Numbness, burning, itching and tingling. I'm very scared

I am a 21 year old girl and I have not yet seen a neurologist or had an mri but am on the waiting list to do so. I have had burning, tingling and numbness moving around various places on my body for a few weeks now. I've also had pain above my eyes, normally just in left, but sometimes both and slightly 'cloudy' vision (though my optician says its perfect) I am suffering with aches and pains in my limbs, mainly at night and odd twitches and spasms in my legs and feet (though this isn't all the time) I am really very scared that I have ms and all this waiting and not knowing is the worst part. I'm not able to concentrate on all my work cause i'm so worried. Can anyone give me some reasurrance or just ideas on how to take my mind off all of this untill I know for sure? Thanks.

[atillatheone]

are you taking any medications or come off medications within the last few months

[abitscared21]

I'm not taking anything at the moment. Over a month ago I was on antibitotics for 5 days and about 2 and a half weeks ago on peppermint oil capsules for tummy pain. I also had some tablets for suspected gastritis, but only stayed on those for about 3 days as they cause me more pain.

[sitnpretty]

Try not to self diagnose your condition.  You could have a million other conditions other than MS.  Dont assume the worst, it wont change anything anyway.  I have had all your symptoms and more and they DX me with Fibromyalgia.  Stuff online will always give you a death sentence if you look enough.  Sure MS is possible but, so are alot of other less serious conditions.  Dont assume anything untill you get your tests done.  Fibromyalgia is a more common condition, and more likely than MS.  Just try and calm down, and stop looking stuff up online, it will freak you out and put you 6 feet under, when theres probably no reason for it.  I should follow my own advice,  I am the queen of self diagnosing, so believe me, its not a good thing to do.  I convinced myself that I had ALS, and guess what I didnt.  So chin up girl, no more investgating online!!!!!  Good Luck

[sitnpretty]

One more thing, if you read symptoms online you will create those symptoms.  Stress makes everything 10 times worse.

[Shanghai SD]

Please also rule out Lyme disease, B12 defenciency and Thyroid problems. When these kind of symptoms are present these need to come in the "differential diagnosis".

Good luck
Shangs

[abitscared21]

Thanks to you all. You've all made me feel a bit better about it! I'm seeing a neurologist on friday luckily so fingers crossed they'll sort me out!

[Saidee]

hi,
this message is for the 21 year old/female with strange symptoms....
I am also 21/f and have been experiencing strange symptoms as well for about two years now....
tingling,crawling sensation over my back and shoulders..
hot sensations on my scalp somtimes on my shoulders..
i also get little spurts of pain in different places in my body..weird feeling in my ears, itchy legs,arms
when these symptoms started i was extremly depressed for months, i seen many doctors and never really got any answers, the only thing i kept hearing is " well ' it sounds like MS'.... I was like MS what the heck??
what is this ?? how did this happen ?? why me ??

then i just got so sick of being worried,mopping around feeling sorry for myself ( thinking i only have months to live)
i got up started jogging,reading motivating books
.... and besides the fact that i had the tingling sensation on my back and arms everyday, i tryed my best to be happy!! and have faith that i can concur any illness.


resently though,i started having a cramping feeling in my left temple,, i begged my doc to send me for a Cat Scan so he did, it showed that the left side of my brain is less dense then the rest....(whatthe heck does that mean" here we go again im thinking the worst Cancer,Ms,etc..
i am driving myself nuts.. i think i have searched every medical site on the internet 4real..and i think im creating more symptoms just from the stress of wondering and waiting.. i wish i just knew the answer so i can deal with it, and live my life not having to wonder if im gonna be diagnosed with some deathly diease............


honestly sweetie before today ..seeing your forum !! i thought i was the only 21 year old scared, sitting on the computer searching for answers .. now i realize that there are millions of people dealing with so many different things....
and life is about taking what god throws at you and dealing with it best way possible..
please keep your head up.. no matter what happens you have a long beautiful life ahead of you girl.. dont give up on you!!

