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Avatar universal

Pins and needles - worsening symptoms

Dear Doctors,

I am a girl of 35 years, good health, normal weight etc.
I would apreciate your opinion to my problems.

November 2004 muscle twitching starts in calves. 1 month after a viral infection.
Spreads over the next months to thighs, abdomen, genital area, and arms.  

July 2005 , I wake up one morning with as strange vibrating, pins and needles feeling in my genital area.
The feeling persists, comes and goes durign the day but is there every day.
August 2005, the "vibrations" / pins and needles spread to legs, but are still worse en gentital area.

August 2005, MRI of head and lumbar spine, plus neuro examination is normal.B12, Thyroid function, calcium levels etc is normal.

September to december 2005, cold feelings in the legs comes and goes, cold feeling in scalp comes ang goes, a feeling of heavines in left side of face happens twice, lasts for a few minutes.
Twitches under the feet starts.

The worse thing is still the pins and needles feeling everyday in my groin, genetial area!

I am exercising without problems.

I am really confused, I am gettign scared and my thoughts about this is keeping me awake at night.

My questions:
Could this be MS?

Could this be myastenia Gravis?

Waht I fear the most is the paraneoplastic syndrome, what are your thoughts?

Is this some kind of neuropathy?

I am very interested in knowing if this could be a bening thing, We were planning to have kids, but I do not know what to do now. I don`t want kids if I have a malignant condition.

Thank you so much!
Jo.


37 Responses
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Avatar universal
I read everyon'e complaints symptom by symptom and they all mirrior what I am experiencing.  I was diagnosed inconclusively with Myastenia Gravis in 1990.  I had undergone disc repair surgery and everything went well.  That is until the next day Post Surgery.  I ate breakfast and took a nap, but when lunch came I became acutley aware that I could not swallow at all.  When I complained the doc's said that it would go away, indicating that it was probably from having the tube down my throat during surgery.  I was released from the hospital the next day still unable to swallow, however, being encouraged that this would clear up on its own.  I was home for three days still unable to swallow, I had been spitting out my secretions because I could not swallow them.  I called my primary doctor and told him was I was experiencing and he told me to go to the Emergency Room immediatley.  I went back to the hospital and was admitted.  I was given the best Nurology team in Washington, DC.  I was seen by the King himself Dr. John Kelly, George Washington University Hospital  I mean, when I mention this doctor's name to other Nurologist they all seem to know him or know of him.   He ran all kinds of tests on me, MRI, MRA, EMG, swalling and speech tests.  Finally, he performed a Tensilon test that he said improved my strength somewhat, but it did not return my swallowing.

After being in the hospital for nearly three weeks I was told to go home and I was given Mestinon and Phenigren.  I had to take these meds every four hours without fail.  I was told that I would have to continue this regimen for the rest of my life.  The meds did nothing in terms of making my swallowing better.  What they did do was shut down my kidneys and my liver.  I was readmitted to the hospital this time though my family was called and told to come and say their good-bye's to me.  I was placed in intensive care.  The second day after I should have been dead according to the test, my kidney's began to function, by liver functions also return.  I was released from intensive care and back to mainstream hospital.  I was realed after a week.  Dr. Kelly came to see me and indicated that he had written orders to place me on dialysis and that he also had placed on the list for a kidney transplant, all before my liver shut down.  Then, he thought that just it for me.  

I was released from the hosptial this time I opted not to take meds and I have not taken any since.  I have the ichy arms and legs and pins and needles feelings in my finger tips and my feet.  I am not diabetic.  At night routinely, my legs and feet hurt so badly I can hardly sleep.  I have tingling in my mouth and my eyes droop.  I am challenged with my swallowing daily.  What I have found that has kept me in adition to God is sleep.  I really believe this, when I feeling really weak, I go to sleep and my strength is renewed enough to continue to function.  I don't know that I will ever be the same as I was before this all started, but I will continue until someone somewhere finds the answer for me.

