Strange Symptoms

[steve]

In Feb 2001 I posted questions under "Strange Symptoms" regarding a mirage of symptoms I have had since my gallbladder surgery in January 2001.As I stated in my last post, I was a 44 year old healthy male until this started.
I had had a flu shot 5 to 6 weeks before the surgery and also a 24 virus about 2 weeks before.After the sugery I started having strange symptoms. The symptoms which include weakness in arms and legs,knumbness,and tremors are still with me. The symptoms closely matched some of the post viral symptoms I had read. As I stated in my earlier post I have had many test, Brain MRI,Cervical MRI, Mylogram, Spinal tap, blood test which included thyroid test,Lyme disease,Sojerns,MG,and others I can't remember.They were all normal. Since my last post I have had a EMG and have had follow up visits to the nuero's. The EMG was basically normal. The Neuro's still have no clue on what is wrong with me.MS and ALS were ruled out. I have recently tried a round of steroid treatment and B-12 shots with no improvement.The doctors say I need to wait and see if the symptoms go away or get worse. Some of the symptoms are getting worse. The knumbness which would come and go is almost constant now. Could this still be Post Viral with the symptoms getting worse?Do you have any further avenues or possibilities that may be explored.

[PATTY]

DEAR DR.,ON 3/14/01 I WENT TO THE RHEUMOTOLOGIST BECAUSE I COULN'T WALK ON MY LEFT HEEL. THE ARCH OF THE FOOT WAS ALSO BOTHERING ME AND MY TOES WERE NUMB. THIS CAUSED MUCH PAIN, THE RIGHT FOOT BURNED ON THE TOP, HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A SPUR IN MY HEEL AND SENT ME TO THE PODOATRIST WHO SAID AFTER X RAYS THERE IS NO SPUR THAT I HAVE A NEUROPATHY AND PLENTY OF INFLAMATION IN BOTH FEET, AND SENT ME BACK TO THE RHEU. AFTER GOING BACK HE SENT ME TO THE NEUROLOGIST AFTER PUTTTING ME ON NEURONTIN 300MG,AND INCREASED AFTER 1 WEEK TO 4 TIMES A DAY.AFTER ONE MONTH,NO HELP,NOW HE GAVE ME VICODIN FOR PAIN.NOW I'M AT THE NEUROLOGIST WHO ORDERED EMG'S, FIRST OF THE LOWER EXT. AND ONE WEEK LATER THE UPPER, AND INCREASED THE NEURONTIN TO 600 MG. 3 TIMES A DAY, THIS IS WEEK 6 AND STILL NO RELIEF,ALSO I HAVE HAD 2 KNEE REPLACEMENTS AFTER FALLING IN A FLOODED BATHROOM,NOT AT HOME,AND THE PAIN RADIATES DOWN THE MIDDLE OF EACH LEG TO MY TOES AND ALSO THE BACK OF THE LEG. ALSO I HAVE CARPAL TUNNEL,AND HAVE THE MUSCLE IN EACH ARM INJECTED WITH PREDNISONE SEVERAL TIMES AS I COULN'T LIFT THEM TO EVEN COMB MY HAIR. I ALSO HAVE DEGENERATED DISC DISEASE OF L3,4,5,AND S1,I JUST HAD AN MRI AND THERE WAS NO CHANGES,ALSO I HAD A GASTRO WORK UP, AS I HAVE FECAL INCONTINENCE,WHICH THE GASTRO DR.SAID IS ANAL SPHINCTER,AND SOME OTHER DAMAGE,HE WILL TALK TO ME ON MAY 22, AND NEUROLOGIST WILL TALK TO ME MAY 21, THE GASTRO DR THINKS I HAVE MS,AND THE NEUROLOGIST THINKS PN. IF I WALK IN A STORE TO TRY AND SHOP WHEN I GET HOME I SLEEP 3 HOURS,I'M EXHAUSTED, IS THE SYSTOMS OF PN OR MS,ALSO I HAVE HAD 2 BLADDER SUSPENSIONS AND NOTHING HAS HELPED,I HAVE HYPERTENSION,HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS, THIS FIRST STARTED WITH THE MUSCLES IN THE ARMS IN 1990 AND I WAS HOSITALIZED,THEY SAID R,A,OSTEOARTHRITIS,POLYMOLIGIA, FIBROMOLGIA,AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I HAD,JUST HE PASSED UNTIL THIS FEBRUARY,I JUST COULN'T WEAR ANY SHOES,ON THE SIDES OF MY FEET,IT BURNED WITH PAIN SO BAD I COULN'T STAND IT, DO YOU THINK THE DRS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK? I AM SO CONFUSED, I HAVE VERY BAD DAYS NOT ONE WITHOUT PAIN,ITS TERRIBLE, PLEASE RESPOND, I HAVE A SON WHO LIVES IN LOVELAND, OHIO, AND IF NECESSARY I CAN COME TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC, WE LIVE IN FLORIDA. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, SINCERELY, PAT BRNOVICH

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Steve:

Sorry that your symptoms are persisting.  The good news (yet not satisfying) is the completely normal work-up thus far.  The most worrisome diseases have been ruled out.  I can only feel the depth of your frustration as having real and worrisome symptoms yet nothing turns up.  I can only suggest that you try and let the tincture of time either turn the tide towards normality or disease.  If this was a progressive neurological disorder, something would have shown up on the EMG, MRI, blood work, and neurological exam.  We have seen post viral illness have peaks and valleys and you just have to hang in there.  I am sorry.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD