buzzing

[tania again, add to question]

Please help.  I have had weird symptoms for a few months (tingling, brief numbness, stabbing burning pains, neck pains, muscle soreness, my eye feels flittery and fuzzy at times, and twitching everywhere.  Some of the twitches are rapid and hard and very visible and others are calm and quiet).  My neuro suggested fibro, so I saw a rhuematologist.  She said I definitely have some of the symptoms of fibro,but she said we should not rule out MS yet(have a relative with ms).  She suggested I see another neuro to double check.  Now, I have another symtpom I am unsure about--buzzing.  The bottom of my feet buzz/vibrate/feel like they are asleep a lot.  I feel this mainly when I am off my feet.  It doesn't hurt but is puzzling.  Also, sometimes, I feel like I have a very subtle motor turned on inside my body that has a very low vibration/shaky feeling (mainly my legs).   No one can see this, only I can feel it. This doesn't happen always, only occasionaly. This motor feeling, when  I was lying in bed, has made me feel like I was very gently rocking.  Is this motor/buzzing/ feeling indicative of MS or is it anything anyone with fibro has ever mentioned? I am just curious.  Any help would be appreciated.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Becky:

MS is defined as multiple episodes of loss of function (either or both motor and sensory).  There is a recovery between episodes.  (that is how the name multiple arose in MS).  In many people 35-45% have optic neuritis as the first symptom.  Since the lesions are usually small to begin with, to have whole body changes as the  intial symptom would be unusual, but not unheard of.  Wide spread muscle twitching or fasciculations without muscle strength changes is not usually a polyneuropathy or ALS.  Many times, a post-viral syndrome can give symptoms of fasciculations, numbness, muscle fatigue and soreness, etc.  One can see numbness, fatigue in fibromyalgia but we usually do not see fasciculations.  The buzzy feeling on the bottom of your feet is alittle difficult to tell you what it might be.  Sometimes loss of sensation is described as numbness that can be felt as a buzzy feeling.  

The bottom line, is that I do not think you have MS.  Without examining you I can not rule it out, but I think it is unlikely.  Assuming that your B12 levels is normal and all the other labs such as sedimentation rate are normal, I am in alittle of a loss on what to tell you.  Sometimes, a tincture of time is needed to let the symptoms mature to the point where we can put a label on the group of symptoms that a patient expresses.  I think this is where you are at the moment.

I am sorry that I am not much help.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[goodgal31]

Hi,

I've had all the above you mentioned.  The tingle the muscle twitch the buzzing in legs.  I had all testing and NO MS.  apparently MS would not cause twitching, it can cause muscle cramping though.  Also not that many parts of the body would be effected.  I guess from what I have read on here and other places MS starts on one side?  Or visual trouble.  Optic neuritis and you dont have that or you would not be able to see.  I to get the fuzzy vision.  I have a diagonosis of stress/anxiety.  I am on an antidepressant that does help the symptoms but I feel in my heart I have some imbalance in my body that can not be detected yet, maybe it will work itself out, maybwe not, but my opinion is an auto-immune process that might be causing inflamation (inflammation) in my body, my vision has been on and off fuzzy one day good one day bad so I feel maybe there is an inflamation (inflammation) in the eye itself.. I get floaters to~  who knows but seems like there are many of us on here I hope we all find answers and I hope the Dr has some for you on here.  Good luck and keep us posted.

[To Peter from Gary]

Hello,

You mentioned that many of the same symptoms are a result of post viral syndrome. How long can that last? From your experience, have you seen patients with pvs that last their symptoms will last months or years? Just curious.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Becky:

Usually a postviral syndrome is months in duration, but some ascribe even years to them.  Alot depends on the patient and probably the virus.

CCF Neuro MD

[Gina]

Hi,
I had a virus approx 9 weeks ago and since then have had all of the symptoms you have described and more (lower back and neck burning pain, stiffness when sitting for too long, pins and needles in head, little finger going to sleep), mostly left sided however the buzzing feet thing sounds very familiar.  I was wondering have you had any funny black spots in your vision "floaters" I think they call them? or any problem with low blood pressure? I am plagued by low blood pressure however nothing is being done about that either!!  I have had an mRI brain only and it was o.k. except for "small right side lesion" which no-one was too worried about so I guess it was nothing.  I wonder if MS ever appears as lesions on spine first??
In reply to response from "me too" I saw a neurologist for ten minutes, he asked a few questions then diagnosed "severe anxiety disorder/depression" i don't buy it, considering I have been seeing a psychiatrist for several months for adult add (I think he'd have a fair idea if i had any of these problems!!!)this was first diagnosis due to short term memory problems however now I have a different set of problems (number sequencing etc).
anyway good luck with everything, i'm flying to another state to try for some help with this...
Gina

[tania again, add to question]

Is it unheard of for ms to present without weakness? Also, can ms be present even if a brain or spine mri showed no lesions? One last question, one of the previous posters under this topic said ms does not include twitching, is that true?

