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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Re: symptoms
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Re: symptoms
by CCF Neurolgy MD - AY, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF Neurology MD - AY on January 02, 1999 at 00:56:39:
In Reply to: symptoms posted by Irene on December 10, 1998 at 10:15:05:
I have been experiencing some unusual symptoms which I do not feel comfortable with the current explanations for.
Several months ago I experienced hypersensitivity in several areas (i.e. to touch or have clothing touch these areas was like they were sunburned).
I first felt this on the inner area just above the knees. It was there for 2 days, then disappeared but had the same sensation reappear on the inner thighs a few days later.
Again, this lasted for 2 days. Then it went away for a few days and reappeared across my shoulders and upper arms. Three days later, this was gone. A few days later
I developed a feeling that when I bent my head backwards, my neck might be "swollen" although I don't really want to describe it that way. This was followed by a incident where I reached for something and felt
a dull pull in the area where the shoulder and neck meet. What proceeded from that was a gradual increase in pain in that area, sometimes very focal, sometimes involving the shoulder.
At the worst times of this pain, I had sensory changes on the top of my hand and the back of my upper arm. This pain gradually increased to the point where I went to see my physician. A c-spine and MRI were
negative for osteoarthritis or slipped disc (although I've been told a bulging disc would not be diagnosed in this case). I did have a head MRI done which was normal.
After many blood tests where all levels look normal, I was told this was probably fibromylagia (fibromyalgia) although I've never experienced the general aching and pain I see talked about.
However, in the past week, as this shoulder pain seems to be subsiding, I have developed muscle twitching - first in my right eyelid, now in the muscles of my right leg and now my left. today I'm noticing it infrequently in my left eye. The severity and frequency seem to
be increasing daily. I am concerned this is a sign of a progressing problem which has gone undiagnosed. Most bothersome is that fact that no one has addressed the initial hypersensitivity I experienced. It seems to me
this could be quite important.
I would appreciate any insight you might have on this subject.
Thanks for your question. It is difficult to obtain a single unifying/parsimonious explanations for all your symptoms. All the neuro-imaging that you have undergone so far probably has ruled-out a demyelinating process (such as MS), or a disseminated spinal cord or nerve root patology (it is unusual to have that degree of cord/nerve damage without any visible structural abnormalities). You have mentioned multiple blood tests - would they include the "acute phase tests" (e.g. sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, etc.)? How about Rheumatoid factor, ANA titers, and other indicators of connective tissue disease? The muscle twitches described in your messages are suggestive of muscle fasciculations. These are most often benign events that can be exacerbated by quick changes in temperature, fatigue, anxiety. And the location of the fasciculations described in your message are also fairly common ones.
I hope this information is helpful. Best of luck.
In Reply to: symptoms posted by Irene on December 10, 1998 at 10:15:05:
I have been experiencing some unusual symptoms which I do not feel comfortable with the current explanations for.
Several months ago I experienced hypersensitivity in several areas (i.e. to touch or have clothing touch these areas was like they were sunburned).
I first felt this on the inner area just above the knees. It was there for 2 days, then disappeared but had the same sensation reappear on the inner thighs a few days later.
Again, this lasted for 2 days. Then it went away for a few days and reappeared across my shoulders and upper arms. Three days later, this was gone. A few days later
I developed a feeling that when I bent my head backwards, my neck might be "swollen" although I don't really want to describe it that way. This was followed by a incident where I reached for something and felt
a dull pull in the area where the shoulder and neck meet. What proceeded from that was a gradual increase in pain in that area, sometimes very focal, sometimes involving the shoulder.
At the worst times of this pain, I had sensory changes on the top of my hand and the back of my upper arm. This pain gradually increased to the point where I went to see my physician. A c-spine and MRI were
negative for osteoarthritis or slipped disc (although I've been told a bulging disc would not be diagnosed in this case). I did have a head MRI done which was normal.
After many blood tests where all levels look normal, I was told this was probably fibromylagia (fibromyalgia) although I've never experienced the general aching and pain I see talked about.
However, in the past week, as this shoulder pain seems to be subsiding, I have developed muscle twitching - first in my right eyelid, now in the muscles of my right leg and now my left. today I'm noticing it infrequently in my left eye. The severity and frequency seem to
be increasing daily. I am concerned this is a sign of a progressing problem which has gone undiagnosed. Most bothersome is that fact that no one has addressed the initial hypersensitivity I experienced. It seems to me
this could be quite important.
I would appreciate any insight you might have on this subject.
Thanks for your question. It is difficult to obtain a single unifying/parsimonious explanations for all your symptoms. All the neuro-imaging that you have undergone so far probably has ruled-out a demyelinating process (such as MS), or a disseminated spinal cord or nerve root patology (it is unusual to have that degree of cord/nerve damage without any visible structural abnormalities). You have mentioned multiple blood tests - would they include the "acute phase tests" (e.g. sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, etc.)? How about Rheumatoid factor, ANA titers, and other indicators of connective tissue disease? The muscle twitches described in your messages are suggestive of muscle fasciculations. These are most often benign events that can be exacerbated by quick changes in temperature, fatigue, anxiety. And the location of the fasciculations described in your message are also fairly common ones.
I hope this information is helpful. Best of luck.
