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Paresthesias, Body Twitches - MS?

I am a 25 year old female.  No major health problems.  Here are my symptoms:

6 weeks ago began experiencing mild numbness/tingling/achy feeling in right arm/hands/fingers.  This was precitated by some hand pain after using a knife to cut a hard object.  One week after that began experiencing same symptoms in left arm.  The symptoms were not constant but frequent.  A week after the left arm, I had mild numbness/tingling in my left ankle.  The next day, my entire left leg felt asleep.   This last about one day.  For the next four weeks, I experienced this mild numbness and tingling in both feet, ankles, lower leg, arms, hands, fingers, upper back, face, head, and neck.  The symptoms usually lasted from an hour to several hours.  But for four weeks I usually had some symptom in some part of my body.  Then the symptoms started to fade off.  Since that time, I also developed some body twitches/jerks in most parts of my body that happened throughout the day. This lasted a week and kind of faded off.  Now I seem to just have numbness/tingling in my fingers or feet that may last an hour every once in a while.  Sometimes my arms/fingers feel achy.  In addition, sometimes after using my hands/fingers for heavy use they tend to feel wierd and sometimes I have a tremor in my hands.  I had a brain MRI that came back clear (I was experiencing the numbness/tingling in both feet at the time.)  I am very concerned that I have MS.  What else could it be?  I have an appt. with a neurologist soon, but I am very worried.  Does this sound like MS or anything else
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Avatar universal
I am a 37 yr. old female with no previous health issues. I have been experiencing mirror image symptoms of both of you since the 2nd week of March.  The tingling will only last a few seconds though.  When I read the comment "sometimes it feels like someone is pushing on spots on my legs" I was amazed to see someone post with the same symptom.  First I thought it was some sort of carpal tunnel syndrome because of the occasional burning in some of my fingers and my arm (below the wrist).  But that doesn't explain the occasional tingling in my foot and big toe? Today I am noticing for the first time my left, middle finger will twitch when it as rest on the keyboard.

I have had extensive blood work and my doctor found my results normal.  He referred me to a neurologist.  I don't go till the end of May.  I almost cancelled the appointment because my symptoms disappeared for two week and just returned the other day.  It doesn't keep me awake at all.  

Other than that, I feel great.  I exercise and have lots of energy and have no feelings of loss of strength.  I think what is making it worse is how anxious I become when I have a "new" feeling.  I wonder if it is related. I am trying very hard to put it out of my mind.  Please keep us posted on your progress.  
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483753 tn?1226961509
A related discussion, CONSTANT TWITCHING FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, My lower back and legs twitch was started.
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Avatar universal
Howdy. I'm a 39yo Male and for the past 9 months I've been suffering these muscle twitches in all my limbs and occasionaly on both of my sides. It's like a mild case of the shivers but only in the arms. It started as an occasional spasm in my left arm and then grew to both arms and now is in my legs off and on. Everyone talks about numbness and tingling but I have very little of that just the spasms. I can, at this stage, ignore them when I'm busy or active but when I try to relax or sleep, I can't. Since I do see a Chiropractor at least twice a month I thought that some damage might have occured so I went to the Doc. He reffered me to a Neurologist and he performed an EMG and also an MRI. Both tests came up negative, or Normal, so did my blood tests (although I think I'll recheck my B12 lvls again).

My Neurologist went to a seminar in Texas and came back with some news. He heard of something called CELIAC DISEASE which has Neuropathy as a symptom. It's an intolerance to the GLUTENS in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. The Glutens atrophy the villi in the small intestines which causes vitamin deficiencies, stomache cramps, gas, acid reflux, diarhea (floaty, bubbly, stinky, and sometimes bloody). I haven't been officialy diagnosed with Celiac Sprue yet but am seeing a G.I. Doctor tomorrow.

If it wasn't for the spasms I would be in perfect health. It's irritating more than debilitating. Especialy being undiagnosed and the Doctors scratching their heads and telling me there's nothing (they can find) wrong. Could this be as simple as a vitamin def.?

