Radicular pain and fasciulations

[chien]

I am 47, female and generally healthy. 18 months ago developed sciatica-like pain on the right, radiating from bum to hip to knee and ankle and all points in between. Pins and needles in both feet and hands and small fasciculation on both feet, mainly instep. Occasional nasty cramps. X ray of hips fine. MRI of brain and spine nromal - no disc lesions, EMG and nerve conduction normal, all bloods for causes of neuropathy normal, including DM and Lyme. Despite this, getting quite disabled with pain, have to use cruthches at times. Neurophysiologist told me my symptoms of pain, fasciculations and cramps are a recognised "clinical entity" described by Denny-Brown in the 40's.
Q 1. Is there such a "clinical entity"? Haven't been able to find any info on it.
Q. 2. Does it have a name, a cause and a prognosis.

Background: my family has a number of neurological problems in the maternal line. My mother developed MND/ALS in her 60s, her sister developed a neuropathy in her 60s that was never diagnosed despite extensive investigations and consultations - eventually died by choking. My youngest sister and myself developed unilateral sensorineural deafness of unknown origin- she in her 30s, me in my 40s and finally another sister's son has optic albinism.
Q. Can you see any common thread with these conditions or do you think they have all just happened by chance?
Q. If there is a thread could my symptoms be part of it?
Q. Any advice on further action to clarify things?

Thank you and happy Easter.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

1) there is an entity called 'Benign fasciculation syndrome' or BFS, which can occur with and without cramps.

2) There is no specific test to diagnose it, only excluding other causes, and clinical suspicion. There is no clear cause, it may be genetic, and it is 'benign' that is not causing muscle or nerve damage

3) Fasciculations in the absence of muscle weakness or wasting is unlikely to be ALS. In general, a genetic condition inherited in materanl line can be a mitochondrial disorder. The mitochondia is the 'energy maker' of the cell and a mitochondrial disorder results from deficient energy production - this effects high energy systems in the body such as nerves, muscles, brain. There are usually several systems involved at once. Sensorineural hearing loss can be part of this.

4) Mitochondrial disorders are relatively rare, and can be hard to diagnose (muscle biopsy, blood or genetic tests), and I cannot tell if you might have this or not but is might be something to think (not worry) about.

Good luck

[Floxie99]

Have you, in the past year, been treated with a fluoroquinolone-based antibiotic (levaquin, tequin, cipro, floxin, etc)? If so, you may be suffering from an adverse reaction to that drug. These reactions can come on long after you are treated, and cause long-lasting symptoms like you are experiencing. Very often those hurt think they have MS, or ALS, or fibromyalgia, or a host of other maladies. They spend thousands of dollars getting MRI, blood and other tests done. Doctors just don't know how to handle this affliction, or just refuse to believe it exists.

If you are suffering these wierd symptoms, I suggest you check out the following sites:
www.medicationsense.com
www.fqvictims.org
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

[chien]

Seeing how many people in the forum are worried about ALS reminded me that in addition to the hsiotry in my mother, one of my father's brothers also had this condition. However, I am not concerned that I may have this or a related condition, because my primary symptoms are sensory.
Thank you.

[JennyAnna]

A related discussion, unexplained radicular symptoms was started.