+ if anyone has any idea's to what i might be experiencing i would really appreciate some help! thanks
best luck to everyone    *saidee*

[Saidee]

hannah,
yeah, i think definetly we should interact and let eachother know what the doctors are saying about it!!
I have a question for you hun , do you get the crawling sensation like spiders are crawling on your back and arms??
cause thats my main symptom (its so weird) i've had it for almost 2 years now!!?
Also do you live in Toronto, I do!!
Have the doctors said anything about what they think ur symptoms are from??

I have my MRI on the 17th jan. I am also very scared ..
cause the CT showed that the left side of my brain has less densidy then the rest, i have no idea what that means..

The waiting game sucks, eh!!

Im really relieved, at least i have somone to talk to that know's what im going threw..

p.s how does your family feel, what do they think about it!!

*saidee*

[abitscared21]

Thanks saidee. Like you said, its good to know you're not the only one! You've pretty much described my symptoms entirely! I'm going to a neurologist on friday the 12th jan and I'm terrified about what he is going to say. I really hope for the two of us we are going to be fine! Perhaps you could let me know how you're doing and I could let you know about me? I would be good to be able to talk to someone thats going through the same thing at the same time as me! Hope you're ok and that we both get to the bottom of all this! Hannah

[abitscared21]

Hey Saidee,
good to know I've got someone to talk to who knows how it all feels!
I actually live in the UK near London in a place called Brighton!
I don't get the crawling sensation on my back and arms, though that is a sensation I've felt on and off from time to time (quite rarely) in my hands or feet. My main symptom is this burning/tingling sensation that seems to be working its way around my body at the moment. However, thats not as bad as it was, but I'm also getting aches and pains moving to various places in my body in the same way! I'm just so sick of it all and I can't sleep at night because of it. Two years hun? Thats horrid, you must be so fed up with it! I'll be thinking of you when it comes to your MRI, fingers crossed it'll be all normal for you. I can't remember if I told you I'm seeing a neurologist for the first time on the 12th (friday) and I'm so nervous about what he is going to say. I'm guessing he'll want me to have an MRI, and I don't know how it is where you are, but here I can be sure that that means I'll be put on a long waiting list for one. So most likely I won't have piece of mind or diagnosis for a while! :(
Do you get pains above your eyes or one eye at all? Cause thats something thats been driving me crazy for awhile, and I've been freaking out that it is yet another symptom of MS, though I guess that could be just cause I'm not really sleeping at the moment and my eyes are just tired! Got trouble with a wisdom tooth on the left side too, so I'm guessing that pain probably isn't helping the pain in my head and behind my eyes! Heh, its all going on with me these days!!! Also, have you had any wierd feeling in your neck or throat? I tend to get an odd sensation, like a pressure, either side of my neck/throat at the moment from time to time.
Anyways, look forward to hearing from you soon, hope you're doing ok
Hannah

[abitscared21]

Saidee
Thats wierd...i just wrote a really long reply and its not on the forum! OOps.
I don't want to type it all again but will send you a quick one.
I'm so glad I've got someone to talk to who knows how I feel and doesn't think I'm just going crazy with these 'imaginary' symptoms!
I'm in the Uk, near London actually, a little place called Brighton.
I've experienced the crawling sensation from time to time in my hands and feet but not too mcuh. Its mainly the burning/tingling sensation thats been working its way round my body! Also been getting aches and pains moving around to various places too. Am not sleeping cause I'm so worried and am exhausted!
Two years of it? You poor thing thats horrid.
Have you had any pain above one or both eyes? Thats something I've been getting and I can't work out if its another symptom or just due to my lack of sleep! Also hun, have you had any odd pressure like sensations in your neck/ throat? I've been experiencing something like that on and off throughout all this!
I'm seeing a neurologist this friday for the first time and I'm guessing I'll be referred for an MRI, but knowing how it is in this country I'll be on a waiting list for it for months if not weeks!!
Hope to hear from you soon and that you're ok. Will ebthinking of you and crossing my fingers for the 17th
Hannah

[abitscared21]

oops, now they're both there! silly me!

