Menopause and neurological symptoms

Many reputable menopause books and web sites talk about such symptoms as numbness, tingling, and burning, along with "formicatoin" (the feeling of ants or fire ants crawling on the skin). I have been experiencing many of these symptoms over the past several months and so far no other "bona fide" diagnosis has been made. My gynecologist and internist don't seem to support the idea that these symptoms can be hormone related. What do you think?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Barb:

I am not sure I can answer your question with any certainity.  Yes, I have seen patients with complaints of many types during menopause.  Most of the time these will dissapate over time as the menopause reaches steady-state.  (The symptoms will come and go and eventually go away) However, when the symptoms are in a neurological distribution, persist over time, focal, then likely they are not menopause related.  So alot depends on the quality and quantity, together with the distribution of the symptoms.  Only someone examining you and taking the history will know for sure.  

Sorry, I can't answer your question better.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Leighc]

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[Amy]

Barb, I have been having the same symptoms as you posted since February.  I am going through menopause also and was wondering if you could tell me what books and what web sites explain this.  I have had no luck locating anything with this information.  My symptoms are much better now that I have been on a HRT. Hang in there if it is hormones it will get better over time.

[Bkasper]

E-mail me at ***@**** and I can give you more information. These symptoms don't show up in many of the traditional places, but I've found several other women discuss them in a couple of menopause message boards, and there is a getting-to-be-famous list of 34 symptoms collected by the women from Johns Hopkins.

[Amy]

I will e-mail you, and thank you!

[Ted Miller]

All of the symptoms you mentioned are present with Multiple Sclerosis.  There is a connection between the symptoms, HRT and Estriol that is just now being explored.  No the symptoms do not mean you have Multiple Sclerosis.  We control ours with Neurontin.  If it lasts for any lenght of time (6 months or so) I would check with a very knowledgeable Neuro

[Bkasper]

Ted - are you in the medical field? What do you mean by "we control ours with Neurontin"?? Who is the "we"? And where have you heard about the HRT/Estridiol connections?

[SAL]

Barb-

I have MS and occasionally check this forum. Ted is correct when he says that these sensory symptoms (tingling, numbness, burning/crawling sensations) are common with MS. However, they are also common with many, many other conditions and diseases. And from my understanding, Neurontin is primarily for nerve pain as opposed to paresthesias (the tingling, crawling sensations) and I've never had a neurologist suggest it, though I know a number of MS patients use it. Others may use Elavil, among other drugs. Interestingly, when I was searching for a diagnosis back in 1994, I had a couple of neurologists ask me if I was going through menopause, even though I was on the young side for that at the time. So I do think many in that field know of (or assume?) a connection between menopause and sensory "neurological" type of symptoms.

I am now in the early stages of menopause and having great difficulty with hot flashes. Given the fact that I live in a climate that is always hot HOT
H O T in the summer (the San Gabriel valley in eastern Los Angeles County) AND the fact that like many MS patients, I am very heat sensitive, I have been driven to despair with these hot flashes. My gynecologist has put me on a trial of HRT using Esclim (estradiol) patctches, the lowest dosage. After 2 1/2 weeks, I certainly notice improvement, though I am still getting the flashes, but many fewer.

I do know that at UCLA, they are conducting a study on the relationship between MS exacerbations/progression and estradiol. I cannot really tell you much more than this, but it is common knowledge in the "MS community" that when women are pregnant, they frequently find their symptoms lessening, even going into remission. And exacerbations are frequent in the postpartum period.

So, at least for women with MS, there appears to be some relationship between hormone levels and their symptoms.

But again, from my understanding, the sensory symptoms you describe could be caused by any number of things including (I suspect!) menopause.

Good luck

[Lauro]

I have been reading all the posts here.  I am very curious
about Estradiol and Symptoms.  I told my doctor last month that I wanted off this med to see if this med was the culprit for many of my symptoms.  Breathing problems, swelling, indigestion, etc.  Has anyone else felt there is a connection?  Also, I was on Premarin years ago and do not recall the same thing happening. Is premarin and Estrdiol of the same properties?  Thanks for any help.