Strange Symptoms

I am a 42 year old female with mvp having neuro problems awhile.  bright spots and my eyes are jumpy eye doctor said everything was ok. series of things going on about 6 onths ago buzzing in soulders hands eet tingling little numb went to a rhuemy and neur. Orthoped took X-ray of my neck and said I had a sprain would cause uzzing in my shoulder MRI of the brain - neg. foot dr said I needed arches two weeks ago my daughter had virus with 105 fever  had a bad upper resperitory infection and sinus I had really bad night sweats while I was sick took Zithromax and got a shot of  Cortisone - two weeks after my infection I started again with symptoms. Previous to this episode I would sometimes lay in bed and get pain in my toes and fingers).  Now the symptoms are worse than the first episode.  For the last five or so years I have been getting night sweats (not that severe on and off). now tingling and numbness and coldness in my fingers and toes and botton of feet. feet hurt and burn  Sometimes when I sit on the toilet too long my left leg/foot numb and a certain spot on the botom foot goes numb laying certain positions make my outer fingers both hands go numb sometimes now getting pain all over - arms/knees/neck I am under alot of stress and not sleeping well and sleep and breastfeed my 21 month old through the night am uncomfortable position I am waiting results of some bloowork. My questions - 1)what type of cancer would give you periperal neuropathy 2)do you think this could be multiple myeloma 3)could this be spine tumor or what? 4) what tests should I get done? thank you

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

There's a very long list of things that can cause a peripheral neuropathy.  I'm not sure how you made the leap to cancer, unless someone has diagnosed you with it after extensive testing such as bone marrow biopsy, CT scans of the body, etc... Also to have a hidden cancer that is causing a peripheral neuropathy but is otherwise clinically silent for the last 5 years (meaning you should have gotten much, much sicker if cancer was really behind this) would be extremely unusual.

1.But to answer your question: different types of cancers can affect the nerves in different ways ranging anywhere from direct involvement of the nerve (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma), to an immune response to the cancer also attacking the nerves (lung, breast, testicular,colon and gynecological), to the effects of chemo and radiation on the nerves.
2.Not completely impossible, but again would be very unusual for you to have had it for 5 years and not be more ill. Needs evaluation with a blood count, bone marrow biopsy, and bone scan.
3.Doesn't sound like it, but keep in mind I have not formally examined you nor have I reviewed your clinical history in detail.
4.Start with your PCP and tell them about your symptoms.  A physical examination  and routine blood tests such as complete blood count and electrolytes may be helpful. Then consider a neuro consult with an EMG to establish whether or not you have a peripheral neuropathy.
GOod luck

[Sauce]

I have been having very similar symptoms: numb hands at night, pain in upper arms, can't sleep comfortably on my sides as I was accustomed to.  My hands seem to turn red, swell and burn in the evenings and sometimes overnight, my rings won't come off.  At first I thought it was my bones (hands, shoulder, breast plate, collarbone)and joints--arthritis-- but now feel it's muscle/nerve.  I have been having night sweats for 5 years, but thought it was menopause (I have been through menopause...age 52).  The pain and numbness in my arms and hands continue off and on during the day, and the bottom of my feet hurt now, especially when I first rise.  I have a pain from the ball of my feet into my 2nd and 3rd toes when I walk or otherwise bend there.  Last night I had muscle cramps in my legs; at one other time a muscle cramp in my arm awoke me.  I have had trouble with cracking joints in my neck, hands, knees and feet for years, and have had "stiff necks" especially often.  These problems have escalated in the past month, a particularly stressful one with the holidays, etc., and have moved from minor and occasional to constant.  I'm not sleeping and no over the counter pain relief seems to work very well.  What could this be?

[Conch1]

WHen you are breastfeeding, are you hunched over trying to hold the heavy child? This can cause muscle strain, and when muscles tighten up nerves are pulled. Are you also taking good vitamins and calcium to supliment what is taken from you in milk? What you are experiencing (just an opinion, I'm not a doctor, but some health is common sense) could be cause by bad posture, muscle strain and do you use pillows when you sleep? If I were you, I would sleep flat, try and give up the breastfeeding so you don't strain your shoulders, neck, and take good vitamins if you aren't already. I doubt you have cancer, but let us know what the doctor says.
The past 3 years I've had 2 neck surgeries, and two shoulder surgeries, totalling 3 levels fused in my neck. When I don't stand absolutely straight, and lift heavy things (a gallon of milk) I experience some of your symptoms in my arms. As we get older, we have to listen to our body more for signals, cause our bodies certainly aren't as they were years before. Pregnancy can put extra strain on our lumbar as well, and a GOOD mattress is absolutely nessary. Bending to pick up a 21 month old (who weighs quite a bit-especially a healty one) has to be done a certain way or you will feel it, not always in your lumbar but your legs, and feet. Have your doctor show you how if you think you're not doing it right. Doctors don't always know everything about your routine , only you, so keep a journal when you feel the syptoms (symptoms) and what you were doing beforehand.

