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Numbness associated with MS

I began experiencing numbness in my entire arm or hand that was unlike anything I have ever felt before. The numbness is complete, and usually runs from the shoulder right down to the tips of my fingers, but only happens while I am sleeping. I was wondering if this is 'typical' of MS numbness? I know MS symptoms tend to appear, and then go back into remission, which is true with my numbness in my arms. For months I had no nightime wakings with my arms fully numb, but they just recently started again. Within a minute or two of waking they are no longer numb and I am able to fall asleep again. I am also getting all over body twitches, but these have been persistent, sometimes there are more of them and they are more obvious, but these happen day or night and any place on my body. I am just wondering if the numbness that is a sign of MS would be present for a period of time (such as days or weeks) before disappearing. I can't understand why the numbness only happens at night. I was given a lumbar, cervical and brain MRI with contrast when I first began experiencing the night numbness, and everything looked fine, but I also know that it MS is in it's early stages it doesn't always show up on a MRI. Any insight you might be able to offer would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.
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Avatar universal
I think something that many people forget also is that Multiple Sclerosis is actually a symptom of something......what that something is, well unfortunately it has not yet been determined by modern medcine. The symptom being demyelination and scarring of the Myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves and spinal cord.  

Current treatment for Multiple Sclerosis is basically only to relieve symptoms and to hopefully lessen the attacks, but generally speaking it does not stop the disease process.

Lyme disease can mimic MS in every sigle way, including lesions. Therefore if someone has MS type symptoms then Lyme should be thoroughly investigated as a "possible" cause for the MS type presentation, especially when other causes have been ruled out. There are many many stories of people that have been treated for Lyme whose MS type symptoms were cured.

There are even some stories of MS that has been "cured" with the use of anti virals. My point being that perhaps some kind of pathogen is causing this disease, in some cases anyway. Full investigation into the possible causes of MS should take place, in my opinion anyway, but I would prefer to look for a cure to my maladies than just a diagnosis.

Shangs
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338489 tn?1215558109
A related discussion, shanghai sd was started.
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Avatar universal
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
   The symptoms that you describe sound the most like carpal tunnel syndrome or a possible peripheral nerve entrapment at another site along the arm.  Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist and classically causes night time wrist/ and even sometimes whole arm numbness/pain.  This is thought to be related to repetative stress injury, but also has other factors ivolved such as the size of your canal etc.  For this I would suggest that you have an EMG (Nerve-Muscle test) with nerve conduction studies(NCS) to evaluate for signs of carpal tunnel.  The first line of treatment is to obtain wrist splints that are worn at night which help by maintaining the wrist in a striaght position. Multiple sclerosis(MS) does not present this way.  MS presents with focal numbness, optic neuritis, and/or dizziness/imbalance, etc, that lasts for several weeks then improves.  It is not correct that MS does 'not show up on MRI in the early stages'.  Most patients with MS have multiple lesions on their first MRI, after presenting with their first symptom (the reason is, that much of the brain does not give rise to symptoms when a lesion is present and only "eloquent" areas give rise to symptoms, thus many lesions are silent clinically).  When patients are very concerned about MS we suggest more testing, ie adding an MRI of the cervical spine, SSEPs and lumbar punctures to obtain more evidence. The twitches that you describe have the characteristics of benign fasiculations and should not give rise to concern in the absence of weakness and atrophy of the muscles.  Your EMG will help with this diagnosis as well.
I hope this has been helpful.
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Avatar universal
Wrong.
Each and every post as a clear disclaimer and not each and every post states Lyme disease, if, for example, you were to look into the archives.

Each post states that whether or not I am, say a resident or say a caring retired neurologist, states that I AM NOT RESPONDING AS A PHYSICIAN.

I am in completely compliance with the guidlines.

Not your concern.

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Avatar universal
Sure Ill be shooting you an email..
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Avatar universal
There you are saying you are seeing more and more. Your answering every post as if your a physician and most of your comments are hard to understand. Not layman terms per se. You also keep bringing up Lyme. Maybe you should wait for the real Doctor to post and then add your feelings. Otherwise, the way you word your post makes posters feel you are a qualified physician.
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Avatar universal
Hi,

Let me just say this....if you have been diagnosed with Lyme disease then you totally understand the symptom list.  

Lesley
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Avatar universal
this is not a facetious question---- but are there any bodily symptoms that you can say are NOT lyme disease?
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Avatar universal
Look deeper because none of the symptoms listed, aside from the basic flu, should be happening to anyone.

As well, these symptoms present in more severe sequences and they have a direct pathogenesis.

In short, pretty much-NO.
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Avatar universal
Feel free to contact me: jm.***@****
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Avatar universal
Dear, Friend

   My response is not professional advice or meant to be taken as medical advice.
   With that said: With the variables presented MS seems unlikely. The problem with numbness, as aforementioned, is a constant problem involving sleeping positions, tension, and the b.plexus. Other factors could be considered and clinical correlation is mandatory for deeper insight.
   The twitches too are variable and non-specific. I am seeing more and more that unexplained benign neurological interuptions are commonly a result of stress (Neuropsychology) and sleep issues.
   MS symptoms do not appear for a few hours and then go away but rather an attack, lasting weeks to months, and then relpase. Or to the contrary, for some, steady progression. If it has been several months since your last set of MRI/s and new and/or symptoms have become impressed. See a neurologist.
   I hope that I have been helpful.