Good Luck to all of us.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I am a 55 year old male.

My problem sounds somewhat like everybody else's.
It started with muscle tenderness (which I still have a little).
The muscles still had their strength and did not not impeade
my daily life. But if I held an arm or a leg etc in a position for a minute or so it would ache a bit. If I stood on a rung of a fence etc. in the middle of my foot it would be somewhat tender. I had this for a couple of weeks.

Then the skin tingling started and it would roam over most of my
body but not my genitals. It is not painful just nagging. It stopped for a couple of days then began again. It does effect the area around my eyes and has made one eyelid droup a bit.

I have just had my physical and everything is OKAY. My appetite is normal as well as other bodily functions. My doctor is sending me to a neurologist in a couple of weeks.

This happened to me years ago but with panic attacks. I was diagnosed with depression and have been on medication ever since. The symptoms disapeared but every once in a while they return. When they do return it was one symptom or the other, not all together and quite mild and short.

The event I have now has been around for a few weeks so
I am quite concerned. At first I thought it was the eratic barametric pressure, because of the crazy winter we've been having. Then I thought it may have been the vitamin suppliments interacting with the medication, but have been told no.

I hope it's the weather!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Pins and needles - worsening symptoms was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Needle Skin was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Pins and Needles/Pain was started.
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Avatar universal
Has anyone had symptoms like these that went away after taking anti depressants?
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Avatar universal
I have solved my delema. I had a panic attack awhile ago and the tingling started to subside. I have been on anti-depressants
for years. Lucky I had a appointment with my shrink the next day
and I told him about the event. I said I have had the tingling and muscle tenderness for weeks, then the panic attack, then it subsided. I concluded it may have been stress even though I didn't feel stressed and the panic attack was a valve of some sort and it blew. He agreed and upped my medication which should take a week or so. Regardless of the medication I felt a whole lot better after the attack. I think stress causes a lot of symptoms we may not understand. Check some of the stress and anxiety web sites and compare your symptoms.

The relieved Canuck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please help!!

Very strange burning ache under the skin in my hip area going around to my back on my right side?? Very sensative to the touch feels like a bad sunburn. Keep looking and nothing is there?

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Avatar universal
I HAVE HAD NUMBNESS, TINGLING, WEAKNESS TO RIGHT LEG AND FOOT X2 MOS.  THE TINGLING HAS NOW MOVED UP TO WAIST AREA.  I HAVE HAD EMG, MRI OF CERVICAL AND LUMBAR SPINE WITH SOME CERVICAL STENOSIS ON CERVICAL MRI.  NO ARM OR HAND SYMPTOMS SO FAR. FAMILY DR. IS RECOMMENDING LYRICA, A NEW DRUG SIMILAR TO NEURONTIN. ONE YEAR AGO I HAD EPIDURAL FOR KIDNEY SURGERY AND IT LEFT MY RIGHT LEG VERY NUMB FOR SEVERAL DAYS.  HAS ANYONE HAD SIMILAR SYMPTOMS OR ANY ANSWERS TO THIS SUDDEN ONSET NUMBNESS AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I am 34 yrs old. From the age of 31-33 I had the same exatc symptoms. The worst part for me was that they came very sudden. Prior to these symptoms I was always very healthy. After many, many tests and hospitals and doctors and two years later still no diagnosis. My primary Doctor suggested that it may be Anxiety or Panic Disorder of course I said no way my life is perfect. Guest what I guess he was right after my divorse a year ago I have been relaxed and symptom free. I'm not trying to be funny but its something to think about. Maybe you are under a lot of stress and your body does know how to respond...
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Avatar universal
Hi all,

I've had diabetes for thirteen years (I'm 26 now), and recently - within the last month or two - I have had spontaneous pins and needles in my limbs, mostly when I'm sleeping (or trying to). I know it can have to do with diabetic complications. I've got good B12 levels, and I've been taking fish oil supplements for a few months, which is apparantly quite good for your nervous system. But essentially, I don't really know what's going on with me either.