I sometimes wonder if this isn't a result of years of eating processed foods. They put so much cr*# into every food product, try reading the lables at the store, it's sickening.
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Avatar universal
Spring-02,

I am a 46 year old male.  I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia about 8 months ago.  If you have that, then you may not be producing enough "intrinsic factor" to absorb the vitamin B12.  If so, then you may need to take very high doses of B12 ( if oral will even do the job ).  The literature says that your body can abosorb about 1% of vitamin B12 even in the complete absence of intrinsic factor.  

I personally take 1000 mcg tablets every day.  Soy milk and other vitamin tablets add about another 200mcg.  The daily requirement is something like 6 mcg.


BTW, I'm still in the early stages of getting checked out for progressive muscle weakness over the last year or so with some transient tingling and numbness, in specific locations, in the last 2 months.  Also:  Blurry and occasional double vision with an inability to get the right eye corrected to 20/20, excessive clumsiness, fuzzy thinking and occasional dizziness.  I am also concerned about possible MS.
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Avatar universal
I am a female, mid-fifties who was very active until the fall of 2001. I started having left leg pain and muscle cramps in the summer, which interfered with my sleep and I would wake up in pain with foot and leg cramping. In October I developed a rash around my midsection, which moved up to my chest.  I thought that it may be shingles, as I have other herpes zoster related disorders, such as chicken pox, Bell's Palsey and neuralgia like pins and needles pain for many years. My doctor said he thought it was Pitrysis Rosea and gave me a cream. I noticed that I had a low grade fever at the time and felt so tired and thought that it  was because of the pain in my leg.

In November, I noticed a small lump had appeared on my left foot.  By this time I was limping from the pain and my ankle was sore and my leg felt tight and numb. The pain would start in the foot and shoot up my shin, but never went beyond  my knee.  They thought the lump was a ganglion cyst. I was referred to a specialist who confirmed that diagnoses but noticed my left foot was numb and had dropped. He also checked my knee reflexes etc. and found them to be hyper.  So, he sent me to physiotherapy. The heat did help with the stiffness but after the five sessions, I would get dizzy and the floor seemed to be pulsating, as if you were standing over a machine or a furnace.

In January, the pain became worse and I was dragging my foot around and then the shaking or tremors in my leg started.  The lump that they thought was a ganglion cyst completely disappeared.   The physiotherapist seemed to think my problem was electrical somewhere and wrote up a report to my GP. Only when he got the report and did his own testing, did he take me serious about my leg pain and the dizziness. I was referred to a neurologist, had an MRI to the head and spine, which turned out to be normal. I went back to the neuro who retested me and found nothing had improved. The left leg is still stiff and the reflexes abnormal  I don't do very well in crowds and react strongly to any sudden noises, bright lights. I jump about a foot and scream, which is very unnatural and embarrassing.  

I feel shock like sounds in my head, just before I fall asleep.  I was on Viox for about three months but it didn't help any of the symptoms. I had an EMG to my left leg and foot and blood work done this week. The EMG was normal, which rules our nerve damage. The neuro still thinks my problem is something to do with my Central Nervous System, but I don't go back to see him until July.  He said to go to my own doctor for medication, etc.
My GP put me on Gabapentin, a medicine prescribed for seizures. I am almost afraid to take it.  Many people with CNS problems like MS, take Neurontin or Zanaflex but I guess they won't prescribe that until they make a final diagnoses, which my GP said could take up to a year or more.  I also take Novo-Lorazem  at night to help me sleep.

The sole of my left foot is so tender as the pain and pins and needles feelings never leave.  Today my knee kind of gave out and I was scared of falling.  I cannot walk normally as I take three steps ahead and two steps sideways. I cannot work as I can't put all my weight on my left side and my coordination and balance is affected.  An interesting family situation has developed where my younger brother has been having similar leg and foot problems with his left side.  His foot dropped and one foot specialist thinks he has CMT, Charcot Marie Tooth, another one thought he had a leg tumour. Well, his cat scan on his leg came back OK so now he has to wait to see a neurologist.  