[Saidee]

hey hannah,
I can tell your really worried about it being MS, same here !! just thinking about it makes me very anxious.... it's like fear of the unknown.."" i don't know what to picture my life like if i have MS"" i dont even know what it really is ..how it will effect me 5,10,20,40 years from know!!
it's so weird how life works .. how your whole life changes from day to day..     YES ((TWO YEARS)) i've been dealing with this annoying tingly ****!! + fear of the unknown.. It's kinda like my whole life went on HOLD.... im sure your feeling some what the same .. you were saying it's hard for you to work and stuff.. !! I know , i had an amazing job , but everytime i went to work all i could do is worry, i'd rather go home and hide in my bed .. at least when i slept my mind wasn't goin nuts.."ya know"...............SORRY GIRL ( im totally babbilin on ).. I just have so much i've wanted to jus tell somone ya kno'((haha, it's not easy .. i guess life is'nt easy!! but when you have to live with added stresses it's rediculous!!
to answer ur Q's
The eye pains i feel sometimes ,  over my left eye, right above my eye lid.. kinda like a sharp pain , or if i pushed my eye a lil' it would hurt..
If you have a problem with your wisdom tooth that could definetly be a reason why around ur eyes would hurt .......my BF has problems with his wisdoms and he always complains about pains around his eyes!!
Does the pressure feeling in ur throat come around the time when ur hungry??
cuz when i haven't eatin all day .. i get this really bad pressure feeling in my throat, it really annoying and kinda painfull.... i thought everyone got that!?!.. im not sure if thats what ur talkin about....or maybe anxiety or panic attack ..is that possible!?!
Does it feel like you can't breath ??
The burning sensation i get alote expecially now..""it's weird when ever i start thinkin im sick again it's like all these symptom jus start showing up""....but i've started getting that burning feeling again on my head and shoulders mostly.
Q:I wonder if our minds are powerful enough to make us feel certain things that arent really there,, like you kno what i mean?? my doctor say's it could be just the way im thinking!! so does that mean i imagining these feelings?? I dont kno.... does stress really have that big of an impact on our health ??  I always thought my mom was exagerating when she said ''stress'll kill ya".........hhmmmmmmm

Oh my goodness, I might as well write a book....babbblebabble
take care kk hun....
Talk soon (hope the info helps)

P.S "My real name is Heather" =)

[Saidee]

Anyone worried about tingling,burning,tickling,numbing sensations please visit this..ASAP....you'll be surprised..


http://www.anxietyzone.com/index.php?topic=1070.0

[alotscared]

Hi,
I am having similar problems as abitscared and it has been going on for about 3 months.

It all started with been feeling tired than itchiness on my back and chest. almost like burning sensation. it then develop into numness about 5 weeks later one day I realised right side of my face got paralised. same day I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.. I was lucky my face almost gone back to normal after a week also in the mean time itcheness was all gone until last week.

The burning feel is back again this time all over on my face, had, eyes and different parts of my body.

after bell's palsy I had an MRI scan and blood tests... MRI scan came all fine. the neurologist said I must have had a bad virus in my body and it is travelling and causing this all.
But my GB can't seem to understand my blood test results one day he is saying it is all fine than he is saying not easy to understand... I am soo fed up with not knowing what is wrong with me.... why is it that difficult to understand the blood tests.

This itching and burning feeling is bringing me down big time
I recently got my dream job but not knowing what is going on with me and these horrible symptoms are effecting my work as well.