I know an acupuncturist that I used to see for some knee injuries, and she managed to fix those problems very promptly and they haven't returned. I'm under the impression that nervous disorders can respond very well to acupuncture.

I also practice Tai Chi, and I've seen many arthritic people benefit by reduced pain and increased mobility from their Tai Chi and Qigong practice. I think that it can help the central nervous system, too. I'm not a doctor, and it's always good to consult doctors, and these therapies I have found very helpful in my life and health overall. Acupuncture can have rapid results, while Tai Chi or Qigong training usually takes longer. It's unrealistic to expect changes with anything less than three months regular practice.

Having said all that, I am aware that I practice these arts and still have symptoms of nervous disfunction. I also have diabetes, though, so there are a few different health-related things going on, and I believe my diabetes is under much better control for my practice than it would be if I didn't practice at all. And essentially, I believe that these are very beneficial arts, so if you can find a teacher, I'd recommend you give it a go. At any rate there's nothing to lose - I've never heard of Tai Chi having side effects. And keep in constant consultation with any health-care professional you can find who can help more!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
One other thing, I am under the impression that nervous function is affected greatly by hydration, and I know I've not been drinking as much water as I usually do the last few weeks, so I'm definitely going to be making an effort to drink more. Some things are actually very simple and I hope that this is one of them!
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Avatar universal
This afternoon I had several episodes of pins and needle feeling in my tongue. No pain any where but its concerning me since its not a normal feeling.

I use to get the same feeling on one side of my tongue amd face into my eye with migraines but this is not the case. It was only on ,y tongue went away after a few minutes and came back again. It now has happen 3 times. Around noon (5 hrs ago) I took an injection of 1000mcg of B12. I have been taking this for years as I have an iron deficent anemia and its perscribed.

Can anyone shed any light on whether this is something tp be concerned about?
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Avatar universal
What ever happened with your Lyme test? Did you happen to have any dental work done prior to each episode?  I know how you feel... life being over and all.

Gini
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Avatar universal
I took Suprax about 5 years ago when I had a flu. I had my spleen removed after a car accident in 97 and the doc was thinking I might have had Pneumonia. I avoid them and all pharmacuticals like the plague.

Gini
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Avatar universal
Have you taken any antibiotics in the past?
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Avatar universal
I was lurking around this thread because I have the same symptoms: itchy rash on arms, back, and legs; tingly numbish feeling in hands, feet, face; flu-like ache;pain in hips, knees, shoulders, neck; gerd. This all started the day after I had three fillings placed. I never put the two together because the fillings are composite. A couple of posts ago someone mentioned dycal and other dental materials, that made me think ..HMMMMM. I have a mouth full of composite resin fillings. I had all of my amalgams removed 17 years ago because of the toxic mercury, but maybe I just traded one poison for another. The lesser of the two evils. Did anyone else have dental work before symptoms started?

Gini
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am newley diabetic (well into my 3rd month now) but I have all the symptons you all discribe, my legs and arms are itchy, sore, pins and needles, tingley, burn hot etc, and i have been like this for almost 3 weeks now.  my legs are also becoming increasinly restless, and exercise isnt helping. I have lost alot of weight, am taking metformin which dont normally have these sort of side effects, but i am also on anti depressants and sleeping tablets.  I have looked up neupathy, but thats mainly in the feet, mine seems to be anywhere but my feet :(  Any ideas, I am scared of what the doc will say, but its driving me mad, I am getting grumpy etc
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Avatar universal
Did you have any dental work in the past 15 years that included use of Sealapex, Dycal, etc.  This could be root canal or fillings.

See:

http://www.icnr.com/dentalsealants/DentalSealantToxicity.pdf
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Avatar universal
My comments will probably be of no use to you, but here goes anyway:

Do you take Niacin tablets?  If so, they  causes itching

Do you take Tamoxifen to keep breast cancer from returning?  Tamoxifen causes itching and a feel of pins and needles sticking, even in the hair.

