know exactly how you feel, how are you supposed to forget about it when its there every blessed day.  If you ever find anything that helps, please let me know, and if you ever do find a reason for these weird feelings, let me know also.  I feel for you, I really, truly do, I will keep you in my prayers, love jen
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Avatar universal
hi jenny I too have those same exact feelings. It has been 4 yrs. for me. I have had 5 brain mri 2 spinal taps. mri showed 5-6 lesions. Non-specific as the doctors say. I went to an MS   specialist and he said no it is not ms.  My spinal tap showed white blood cells elevated at 9 but the doctors don't treat until wbc are at 10. I had shingles about 2 months prior of going on a vacation to the dominican republic. At first i got explosive diarrhea 3 times, ached, got the chills.  We came back home the next night from vacation and that night i had a pronounced jab of pain up high in head almost high behind my nose, then secretions watery started running down my throat for about 15 seconds then stopped as quick as it started. Secretions got thick behind my nose, then 1 or 2 days later is when i started with these sensations that water was running down over my face, scalp , like water was running out of my ears,and neck, that went on for  quite awhile, as the years went on it consumed my entire body, cold water sensations down arms, back, butt, legs, feet feel like they are vibrating, buzzing feeling. The most terrible part is the feeling i have of the running down over my face 24/7. I know just what you mean about waking up one day and wishing it was just a bad dream. I still don't have any answers to my problem.  Some doctors tell you that it is all in your head, like you are crazy or something. What i can not figure out is why would a person that was completely healthy until a trip to a third world country like the dominican republic, get a virus, and then never be the same again after 4 yrs. Alot of doctors think everything has to do with anxity.  Who would come up with something as strange sounding as we have and it not be true. I hope you have luck or help finding out what is wrong because i know i sure have not.  I   don't know where to turn to next.  This has ruined my life, if you want to call this a life feeling this constantly without any let up of the feelings.  I use to wake up every 1-2 hours from these feelings, I now have to take sleeping pill to get any kind of sleep. I am on the forum too.  water sensations laaz
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Isn't it awful, I can't take it anymore.  6 years has been long enough.  I have an appt in Jan at a Lyme Literate MD, this is the only thing that makes sense.  I had a normal brain, cervical, and lumbar MRI, neuro exam is perfect, vision is fine, all the docs tell me its anxiety or hormones.  I am 35, wondering about the hormone thing because my maternal gram went through menopause at 39.  The cold sensations are the worse.  It is especially nerve racking when I get the bug crawling sensations, it almost tickles, and itches at the same time.  I am like you also, just wishing I would wake up and it be a bad dream.  I read your post, sounds so much like mine, but I didn't go to the Dem. Rep. I hope we can get some answers soon, its awful living like this.  My husband and family thinks that I am making this up, if they only knew.  Thoughts and prayers, Jen
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Wow, you are small.  Good luck with your meds and thanks for your answers.
Be Well!
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Avatar universal
My first episode with MS can be linked back to 1998 when I had spinal myelitis,precursor for MS.At that time I had dropped down to 89 pounds.I'm thin built anyway.Normal weight around 110.
I have the buzzying in my legs,constant right foot.Neuro prescribed ativan,an anxiety med(I don't suffer from anxiety)he's hoping that it will help with the buzzying,off balance,electrical shocks and the ringing in the ears.

No I'm not on the MS modyifing meds at this time.I have severe alergies to meds and don't want to chance it at this time.Going to do allergy testing on these meds in March.

I get stiff joints from spasticity,the muscles get real tight and pull across the joints.Baclofen and zanaflex help about 90 %.