I told my neuro about this new update to my family history and he told me that I don't have CMT or a Peripheral Neuropathy. I didn't think that I did have CMT  as I don't have clawed toes, etc.  He also told me not to try and self diagnose myself as he was the doctor.

Anyway, I feel the numbness and pins and needles now in my left hand and arm.  If I hold the telephone, I feel my arm  going numb.  It is all very frustrating as nobody seems to have any answers.  Prior to last fall, I was a very active person, had a fulltime job and looked after the house, yard, etc.  Now, I am not sure if I will be able to stand up in the morning when I get out of bed.  I don't like to go anywhere by myself as I lean to the right and it looks like I am staggering.  My neuro says that I jump easy and that I appear to be nervous.  I was always like that but it is not anything that I can control.  When the sound system  went a little crazy at Church, I had to cover my ears and put my head down to my knees. Everybody was looking weirdly at me, as that is not normal. It didn't bother anybody else.

I talked with a lady yesterday whose symptoms were almost identical to mine, except hers was on the right side.  She has been suffering now for seven years. One thing that has helped her is physiotherapy to the brain.  I have seem people mention Intercranial Hypertension, so maybe a lot of us may fall into that category.

I found out from checking my family's health history that my aunt has to take an injection of B12 on a monthly basis and that her father, my grandfather, had Pernicious Anemia.  The last blood work should show if I have low levels of B12. I take it orally every day along with Cod Liver Oil and my Calcium so I can't see why it should be low.  I don't smoke, drink and my health is normal regarding all other tests at my recent annual checkup.

Besides the Herpes Zoste illnesses, I have a history of allergies which affect my eyelids and throat. I don't understand though why my left eye always is more swollen than my right one. It has a bulge in the corner that is filled with fluid.  My GP said that I am probably retaining fluid.  

This has been a long posting but I have tried to record all the details in an effort to be of help to others.  It seems that many people are suffering from the same types of problems, which are not being detected or properly diagnosed.  I can understand why people would become very depressed.  You can relate to a broken leg, cancer or even MS, when it is finally diagnosed. However, when you can't walk properly anymore and there isn't any physical problem with your leg or foot, you begin to think that you are making too much of your problems.  

I agree with the majority of people who have posted and who don't  know or understand why they are afflicted with these unknown conditions.  Maybe if more neurologists or doctors were affected the same way, there may be more emphasis on finding a cure, or at least admitting they just don't know what is wrong but knowing that our pain is real and we need help, support and understanding.  

However, the sun is shining, I don't have a life threatening  disease that I am aware of, so I intend to make the most of each day. It may mean that I have to take extra good care of myself and get more rest by lying down a lot more often, but I am still in the land of the living, but just don't have much of a quality of life anymore.  

So, sorry if I have bored a lot of you, but one thing to realize is that these postings allow you the opportunity to vent your frustrations and to reach others who just may be suffering from the same thing. I find it hard to believe that with all the advances in modern medicine that so many people have fallen through the cracks, either because the medical system just doesn't know how to deal with these problems, or else they are really not listening to what we are all  saying. I think there has to be a common link somewhere, that to date nobody is picking up on.