Anyone out there had a smilar experience and had a diagnose please let me know... I am freaking out.

thanks

[Saidee]

Hey Hun,
Im so glad !!!! to here you don't have anything serious sweety..yayyy!! I guess you feel relieved ..ey!!?!
My MRI is on the 17th,, but i've been doing alote of reasearch..and i think that the sensations im feeling + the abnormal CT could be linked to OCD (anxiety disorder)
I've suffered from this anxiety disorder all my life and i researched that the sensations im experiencing can be cause by anxiety, also that people with OCD have significantly less white matter on the left side of there brain.. I really hope that it is caused by the OCD, so that i can just work on it, and get better. I'll let ya' know!!
take care hun
Heather

[abitscared21]

Hey Heather
Sorry its been awhile, I've just been to so many doctors and things over the last few days its been a nightmare. Saw the neurologist though and he examined me thoroughly and said I do not have MS, that it is a very nasty virus going around my body that went to my nervous system. I am very relieved. So I won't be going for an mri. I still feel dreadful, but at least I know I've just got to let it take its course. Got to have 3 blood tests tomorrow though and am on IBS tablets for the stomch pains...not sure if I mentioned those before, but thats been going on for 5 weeks too!
How you doing hun? When's your mri? 17th?
Hannah

[abitscared21]

Hey heather

How did the scan go? I suffer from anxiety too, so maybe thats where some of my symptoms are coming from too?! Cause im still suffering the burning i keep wondering whether i should have gone for an mri. The neurologist said he didnt think it was necessary but i cant help but wonder if i should have gone just for my piece of mind *sigh*
I just wanna be all normal again, know what i mean?!
Hannah

[nigi]

hello!i am from pakistan and i m having numbness since one week and it is in my left hand s last two fingers and i m so much worried,why it is happening?i gave CBC test but it is fine,still the situation persists.i have posted my this priblem but got no answer?i am in pain that what are the reasons and wat is it?
kindly guide me i am 26 years ,unmarried,and having no drugs.
nigi

[tweederz71]

Hi,

I am a 28 year old male that has been having around the same feelings that everyone has been discribing.  It all started a little over a year ago, with a bloody nose on my wedding night.  Then it went to me feeling light headed and numb with a cold sweat thoughout my body.  That went away for a few days then I came down with this pressure in the top part of my head that slowly worked its way down to the front of my forhead.  A lot of off balance feelings, like I was on a boat or rocking back and forth.  So I went to the hospital and had a cat scan done.  They found nothing.  I went to my dr. and told him I thought it was a tumor or something bad.  He said not to worry and that if I continued to have these feelings that he would send me to have a MRI done.  Which in turn I had done, they found nothing.  I was sent to see a Neourolgist and he looked over my MRI and said no tumors or signs of stroke nor Clots or anything like that.  So he sent me to have this test done called an MRV, which is almost the same as an MRI.  THat also came back negative for nothing.  ALl my symtoms (symptoms) had seemed to disappear around this time also, but within the last month or so I've started getting this pressure again in the top part of my head that moves down into my forehead and behind my eyes.  Almost like a burning feeling sometimes, or like I've got a sharp ***** in the cornor of my eye.  Almost like my brain is bleeding.  Sometimes I have feelings in my head like I have little bubbles moving and popping in my head.  Also sometimes I feel like someone has stuck their fingers in my brain and split my brain into two pieces.  I'm scared of what it is cause no doctor can pin point anything except stress or tension headaches.  Gave me medication that does not help.  Can you always have tenision like that that lasts for days and goes away for weeks at a time?  I've had no loss of vision or fainting or anything of that sort.  Please help!

[ColesTingles]

hii im 16 years old and over the last week or soo i have been expierencing tingles, itching, that crawling feeling, odd numbness in random areas e.g a small part of my arm or leg and spurts of a weird pain almost like a tiny electric shock allover my body mostly on my back and head.  sounds daft but it also feels as if my bones are cracking :S its very hard to explain.
i dont really have time to go to a doctor with all the college and work and a few personal problems soo im quite worrid.

any ideas?

tarr X

[louie525]

Hi im louise,ive had all what you guys are going through..my face is burning eras eyes nose mouth had thrush also for 5 months..some days i feel like im going to faint but not quite..i was told it was streess as im under alot and the more i strees the more the feelings get worse..my bloods came back all good got doctors today for 30 some think time im geting worse by the day and im hoping today will get some thing moving..im not suffring from panic and have had to give up my job my kids are now seeming like they are unhappy i really need to find an anser soon xx

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
There could be many causes of the symptoms mentioned by you. Lack of blood circulation, Anemia, Vitamin deficiency, Electrolyte imbalance, Anxiety, MS and many others. Please consult a physician and get routine investigations done till you wait for the neurologist appointment. Please keep yourself free from stress, take a good nutritious diet rich in fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly. You may feel better with the lifestyle changes. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!