Good Luck!
JCmcc.
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Avatar universal
Here are only some of the many things that can happen with LD. And, remember, a main hallmark is that these symptoms for most patients tend to wax and wan. These symptoms, however, are not specific to LD.

Hope this is helful,
JCmcc.

DEFINITIONS OF SYMPTOMS PERTAINING TO LYME DISEASE (General Symptoms)
Check clear circle

Translated into Lay English
**** *********

--I am not a physician and this is not meant to supplement your physicians assistance.

--No one person will have an identical experience with Lyme disease, no one patient will experience every symptom. All symptoms are non-specific for LD yet help to comprise a clinical and technical pathogenesis in which to present a clearer picture to your physician in as much that you receive the proper diagnoses.


o Nose Tingling
o Neck Stiffness
o Neck Pain
o Jaw Pain
o Jaw Stiffness
o Jaw Cramping
o Lock Jaw (Momentary/Chronic)
o Sore throat
o Clearing throat
o Phlegm (Chronic)
o Hoarseness
o Runny nose
o Ears (Decreased Hearing)
o Ears (Plugged)
o Ears (Buzzing)
o Ears (Pain)
o Ears (Sound Oversensitivity)
o Ears (Ringing)
o Ears (Popping)
o Eyes (Floaters)
o Eyes (Pain, In)
o Eyes (Pain, Around)
o Eyes (Pain, Behind)
o Eyes (Peripheral Waves)
o Eyes (Phantom Images)
o Eyes (Flashing lights)
o Eyes (Light Sensitivity)
o Vision (Blurred)
o Vision (Double)
o Vision (Loss)
o Hair Loss
o Shortness of Breath
o Speech (Thick)
o Speech (Slurred)
o Speech (Slow)
o Speech (Stammering)
o Dementia
o Diarrhea
o Constipation
o Difficulty Swallowing
o Drooling
o Short Term Memory Loss
o Long Term Memory Loss
o Clumsiness
o Headache
o Disorientation
o Loss of Sex Drive
o Sexual Dysfunction
o Bladder Dysfunction
o Bowel Dysfunction
o Fever (Recurring)
o Infections (Recurring)
o Low Temperature
o Migrating Pain
o Menstrual Pain/Irregular
o Breast Pain/Discharge
o Upset Stomach
o Nausea
o Bone pain
o Joint pain
o Stiffness (Joints)
o Stiffness (Extremities)
o Chest pain
o Muscle pain
o Spasms
o Cramps
o Night sweats
o Day sweats
o Unexplained Chills
o Heart Palpitations
o Fatigue
o Weakness (Limbs)
o Partial Paralysis (Limbs)
o Lymph Node Pain
o Lymph Node Swelling
o Dental Pain (Unexplained)
o Pain (generalized)
o Poor balance
o Increased Motion Sickness
o Lightheadedness
o Wooziness
o Heavy Headedness
o Insomnia
o Depression
o Irritability
o Mood swings
o Anxiety
o Weight Gain
o Weight Loss
o Testicular pain
o Pelvic pain
o Increased Alcohol Affect
o Worse hangover
o Allergy Sensitivity
o Chemical Sensitivity
o Unidentified skin blotches or freckles


SYMPTOMS REQUIRING CLEAR DEFINITION
(Other Symptoms)
(Definitions Below)
Circle black bullet


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Avatar universal
Hi,

I too have had the same night numbness at times on and off in the past.  I am still in limboland with no diagnosis.

I had what you describe twice badly - once in my left leg that lasted a couple of hours when I was in bed and the last time was my left arm, which is as you describe.  This particular incident it took about 3-4 hours for it to subside completely.  My alarm clock went off that morning, laying on my stomach and my alarm clock went off, went to turn it off with my right arm and did not realize my left arm was completely dead numb at which point I fell out of bed luckily not breaking anything.

I know this is a forum where some people will say it is not this, not that and some say MS does not cause these things, BUT everybody with MS or any other disease affecting the neurological system will have different symptoms and NOT all are the same.  For example, the words "relapsing and remitting" means exactly that and "waxing and weaning".

It upsets me that when you, I or anybody are looking for answers, we get comments negating symptoms in which they should not.  

My physician said it is the brain that is not firing the neurons to tell your body what to do etc.  

You and only you know your own body, and are looking for a medical doctor's help on this forum as have I been.  I know for myself that my severe night numbness IS NOT sleeping positions of the neck or spine, and particularly not psychological.  IT IS REAL...