Good luck to each and every one of you, try to remain positive and keep the faith.   I heard today about one girl who suffered for two years with leg and foot pain and one morning she got up and it was completely gone.  All her tests had been normal when she was sick and nobody knew what was wrong with her.  Let's hope that some more of us have that positive ending to our journey of pain. Take care and God Bless
From Pins & Needles............
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Avatar universal
I sympathize with all of you.  We seem to have a lot in common. I hope that someone can help me.  This all started withhh Bronchitis for a few months (I normally go to the drs every few yeaaaaars), then an underlying asthmatic condition was discovered. I was given Advair and a steroid and a few days later I couldn't walk hardly at all.  Both legs felt numb.  A little while after that everything switched to my right side.  My right hand and arm as well as my right leg twitch or whatever the currect term is.  This goes on for between 50% adn 70% of the time I am awake.  I have had a lot of blood tests, and was referred to a neurologist.  He scheduled an MRI of the brainn with dye.  I have and AEP, SEP and a VEP scheduled for next week.  I have a spinal tap the week after.  I have also noticed petichiae (sp?) and that my ability to reason and remember things has been greatly reduced.  ( I went to nursing school and now can't even remember the blood tests I had).  My leg is shaking so badly that typing is almost impossible right now. Thanks for letting me post
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Avatar universal
Hi, I thought I would update you on what has happened so far (I was the original poster).  I went to an MS specialist at the Mellen Center in Cleveland.  It is supposed to be one of the best centers and the doctor I went to is highly respected by patients etc.  My neurological exam was normal.  My brain MRI was normal.  He said I have benign paresthesias and fasciculations.  I guess this is based on the fact that my numbness and tingling was migrating and only lasted in one spot for an hour to 2 days tops.  I am not sure what to think about this.  I felt like I was written off as a head case.  On the other hand, he is one of the best doctors around.  The doctor did not feel that any other tests needed to be run at this time.  I was very surprised at that.  He said my chances of developing MS are higher (about 10%) but I had nothing to worry about.  I plan to go to another neurologist just to see if I can get some more tests to ease my mind.
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Avatar universal
From what you've written, it sounds very optimistic.  I have a question - what are fasciculations ?  I haven't heard that term before. I went for my MRI w/ contrast today.  I am waiting, trying to stay calm.  It's very nerve wracking to feel these symptoms, and have everyone tell you to 'stop worrying so much' or to 'focus on something else'.  Good luck and try to stay positive....if I could only take my own advice : )
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Avatar universal
I have had tingling but no numbness in my left arm and left leg for two years now. It was mostly an annoyance but the last few days I am feeling it my right arm as well and the sensation is getting strong, more like a burning sensation sometimes, especially when I'm laying down ready to go to sleep.

I have been to multiple doctors and two neurologists. I have had a brain MRI (came back fine), neck x-ray, blood tests for thyroid problems, etc., and an EMG on my left arm and leg. So far nothing has come back alarming.

I am getting so frustrated! I am a 25 year old female in good health and am also fearing MS even though I have not presented any other symptoms and my tingling has been regular for two years (no drop off). The last few days the burning/tingling sensation in my arms has been so bad it prevents me from falling asleep easily and wakes me up in the middle of the night.
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Avatar universal
I have so many symptoms in common w/ so many of you who have posted. Vague tingling, hot spots and pins and needles etc... I was just wondering, has anyone had an official diagnosis ?  I am going for an MRI and CBC tomorrow and I am hoping I will have an answer soon.
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Avatar universal
Hi Shellopher,

I have pretty much the same symptoms as you.  Right down to the back problem !  I also re-injured (pinched sciatic nerve) my back about 3 weeks ago.  I have a vague tingling sensation and hot patches on my left side (arm, leg)that come and go. And, some pins and needles mainly in my big toe. It doesn't keep me awake and I wake up w/o symptoms. They usually reappear shortly after I wake up.  I went to my family dr. on Sat. and he felt that I had numerous pinched nerves.  He thought the sensations in my arm might be from carrying the baby's car seat and my leg was from hurting my back the 3 weeks prior.  I had my daughter 8 mths ago (I had an epidural, probably not relevant at this point).  He prescribed Celebrex x 10days (2x daily).  But, I went to see a neurologist on Monday because I am terrified it is something more serious. He examined me complete w/ walking a straight line and asking me questions (ie: day, year, childs birthday). He said there was no muscle weakness or vision disturbances which are commonly associated w/ MS.  He didn't seem concerned about MS, he also felt it was pinched nerves.  The only thing he didn't like was the tingling in my face.  I am going for an MRI w/ dye and complete blood work tomorrow (THurs).
You said you went to the dr. on the 17th.  I would like to hear from you to know how things went for you.  I know how you feel, I am scared all the time also.  My husband thinks that alot of my symptoms are just nerves and anxiety.  I hope he's right !
You can email me directly (***@****)or post a message on the board.  I hope you are doing well.

