MS, Thyroid, Arthritis?

27 yr old male 15 months ago felt bad, anxious, hot, tired at end of the day, tightness in chest, sweating. My Doc did blood tests, and found slightly overactive thyroid. Referred to an endo. and eventually had radio. iodine. I remained hyper for a few months (while gland died) but basically over the past year I've been hypo. We increase my synthroid every few months when my test reveals that Im still low. I started noticing some neuro symptoms approx. same time I had iodine treatment (9 or 10 months ago)

First neuro symptoms was forefinger - caused a lot of stress but eventually went away. My big toes had twitched in a similar fashion on and off for years. I thought stress, dehydration, caffeine or harmless cause. Evetually twitches became widespread. Includes large muscles (arms chest back)and face. Most often in feet which move all of my toes and often precede painful cramps. Now foot twitching /cramps only consisent symptoms (every else comes and goes with the exception perhaps of anxiety. My other symptoms include cold intolerance and aches and pain. Some shoulder weakness (mainly left) which mainly corrected last time I upped the synthroid. Sometimes I wake up at night and my entire left arm will be asleep (this too happens less since my thyroid meds got upped)

But now I have more sensory symptoms that has me worried about MS. (especially because I think Im close to being euthyroid) First "pins and needles" in feet and hands but recently a buzzig and electric stabbing in feet / toes.

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

Your symptoms are not suggestive of MS

Muscle twitching in the absence of muscle weakness or wasting is not suggestive of a serious neurological disorder and may be benign or related to the abonrmla thyroid function.

Your left arm falling asleep as night may be a positional compression of on the nerves in your arm. The cramps may also be realted to thyroid function as thyroid dysfunction can cause a myopathy (or abnormal muscle function). Some blood tests could be ordered by your doctor to check for this (ie Creatine Kinase)

pins and needles in the feet (and the other symptoms) may also be caused by a peripheral nerve problem, and you should see your doctor about ordering some test for (for example) B12, folate, anti SSA/B, diabetes etc
An EMG would also be useful to look at the electricalactivity in muscles and nerves and identify a muscle or peripheral nerve disease

[nervistcc]

I went back to my family doc (who also treats mom and bro) and she tested for RA, ANA, sed rate, vitamin levels, electorlytes all normal and or negative.

More symptoms : Sometimes my skin, particularly in my legs feels extra sensitive. Pain in joints, muscles (never severe -just enought to know something is wrong) comes and goes. Yesterday my ribs felt very sore especially to the touch. today fine. The day before that the bones in my neck ached, but only for a few moments. Sometimes I get a numb spot on the bottom of my right foot. Today my pernieum tingeld for a few minutes. Some days are worse than others with some almost completely symptom free (except my feet). Drinking alcohol (which I do frequently) and not getting alot of sleep seems to aggravate some of these symtpoms the next day but I can't be sure.  

I'm starting to think my gait may be affected. every once in a while it seems like walking just takes a little more effort than it should. I'm starting to get a tight feeling in hamstrings. Both of these are very subtle- and again, transitory. I've certainly never fallen, but I have felt lightheaded on a few occasions. My short term memory may not be up to par.

I have an appt with a neuro and a rheumatoligist. But that's a month away. I'm scared. Im a grown man and sometimes catch myself crying wondering what the heck is wrong with me. I've been sick for over a year now, my quality of life has deteriorated and it's affecting my work and marriag. Anyone have any ideas? Is all of this consistent with MS?

[nervistcc]

Forgot to mention. Mom has sjogrens, my bro has the RA factor in his blood. Both take immunosuppressant drugs.

[cacklebunny]

It may be important for you to know that you're not alone; I'm a 35-year-old male who has been enduring a living hell for more than three months.  My advice is to try your best to stay off the alcohol; keep up your normal routine with your family/friends and co-workers; and DO NOT under any circumstances get too caught up in online "resources" that list just about every illness out there and will make you believe you have every one of them.

What you SHOULD do is try to bump up those appointments with a neurologist/rheumatologist...be very persistent.  Ask them to keep you on a list to get bumped up in case someone else cancels. A month is a long time to wait while you are left to sit around fretting about what's wrong.  Believe me, I've been there and it's all I can do to keep from trying to make a self-diagnosis when no one else seemingly can figure out what's happening to me.

Have you had any MRI's performed?  I certainly hope that the specialists you are seeing can locate the source of your problems and resolve it.  I wouldn't wish my personal hell on anyone:  after three months and after taking virtually every conceivable blood test, CT scan and MRI, I am no closer to getting any answers than I was back in February, when I developed tingling/numbness/loss of sensation, loss of most of my sense of taste and smell; burning sensations in my legs and arms; twitching throughout my body; painful muscle tightening in my legs, episodes in which I frequently need to urinate; extreme pain the pelvic area, severe constipation, etc.

It's hard...I know it is and you shouldn't feel guilty for being emotional about what's going on.  But one thing I can definitely tell you is that you absolutely MUST stick with your normal routine...do NOT let this take over your life...the anxiety over your problems can definitely make everything worse if you don't take steps to control it.

[nervistcc]

Thanks for the answer doc.

And thanks for the encouraging words cacklebunny. Took your advice and saw the rheumatoligist today.  Will see the neuro soon.

I think it went well (except that I started crying in his office - I think I'm a little depressed. It was embarassing there was a med student in there with us too. Ive been a mess lately)

I told him what I was worried about (MS) and said he didnt think it sounded like it and even did a breif neuro exam (hit my knees and ankles with mallets, tested strength, etc. all looked good) but said that I should insist the neuro do some tests to rule it out. So well see what he has to say.

In the meantime Ill keep my fingers crossed for the both of us. I will also include you in my prayers. Thanks again for the message. Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.