Just keep your head up and fight for the true answers your looking for......

terri

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Avatar universal
Dear, "WiseOne"

   I want you to keep in mind that though your friends who have MS are frightened for you-this does not create facts. Often times, and unknown to them, folks who suffer with MS become wedded to their diagnosis and it becomes passionate. I am not saying this for them but it is a flag to keep an eye on.
   If in four months you have lesions then the story becomes clearer, but, it does not rule out Lyme disease. Eastern US, makes it more probable for Lyme disease.
   More than likely the test that you had was called the Elisa and physicians worth their weight will even tell you that the diagnosis of Lyme is clinical and that these tests are very unreliable.
  Lyme disease lesions on the brain/sp. cord cannot be differentiated from those of MS and can cause the same sequences. I highly suggest that you do some serious research on the difficulty of diagnosing Lyme disease and its similarity to MS.
  You may also be only watching the big symptoms-this is very common and, you may very well want to look at smaller things as apart of the map.

Good Luck!
JCmcc.
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much and yes I do know where you stand when it comes to answering my post.  I believe if Im not mistaken that they ran a test for lyme disease and it came back neagative.  I am a female,and I reside in the eastern region of the US..Family history is not to clear on this I have an aunt who is going through similar problems right now and I dont think she has been diagnosed.  But everyone that I speak with that suffers from MS or has friends that have say the same thing that they are sad to say that it sound so much like MS..It seems that these relaspses come in span and in dif areas.  I believe that what I went through in July was the start of this..Somedays i feel off balance or that I loose my step during the day and I seem to forget things for a min while in thought that gradually comes back to me,and many just say that i have to much on my mind.  The MRI was fine however the doc wants to have another one done in four months and i should get the results from the evoc on friday..Do you suffer with MS or work in the field where you see this often? Do you think Im on the right track and what to do in the meantime other then pray?loll
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Avatar universal
Lyme diseae, not a new condition, but a long ingored old one.
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Avatar universal
Dear, "Wiseone"

   Please be aware that I am not responding to you as a physician and that my statements are conversational, educational, and are not to be taken as diagnosis, advice, or as professional.
   With that said, let us take a look. I am also 28 and I know that it is horrid to deal with this in your youthful years.
   There are many variables that I do not know. Your sex, your geographical location, pathology, et al. Therefore I am looking simply at what you told me.
    As you may know there are a plethora of smaller, less common, or even larger conditions that can cause this sort of lateral neuritis that you are experiencing. The 30 day cycle would have made me suspicious of the sad condition of Multiple Sclerosis. However, with clear MRI studies of your brain and spine I am less likely to be suspicious. Your age factor as well would have made me suspicious of MS, in the clinical stats.
    At this time you need to look deeper. I am not sure of your sexual history but something as rare as neurosyphilis could cause these problems as well as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (highly, highly unlikely). But, depending on your history I would not shy away from a deeper look at ticke born illnesses, such as Borreliosis also known as Lyme disease. This condition can present in odd ways and can attack your Central Nervous system in a very similar way to MS or ALS and can have no clinical findings. Whether or not it is Lyme disease will be found by your physician if he/she uses IGENEX labs in California and even then, if you do have it, maybe not at all.
   Your symptoms are concerning and I am sorry that you are suffering. I cannot offer much more. I am constantly seeing people in your situation and most always they end up being missed/ignored cases of this controversial new condition: Lyme disease.
   I hope that I have been helpful.

Good Luck!
JCmcc.
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Avatar universal
I was reading your post on relapses and found it to be interesting.In July of 06 out of the blue I had very bad chest pains that lasted for almost 8 weeks..the cardiologist stated that after all of the work ups its was just bad inflammation in the chest wall or costacondritis nothing i took for med helped it faded away on its on.Now in dec i have been numb for over 30 days. I took a nap on a normal day and woke up with numbness on my left side it felt as tho my arm and legs, feet on left side had gone to sleep however they never woke up( o never sleep on my left side). I tried to sleep it off that night but decided to go to the er the following am..they admitted me for fear that i had had a stroke and kept me for about 5 days. My neurologist stated that i had a million dollar work up..they did mri's,ct's,spinal tap and loottsss of blood work and they all came back fine. I am still have the numbness-tingling to this day on my left side only including face,sometimes it alternates from had to foot face etc and sometimes its all three.. and I have what i call episodes where it feels like under my skin is aching sharp-dull and nothing that i take causes the pain to go away it has to fade on its own, however when i have these episodes it makes me weak on my left side causing me to limp, not use my arm to much etc..the neuro says he doesnt think it was a stroke all test have come back fine I also had a brain study eeg at doc's office which was normal however I am still numb and taking a med lyrica which does not help..also did and evoc test today to study nerves in eyes, ear, and spine i am 28 years of age and w/o this i am 100/% healthy..this came on suddenly and has not moved itself..plse help me with any advice possible,any ques i should ask the doc or what else should be done..thanks
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Avatar universal
the numbness at night is probably related to sleeping position. sometimes, nerves in the brachial plexus can be pinched if your head is tilted a certain way while you sleep. when you wake and shake the affected area (thus relieving the pinching) the numbness goes away. you  may be predisposed to this becasue your daily activities may create tightness in the neck area muscles--before you go to bed, and often during the day, you may want to try certain neck muscle stretches (especially those designed for the scalenes). i doubt the numbnesssa t night has anything to do with MS. you may also want to try sleeping on your back.
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Avatar universal
Wowwww...that was very helpful..I will def look at lyme disease..
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