By the way, I think the Celebrex is helping !

Thanks : )
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Avatar universal
I'm glad to find the board, about 2 weeks ago I had what I assumed to be a migraine, about 16 hours before my headache I started to get numbness in my finger tips and my vision was broken at times it took several days for my HA and brain fog to leave but the numbness in my hands remained for several more. I thought it was all over but now I am having a pins and needles feeling in my hands and feet and occasionally to other parts of my body. Any Ideas?????
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Avatar universal
nrs
I am so surprised to have found this site.  I have been searching the internet for the past few weeks due to some strange symptoms I'm experiencing.  
Mine began with a migraine and then a couple days afterwards I experienced a "tingling and pressure" on the top of my head on the right side.  I then noticed numbness on the right side of my face.  These feelings have continued for a few weeks and a head MRI came back normal.  In the last week I have been experiencing a tingling feeling in my feet - especially when walking on them and some slight twitches in my legs and arms.  I am also experiencing pain and tingling in my right arm, hand, and leg.  The fact that most of these are on my right side scared me.

Just a side note, I had vein sclerosing surgery (injections) done just before all of these problems began - could there be a connection?

Thank you for any help!
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Avatar universal
IN JANUARY I STARTED TO BECOME WOBBLY IN MY WALKING. ACTUALLY, I FELT LIKE I WAS ON A MOVING BOAT.I THOUGHT I HAD AN INNER EAR INFECTION BUT NO IT WAS RULED OUT. MY DOCTOR SENT ME TO A NEUROLOGIST AND THROUGH AN MRI SHE FOUND I HAD TWO SPOTS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BRAIN. PERHAPS MS.
SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE STARTED TO HAVE MINI SEIZURES WHICH START WITH TINGLING IN MY LEGS UNCOORDINATION AND AN AURA AS IF I GOING TO GO DOWN.
THE NEROLOGIST DOSENT WANT TO GIVE ME A SPINAL TAP AS YET AS THIS MIGHT BE THE EARLY STAGES AND MY SPINAL FLUID MIGHT BE CLEAR.
I HATE THE WOBBLINESS AND THOUGHT OF A MINI SEIZURE AT WORK OR ELSEWHERE.
HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD ANY OF MY SYMPTOMS?
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Avatar universal
Dear shellopher,

Like yourself, the first thing I was thinking was MS. While the symptoms caused by MS are extremely varied and differ from person to person, it appears that from what I read, that one of the common threads to the overall symptoms was loss of muscle strength in the legs/arms.  Of course, the common symptoms don
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Avatar universal
Boy oh boy do you sound like me!  I thought I had MS too - had all the symptoms.  Doc sent me for an MRI - came back normal.  Because I have been a migraine sufferer since I was 14, they diagnosed complicated migraines (migraine symptoms with no headache) and fibromalagia.  My symptoms were regular, especially the foot and hand tingling and numbness, but have now subsided for the past 3 months.  Not sure why but I'm liking it so far.  I would suggest seeing your physician and asking for a referral to a rheumatologist to see about fibromalagia.  Good luck!
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Avatar universal
To all tht posted after me, I should have explained, the vestibchochlear nerve is in the middle ear, thus n/v dizziness, etc, would occur. (I have a friend with a form of this called Hunt/Ramsey syndrome)
To the person that "finds it hard to believe stress can cause all of this", have you ever noticed that your symptoms bc less if you find yourself anxious over something else going on in your life or around you? I only asked this bc I started having something occuring in my life that took my focus off of a chronic condition I have in my shoulder muscles (I am in PT for). Anyway, amazingly enough, I noticed the pain that was always constant in my shoulder left during this time,was gone, and that was  almost a month! My anxiety actually makes the shoulder worse (I'm not saying it's not there at all, it's just worse when I worry) So, try to find something more worrisome to worry about! ha like the Middle East conflict, hey, come to think of it, that should heal just about all of us here!! :) :)
Anyway, Yes, stress can worsen those conditions......
me :)
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Avatar universal
I'm thankful for this sight but everytime I look for the symptoms Ihave MS comes up and It scares me so much that I can't even carry on with my life.  My symptoms started about 4 weeks ago with numbness that felt more like burning in my arms and legs (mostly hands and feet) but I had no actual loss of sensation and could still function fine but the symptoms drove me crazy!!  I would jump out of bed and jump up and down just to make sure I still could.  Then the numbness went to my face where it goes from just mildly around my chin to all over my face.  My anxiety is super high over this and I am always crying and scared.  Once I fall asleep the symptoms seem to go away and reappear shortly after I wake.. I think thats a bit odd.  I think it's important to note that I had a ligament injury 7 years ago that is flared up again right now and causes my C1 and C2 to go out of alignment could this be causing this??  I have also recently read an article about Aspartame poisoning..more commonly known as nutrasweet that mimics the symptoms of MS and I have been drinking diet pop heavily for many years so that's a concern also.  I have had a lot of other back pain since the birth of my second child 7 years ago but still I can't help being afraid of the worst.  I will have my first doctors visit tomorrow the 17th but I am almost too scared to go to a doctor.  