[praying4thebest55]

I started having the same symptoms 2 weeks ago.

I was just relaxing and writing on the computer when a patch on my back went numb/tingly/slightly burning. I thought it was just a temporary pinched nerve but then it was all over my head and I had weakness in my limbs etc.

I went to the ER and they said it could be the "start of something neurological" and to go to my doctor. :(

I went and tomorrow is my ct scan.

I have had an odd virus cough thing for a month prior and a head swishy, odd ear feeling. But now the burning is really bad and I am terrified. It moves around my entire body. Mostly the head and back. the weakness is also there much of the time and I am very tired.

I have low iron but my doctor said that is not it.

I have an arthritis condition-ankylosing spondylitis (also an autoimmune disorder)

I am obviously terrified of it being MS or a tumor or something like that.

For those of you who already went through this can you please let me know what you found out. I wish this was more updated.

Thanks so much
God bless,
x

[Paparoni]

I feel your fear.

I am new to forum and wanted to share with everyone because I have been struggling with this for over 10 years.

I have had cognitive dysfunction (memory loss, confusion) for over a decade, chronic neuropathic pain for 3 years, and now, for the last 2 weeks, random burning an ithcing throughout the day which starts and stops suddenly or just fades at other times.

Because of these ongoing mysterious health issues, I have had MRIs, lumbar punctures, and psychiatric evaluations. I went on anti-depressants for 3 years until my doctor and wife and I all agreed that I wasn't depressed and  the top 20 anti-depressant and anti-anxiety meds seemed to have no effect (positive or negative) on my mind or body.

Anyway, after thyroid exams, and innumerable other blood work, I still don't know what is going on in my body.

One theory is that my illness is related to the Epstein-Barr virus.

According to my blood work, my body is convinced that it is under attack by EBV and it is in fight mode, even though I am exhibiting no symptoms of EBV. Supposedly, this is messing up my neurology.  Does anyone else out there have any experience or information about chronic EBV? If so, I would love to read it.

I really don't know what to think so I am now focusing on learning to adapt well to my condition.

There is no doubt that their are millions of people suffering from undiagnosed illnesses. I used to know some statistics on this but I have forgotten them ;-)

I wish you well.

[Mariperal]

Hi! I've just started in this site. Had you been diagnosed MS? I'm now in the same situation you were , having many ms symptoms and a bit scared.
How did you do?

[ee849]

