Hello to everyone here on the medhelp forum,
I am a new member so, please be patient. Background information: College student, age 19 (soon to be 20), female, relative good health, 150-120 weight range, level of stress and anxiety are moderate and sometimes high, sexually active, only form of current medication is the sprintech 28-day birth control pill, never had surgery, never had a chronic disease diagnosed, back pain in a scale 1-10 is 4, neck pain in a scale of 1-10 is 5.
Symptoms: Tingling in legs and arms, but specially legs. The tingling doesn’t last longer than a minute. Also, random tingling in certain parts of my body, particularly the back of my leg. Weakness in my arms, particularly the left. As of 2 days ago I feel itchy all over for no reason and also sometimes get the needle poking random parts of my body feeling for a couple of seconds. I believe all these can be referred to as paresthesia. Previous medical conditions: Diagnosed with Eustachian tube dysfunction of 23% (borderline.) This has been believed to be the cause of a constant dizzy feeling (on a boat like, not spinning) and problems concentrating, as well as excessive fatigue. In addition I feel very shaky constantly, but the internal shake I feel can't be seen externally. Currently attending vestibular rehabilitation to help with the coping dysfunction of my Eustachian tube.
My plea: Okay, It may sound like whining, but please hear me out. As a college student I have to meat higher academic standards than most students due to a rigorous scholarship I have received for 4 years that requires a 3.5 GPA. I need to maintain this to be able to attend college. My problem is that after going to doctors for months nothing seems to be improving which really makes me think they are looking at the wrong things. My past experiences trusting the judgment of doctors have been awful to say the least. They all seem to think that because I am young I can walk it off and if that was the case I would be better by now. I am a very active girl and I eat well. I would really just like to find a lead of what this tingling sensation and weakness is so I can live life normally I am sick and tired of not being able to concentrate well and live life to the full though I have done well in not letting any of it bother me. Please help with any info you may have. Thanks in advance.
Based on your symptoms, i would lean towards magnesium deficiency (stress is also a major cause of magnesium deficiency). Both magnesium and vitamin B12 deficiencies symptoms include tremors, fatigue, back pain (magnesium lists neck pain as well), itching, dizziness, concentration problems (brain fog), tingling/numbness, muscle weakness. Both are also easily misdiagnosed.....
"Why is B12 deficiency so under-diagnosed?
B12 deficiency is often missed for two reasons. First, it’s not routinely tested by most physicians. Second, the low end of the laboratory reference range is too low. This is why most studies underestimate true levels of deficiency. Many B12 deficient people have so-called “normal” levels of B12.
Yet it is well-established in the scientific literature that people with B12 levels between 200 pg/mL and 350 pg/mL – levels considered “normal” in the U.S. – have clear B12 deficiency symptoms. Experts who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of B12 deficiency, like Sally Pacholok R.N. and Jeffery Stewart D.O., suggest treating all patients that are symptomatic and have B12 levels less than 450 pg/mL. They also recommend treating patients with normal B12, but elevated urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocysteine and/or holotranscobalamin (other markers of B12 deficiency)." - excerpt form B12 deficiency: a silent epidemic with serious consequences by Chris Kresser
"Only 1% of magnesium in the body is actually found in blood, and only .3% is found in blood serum, so clinical blood serum testing may not successfully identify magnesium deficiency." - excerpt from ancient minerals - magnesium deficiency