Tingling, burning, and pain that moves

[mill1354]

I have been treated for rheumatoid arthritis with Humira for 7 months including a combination of Humira and methotrexate for the past 2 months. I also take 5mg of prednisone, and 6 Azulfadine tablets each day.   I was taking Humira once every fourteen days and I am on 15mg of methotrexate a week.  About a month ago, I started experiencing numbness in my toes and feet.  I mentioned it to my rheumatologist but she wasn't concerned and simply told me it wasn't rheumatoid arthritis.  The numbness in addition to burning and tingling then moved to include my feet and ankles, both hands, and sometimes my forearms.  The feeling moves around throughout the day.  As I am typing this, it is my left foot and right hand that are experiencing this the most.  The feelings are worse at night as it seems to feel like the tingling moves between both legs and from arm to arm, with occassional muscle spasms.  The muscle spasms have left me weakened and sore like I have been working out (I wish), and I am tired because I wake up due to the tingling.  My primary care doctor ran a series of blood tests for things including B12 deficiencies and thyroid problems and told me the results are unremarkable.  I had a nerve conduction study on my left foot, but was told because the problem was recent (this was at 3 weeks of trouble) it was too early to detect any damage.  Basically it looked fine.
After getting my blood tests back, my doctor called my rheumatologist and he reported my symptoms to her.  It was at this point that she took me off of the Humira, stating that this is a problem they see a lot with that drug.  Since being off of the Humira I have read of many people who have had these issues.  They have been told of "MS like symptoms" being caused by humira, actual onset of MS caused by Humira, and nerve problems caused by the drug.  For many of the people, the symptoms disappeared after stopping the drug for a few months.  For two, however, they developed MS.  I also read that chemo drugs can cause neuropathy.  I am awaiting my appointment with a neurologist but I am terrified.  RA is already something that may leave me unable to function.  I can't imagine having RA and MS, especially MS caused by a drug.  I now wonder what would have happened if she had pulled me off of the Humira at my first mention of symptoms instead of letting me take another month's worth of shots.

My question, after all of my rambling, is if my problem is caused by the Humira and it is just MS like symptoms, what is the likelihood they will go away?
Are there any steps I can take to help them go away? Because I haven't been to work in about 4 days now.
If it is some sort of peripheral neuropathy, what can I do between now and my appointment on the 20th of April to help alleviate the symptoms?
If this is the onset of MS, is it possible to stop it from becoming "full blown MS"?

[mini_d]

Hi,

The symptoms that you have mentioned can be caused by Multiple sclerosis. However, other causes like diabetes mellitus, B12 deficiency, liver and kidney diseases, Guillian Barre syndrome, Lyme disease, infections, vascular diseases, Systemic sclerosis also need to be ruled out.

Demyelinating diseases like MS can be caused by the use of Humira. If so, the course of the disease is variable and cannot be predicted. There is not much in the way of at home treatment that can be done for this disease. The same for polyneuropathy.

You may consult your doctor and advance the date of appointment. Exercise, in some people, helps reduce the awareness of symptoms. Meditation also can be tried. In the meanwhile, it is important that you protect your hands and feet, because people with numbness are more prone to injuries and such injuries take longer to heal, specially in diabetics.

Do keep me posted.

Regards

[Keepthefaith40]

I wanted to let you know that I'm praying for you.

I know your pain and your frustrations.

I am now too seeing a neurologist and waiting to have a MRA done. I've been frightened scared and depressed. Today I had a HIV test done just to rule out anything.

My doctors are trying to rule out MS but I'm not ready for a SPINAL to draw fluid. I had a spinal back in 2006 and the hopital doctor just about killed me. (I was bit by a tick and had a fever. They check for Lymes all the time but negative.) I had major problems and had to have a blood patch done 2 months later. My ENT Doctor wanted me to see a rheumatologist but I cancelled my appoinment.

Sorry for rambling. I feel like I repeat myself all the time and half of the time I leave out things.

I know your worried and how you are feeling.

Stay stronge and Keep the Faith!