Hi there,
Wow. Lots of people with odd things going on here!
Well, im a 29 yr old female. I've had very odd sensory issues for over 4 years now. It started with me bending over and getting pins and needles in my legs, then weird chills on my shins. Had full blood work and an mri of the brain and spine ct and was discharged with nothing wrong.
My symptoms continued and more came. I got burning sensations, or like id scalded myself, but in fact i'd done nothing! Could be a tiny patch like 1cm round or an area as big as my hand. Weird. I started getting tingles in my hands and pains in my wrists to my fingertips, which with time extended up my arms. Gradually my forefinger and thumb on left hand went numb on the right side of each digit. I had loads of bloodwork done, nothing.
I began getting tingles in my tongue, throat, chest, and then in my face, cheeks and my mouth. I was terrified.
In sept 2010 i was taken and admitted to hospital with stomach pain in the gallbladder area. All scans were clear...i still get this pain every single day and only last week had another scan which showed nothing, no stones.
Anyway, while in hospital, they told me i was hypocalcaemic, so my calcium level was low. Ok, why had it not been picked up on previously?
I went to the gp again, asked the have my calcium checked and it was low. Further tests revealed my vit d was also low and phosphates up. A test for parathyroid hormone was fine so i was then just given calcium supplements and told get some sun! (I'm in England, it's often rain!).
Anyhow, a blood test a month later showed my levels were dropping, despite the supllements. Dr was baffled. Finally i practicly begged for a referral to the endocrinologist and neurologist. The endocrinologist said i have hypoparathyroidism. She gave me another type of calcium and vit d and then about 3 moths after that appt, my pth levels dropped proving her diagnosis. Lovely. But....my sensory symtpoms werent improving. The pth issue was a red herring!
I last saw a neuro in nov, had a clear brain scan so he basicly told me he cant give a diagnosis and i have to deal with it.
I also had a lumbar mri for saddle paraesthesia which showed no bulging discs or sciatics. I was referred for physio for that which starts this week finally. Ive been seeing an osteopath but she hasnt been able to help much with that.
I explained to the neuro i had many symptoms, crawling, tingles, creeping, feelings of water dripping down my back and legs, burning, pains etc. Ive also had like a stiff tongue and problems swallowing which is terrifying.
Last saturday, after a long time with a slightly altered sensation, like a numb but itchy patch on my left shoulder blade, i woke up with full blown pins and needles there, going slightly just across the middle of my back and a weakness in my left arm. The dr said it may or may not be a trapped nerve and gave me nortriptyline. It does dull the sensation but its still there.
Today,  my back was feeling tight, so i bent right down as far as i could for about 12 seconds to stretch and stood up. As i did so i noticed i really needed to pee. Just before that i hadn't need to! I wondered if it was my imagination and did it again. It happened again and i now have a weird feeling down below. The last time i bent over was about 3 hrs ago. I also found i had a bit of tingling in my buttocks which was more noticable when i sat on the loo.I remember having had a similar feeling in the groin after swimming a few times but it never lasted this long. I wonder if my back is so tight that im compressing and irritating nerves? As the lumbar showed i have no disc compression i suppose it can only really be a compression my muscle or something?
MS, for those who are worrying, is usually thought of as a cause if your symptoms last longer, like constant pain or tingling with no relief, for 48 hours or more. Some sites say 24 hrs but a neuro won't bother with that short time and generally more interested in those who have had symtpoms for weeks at least.
So, i guess the meaning of my post is, get your bloodwork done to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies and don't worry about things like ms as symptoms are usually more localised to a particular area for a length of time rather than being all over for shorter times.
All the best to everyone xx

[cychrissy72]

Hi i've been searching for answers, and right now im just fustrated, for about a month now i've been itchy all over my body,the back of my neck is burning feels like a pitched nerve itchy but sensative to touch, tinging and my face feels prickely, may hand and the palm of my hand get so bad that i make them scab up and man does that hurt because the itch is still there i cant sleep at night the only time i get rest is when i lay on my couch in the morning for an hour then its back, 2 years ago i got out of my shower relized i had a rash like on my arm it was itchy and burning the next morning i had it just about everywhere i went to the hosbital i had 3 doctors look at me but they were not able to tell me for they didnt know either, i was in barest to go out i cryed because of the burning they gave me steriod pills and cream it took a while and went away now 2 years later i'm righting this wanting to rip myself apart, no rash no signs of nothing just a body full of itch , tinging , pricking of the skin could this be a size of something that happen 2 years ago and now transformed it something much more, did i miss something . thanks and be well.

[mothersnest]

After reading your posts, I can't help but think there is a common denominator.  For example, my hands are itching only at night, no swelling....is it possible there is something in the bedroom causing this. I wonder if its the chemicals in my Temperpedic mattress/pad, or other foam material. Or could it be from being on our computers all day and at night when we stop movement the nerves trying to slow down cause an itching sensation.  Doctors don't seem to know what it is....so it is probably not a disease. I think it may be environmental.  Anyone have something in common with any of this?

[KJones78]

I know your post is 6 yrs old lol...but I was researching my symptons and came across this thread and read your reply...thanks because it just helped me feel better about whats going on with me! I have numbness and tingling all over my body and I have just diagnosed myself with over 5 different things in the last hour because of my internet surfing.  I really have to stay off this internet becuase it's driving me crazy. I just thought I would share that with you....Have a blessed day!

KJones78