[QueenofPanic]

I too have had symptoms like yours.. Have you been tested for Lupus?

[Cabin]

QUESTION ON HEADACHE & SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE. I am new to this site. I experienced strange symptoms on Fri. night while sitting at my dining room table (working on taxes, but had been for 2 wks). I am a 55-year old caucasian female. I do not normally have headaches except for the ones that come with chronic sinusitis, which I don't have right now. All of a sudden, I felt like someone was trying to push a broom handle through the left side of my head from the front to the rear, midway on the forehead. The headache came on quite suddenly. I went to the ER, and when I was asked the pain level, told them a "6" on a scale of 1-10. (I have had much worse sinus headaches.) Each time there was a pain or spasm, I guess you would call it, my body would jolt/twitch from the waist up. The dr didn't see me until 3 1/2 hrs later. By the time I saw the dr, most of the pain was gone (dull pain, for most part). Had a CT scan--was normal. He recommended a lumbar puncture to check for subarachnoid hemorrhage. (I had a traumatic experience with a saddle block 30 yrs ago, and that terrified me--pain was enough to kill me.)

I am scheduled for gall bladder surgery this coming Thursday (Jan. 16), but am contacting my PCP on Monday morning (actually, faxing her today) for an immediate referral to a neurologist. What scared me was reading that the avg time between the sentinel headache and the actual hemorrage is 2 wks. That has me scared.

My health history: never smoked, do have asthma; avg 3 hrs of aerobic exercise/week, + some weight-bearing exercise. I have changed my diet in the past 3 years (improved it). I had a series of preventive healthscreens (mostly ultrasound) in Oct; with the exception of finding numerous gall stones (no symptoms of gall bladder problems, but am having surgery as a preventive measure) and a cyst and nodule on the thyroid (have a biopsy scheduled), nothing else showed up. My health has been fine.

My concerns: While the pain of the headache wasn't that "worst in my entire lifetime" type, the fact the headache came on so suddenly, and I do mean suddenly, is my concern. Today, I have just a slight headache in the front of my forehead, but it could be from the stress of all this since Fri. night. I am aware to watch for other signs over the next days, such as numbness, vision problems, etc.

Was this a typical headache pattern--sudden but without the excruciating pain? I am not know to have migraines (have had optic migraines, but they are practically painless, in my opinion).

Any help you can give me would be most appreciated.

[the loner]

I have had a lot of strang pains,muscle and joint achs, at first they thought that it was a pinched nerve, but as the pain got worse, and started moving all over my body, in my ribs, and in my arms,followed with the achs,such as flu like symtoms (symptoms). the Dr. is now checking me for autoimmune, such as lupas,and things like that. I have a lot of the symtoms (symptoms) that alot of you are having. I just dont know yet if i should be scared, or not.  I am really glad that I have found this website, and could become a member.   the loner.

[jus2cusmile]

Hello...I too have to ask if anyone has mentioned Lupus to you?
I am 36, 4 kids, married almost 20 years and have Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Sjogrens, Raynauds, Meralgia Paresthecia,Corneal Erosion Syndrome, Anticardiolipin Syndrome, High Blood Pressure, and the list goes on...plus I am now being tested to see whats wrong with my hearing!! Might be Acoustic Neuroma...
Get yourself a GOOD rheumy and make sure that all your doctors will work with each other on your case by staying in contact with each other! Mine all send each other reports every time I see one!
Auto-immune disorders are very complex and very hard to DX...which gets stressful and frustrating! If you want...you can go to my Lupus Support Site- ~The Butterfly & The Wolf~ there is LOTS of info for you there and support!!
http://denim.bbboy.net/thebutterflyandthewolflupusforums
Hope you get this all figured out! :)
*hugs*
Cathy