I really appreciate being able to talk to people about this because it helps so much.  It seems like my husband or my Mother always just tell me not to worry but it's not that easy.

Thanks Shellopher
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Avatar universal
I think you are so right , my brother tells me that he doesnt doubt my feelings are real ,but  i cant concentrate  on them like i do.  I just find it so hard to believe that anxiety can cause numbness weakness.  I know for me, i have to  stop looking at every site on here. I find a disease a week and think i have it.  Weakness and Numbess can be a  million different things.  Of course i always think of the worst.  Good luck everyone.
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Avatar universal
I was thinking the same thing as syn.  Inner ear issues will most definitely make you feel nauseous.  It is natural to feel a bit dizzy when you have your head in a certain position, such as hunched over or tilted back and then suddenly have your head return to normal position.  I was hunched over on Sunday picking up sticks in the yard for 10-15 minutes at a time and when I went to resume a normal position, I felt a slight black out feeling.  That is normal.  Of course, having these recent symptoms only elevates my worries and I associate any little thing with some bigger issue.  If I weren
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Avatar universal
I'm not a doctor syn, but I would check out my ears.  The nausea when your head is tilted could be coming from an inner ear thing.  Sometimes after a virus, the virus settles in the inner ear and can make you dizzy and nauseous when moving or tilting your head.  It can last for weeks but goes away without a trace. I've had that symptom and that's what it was.....Good luck
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Avatar universal
wow it sounds like we are all in the same boat.  I have had numbness weakness and some hot spots as well.  I was dx with fifth disease  which gave me horrible bone pain and fever and rash.  The nubness comes and goes sometimes hourly,  i do find that if iam stressed it is worse.  Now i get a nausea feeling if i move my head to quickly or if i keep my head tilted like being on the phone.   Mri without constrast   was neg and emg neg  blood work all fine.  I did post here alittle while ago and the MD said that he did experience some females that are young with one side weakness and sensory loss with out a cause,  it did go away after time.  I think mine may be viral because this all staarted right after the fifths.  Good luck everyone.  Believe me i know all of your fustrations with trying to find out what is wrong.
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Avatar universal
Maybe you have an inflammation of the vestibulochoclear nerve that goes to that particular side (I think you said the right side). The hot and cold flashes sound like perimenopause (I am your age and have the same) More than likely NOT related to the pressure thing. If you can't take HRT try black cohash and soy...by the way, inflammation of nerves doesn't usually show up on any tests, it's symptomatic. Have you had a recent viral or bacterial upper resp or sinus type infection. No, I'm not a doc, either, but it sounds like that is what is going on...I hope the neuro md gives you some insight.
:)
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