Have you had chemotherapy?  Taxotare , one of the chemotherapy drugs,  causes itches, etc.  Also sweating.
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Avatar universal
I was diagnosed positive for herpes (never had an outbreak). After that diagnosis I went into "shock" and...

My leg's have been twitching, poping, tingleing, going numb and have had a feeling of pins and needles for the past few months. It is driving me crazy! I went to the neurologist, he zapped my legs and said my nerves were fine and he said I probably had restless leg syndrome (RLS) and put me on Requip. It does not seem to work all that well. The twitches come and go all day. I feel it in the thighs, behind the knees, calves, feet. I even noticed that I have two large lumps or a giant dent in my left thigh when muscle is fully flexed. Worried, but the Doctors keep telling me not to be. They say it is just my anxiety causing all of this. I would not have the anxiety it the twiching would just go away already! What is up with the thigh, I can see the damn muscle changing, how can this be normal and due to stress and anxiety? They say work out and it will go away, I am working out every day and the legs just seem to get worse! Can anyone relate to what I am going trough here???

Doctors seem to think I am a hypocondriac, I think it's for real. I just want to get better!!!
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Avatar universal
Oh, I forgot to say, on top of all this I had nightsweats for about a week straight.
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Avatar universal
Dear Doctor,

Thank you for your reply. It is much appreciated.

I hope you will se my short question here:

I do have the muscle twitches still, but the buzzing, pins and needles sensation in legs and genital area is the worse symptom.
( not inside the genitals :o) but under the skin...)

Could this be the benign fasciculation syndrome?

Would a blood test be able to detect antobodies for autoimmune deseases, and PNS etc? Or would I have to have a spinal tap?

Thank you so much!

Jo.



Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi everyone, just like you all I'm having these bizarre symptoms that my doctor is writing of as STRESS "it's in your head".  Here's my story.  I'm 32 and seemed to be healthy up until: in July, I had sexual relations an old beau.... I know.... Well, a month later I come down with these fluish like symptoms and really itchy skin all over my body.  I also had what appeared to be ulcerations on my hoo hoo (between the 2). Well, I went to the doctor and had them cultured for herpes, NOPE came out negative(I know the test is 50% false negative), I also had a papsmear and things came back normal except I did have bacterial vaginosis and went on antibiotics for it. I explained to my doctor how I felt - tingly, burning sensations all over my entire body, even my eyeballs!! I was itchy for 3 weeks straight - it was aweful and uncontrollable, would keep me up for hours at night, even my ears would get so itchy they'd burn.  I went on the internet and thought geez maybe i have hep C or something, went back to the doctors for more tests - nope, not that either.  Lyme disease - no!  MS? Lupus?  What is wrong with me??? I went back to the doctor, even though I have not had any more ulcers per say, however,I have been itchy in my pubic bone area with little pink bumps hardly noticable - some turned out to be ingrown hairs and most look like they are on a hair follicle, I also get this burning sensation there the most. I don't know - went back to the doctors again this time to have a herpes blood test, because I am convinced - NOT HERPES!!!  She told me I have no sign of herpes and that she believes this all stress related.  I don't know maybe these tests just don't work?? Do they?  I am going nuts - I had that first breakout thing - or whatever - that's what I'll call it.  Never have I had that type of ulcer thingy again - Also, after 3 months of the insanity, it went away for about a month and now is back.  My hips were killing me for weeks (the first time around - not now), my skin itchy for weeks, pringly tingly burning sensations all over my body, also one week my arms even killed beyond belief. What is wrong with me!!!!  I'm going to the gyno tomorrow - maybe to get another herpes test... that's all I can think it would be - what else would it be? Oh, along with this I also get sores in my mouth, I have 3 right now! Please help me!!!!!  Should I see a neurologist?


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