Lyme could be a possibility and should be further looked into.Like MS if it isn't a good lab it can be overlooked.You'd think with our technology they'd have simpler testing.
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Avatar universal
Well, I hope you feel better.  Sounds like anxiety medicine is a good thing right now so you can get some relief.
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Avatar universal
Young at heart,
Was unexplained weight loss been one of your sypmtoms? I am having this as well as joint aches in hips that comes and goes and stiff neck. I have some buzzing in leg for a week but doc thouht it was anxiety. Like Jenny Wren, I too have had clean blood, neuro exams and MRI--all negative.  No numbness,no vision problems, no balance problems, no walking problems, no muscle weakness. Some people I have talked to suspect I have possible LYME as it presents with unexplained wgt loss, joint ache and pains, stiff neck.  These sx's started 4 months ago.
Hope your appt with your Neuro went well.  Are you taking any of the disease modifying drugs.  I was reading that one drug mfg is developing a vacine for MS--still in trial stage.
Best of health to you.
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Avatar universal
No, I do NOT get numbness, now maybe if I sleep on a limb the wrong way, but no, no numbness, just weird buzzing, sometimes twitches, and bug crawling sensations.  As far as the bulging disk,its at C-3. C-4 in the cervical spine, doc says that the disk itself can't cause the facial tingling, but the muscles and inflammation around it could.  The neuros all say that the cranial nerves are the only nerves that control the face, but what I don't understand is when someone gets shingles on their face it comes from it being activated in the spinal cord, so how does the shingles occur on the face?  Another mystery, I guess.  Yes, I think about BFS, I never realized that parathesia goes along with it.  I might never know whats going on, but I know one thing, I would love to wake up some day and it just be a faded memory or a horrible nightmare, wishful thinking, LOL!!!!!
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Avatar universal
If your folic acid and or B-12 is borderline low,it can present itself with the symptoms you describe.Since I've been Dx'd with MS,my levels are nomal but on the lower side of normal.
My earliest symptoms were a chronic buzzing in my right leg,led to muscle spasms.Now I wear a leg brace.
MS is a disease that is hard to DX in its earliest stages.At first I had my symptoms treated with meds as they came.These meds helped a great deal.I went through the anxiety,it only made the symptoms worse.Finally I realized these symptoms were annoying not life threatening.Took a break from the DRs and resumed my medical search 3 months later.My first attack lasted about 9 months.
I see my neuro tomorrow,reveiw updated test results and to go over current meds.
I know you've been on this road for 8 years.My first initial attack was back in 1998.Lost vision,couldn't walk,lost control of my hands.I had myelitis.No one explained it could lead to MS.I had off and on symptoms for almost 7 years,thought it was do to aging and precious lumbar surgery.
I know its hard to hear that from so many people.
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I have read about people with MS getting diagnosed years later.
Teri Garr, the actress was finally dianosed after 20 years.  However, the disease had already caused degredation--she developed dropped foot and started wearing a brace. In the last 6 years she developed extreme fatigue.  This disease is in deed mysterious.  It doesn't sound like you have had any of the classic symptoms (numbness,opto neuritis,balance problems, bladder/bowel,muscle spasms,muscle weakness/fatigue,cognitive).  Has the doctor performed a neuro exam?
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Do you think you are experiecing benign fasciculation (that buzzing like a cell phone is planted in your leg)?  A lot of people have that off and on for years..  or do you in fact get parathesia (numbness).  The reason I ask is in your post you said you don't get numbness.  You mention you have a budging disc--what has the doc suggested to help this?
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I never had my folic acid or b-12 levels checked. Wouldn't I have more symptoms than these?
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Sometimes it can take 10-20 years for a DX.Yes ,you can still have symptoms.When demyelination occurs it can effect the nerve endings.

Hows your folic acid level and B-12.Even if its normal but below 500 sometimes your system needs a boost.I have found that a b complex and 500 mcg sublingual b-12 has helped with the parathesia.Has reduced them a great deal.
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I am going on 8 years with these symptoms.  If the lesions heal themselves, then do you still have symptoms?  My only symptoms are the migrating parathesia.  I have no weakness, numbness, bowel and bladder are fine, vision is fine, hot weather and baths don't bother me.  I don't know what to do.  I know that the Prozac has made everything worse.  Thanks so much!!!
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Avatar universal
Jenny,

The persistanting symptoms you are experiencing are of a neurological disorder.

MS in very early stages can present itself in this manner.In early stages demyelination the body can remylinate and heal itself.Its not until the body is no long capable of this process and thats when the myelin protein breaks the blood brain barrier and causes lesions to appear.In some it can take years with mild symptoms and go undiagnosed.Others may have no symptoms and boom the have neurological deficits and through MRI's the lesions are detected.

Anxiety will intensify your symptoms,but not the entire cause.The wait and see approach will cause a person to go bonkers with the unexplained symptoms.These symptoms are basically harmless,and extremely annoying.

I went through 18 months of unexplained symptoms,clean MRI's was DX'd in June.Even though MRI's were clear for lesions.The 3 main things that led to a DX was,no other disease process explained the on going occurring symptoms.Lumbar puncture.High myelin basic protein,my system was attcking itself.Borderline visual evoked potental.Brain MRI,bilateral cortical atrophy and INO a form of nystagmus,plus bilateral hearing loss,rare symptom of MS.A VNG test shows brain stem lesions effecting the hearing and eye movement.These lesions were not detected on a MRI a week prior to the vng.

Even though the mri is the gold standard,they don't always detect the lesions.

If a lesion has healed,it may still be detected by an MRI,should show up as a dark spot on the films,but not all.

Have you reveiwed any of your MRI reports.Are you seeing a neurologist?
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