[very similar symptoms]

I have the same symptoms as you. Been like this for months. A question for the doctor , Can lupus present itself this way? Also please let us know when you are diagnosed with something. I will let you know as well. Thankyou.

[tania again, add to question]

This is puzzling.  I mentioned I had eye twitches that are extremely small and extremely rapid.  Well, can you help me understand why when I close my eye hard or sneeze, it aggrivates the twitches and they just go crazy?  Can't figure it out. No more questions, I promise!  THanks for your help.

P.S.  I will let those interested know what the diagnosis is, but it might be a while!

[Carol55]

Gina,
Let us know which state you are going to for med visit.
Is it a large center to treat neurological disorders?
Weren't you the poster who got such a clean bill of
health from the Cleavland Clinic?
Let us know how you are doing.
Good luck
Carol

[goodgal31]

Hi all, i've been reading your posts, I can try to answer what I recall the Dr answering because I have asked every question that you guys all have.  To my understanding the Dr said MS can present with sensory symptoms but its usually weakness first, Also he mentioned that with ALS and Chronic inflamitory neuorpathy presents with weakness usually first.  secondly I recall asking about complete body twitching even the eye and the Dr said highly unlikely MS to cause that widespread twitching.  Thirdly, I have floaters and noticed them POP out when all this began.  and last but not least I think Neurologist listen to our complaints and Lupus or auto-immune disorders are something they like to rule out because they tend mimic other neurological problems, like Lupus can cause vasculitis that can create numbness in parts of the body, also inflamation (inflammation) etc.  So my best guess is that yes lupus can mimic MS.

I dont think I have MS and neither did my Neuro.  I try to reassure myself by doing the heal walk and the toe walk so i know im not weak.  I found a great web site that told many different tests the neuro's do to detect damage... one is standing with eyes closed, feet together and arms held out.. do you fall down?  If you wabble alittle but are steady, this is good.  If you take a fork and rub on sole of foot, does big toe point upward or down?  Down is good, up can mean something.  Pinprick test, can you feel the tip of a needle all over your body?  If so this is good.  Can you hop on one foot, can you get up out of a chair without falling?  My guess (and this is just my opinion) but with MS you know something is really wrong, although some can have extremely mild cases, I think one woudl know they are just not 100%.  I dont feel 100% with the skin numbness and odd sensations, but I still can function 100% this makes me feel somewhat better.  But its all the worrying that may cause more troulbe so I try not to get to worked up and jsut thank god when I wake up feeling good!  God bless you all and please keep us posted on any new diagnosis

[Gina]

I can't begin to describe my relief after reading that i'm not alone with this and not going mad!!
I live in Australia and have found some doctors have the attitude "I don't know what's wrong with you so it's got to be nothing" the Neurologist I'm seeing Monday is apparantly very thorough compared with the one I saw here who did one SEP test and told me I was depressed, we are not lucky enough to have the same facilities here.  I am frustrated that's for sure and sometimes wonder what I'm going to wake up with the next day!
I would be interested in looking at the site mentioned by "me too" if you have a minute to post a reply!
I have noticed I'm making spelling/number sequencing mistakes when I'm usually v.good in this area. I did the toe thing and they went up, I have also woken up in the middle of the night with both big toes bent right back.....weird!!
I am also covered in "lesions" on my skin which three doctors "have never seen anything like" I'm starting to think I've created my own disorder!!
thanks for you interest, it's good to know I'm not alone with this!
Gina

[goodgal31]

Gina here is the site

http://www.medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/bcs/clist/neuro.html

toe going upward is a positive babinski reflex that can  and I say "can" indicate some type of damage in the nervous system, I have a mute reflex, it does not go up or down. When you see your neuro ask him about this.  Let us please know what he tells you ok???? Please.  Take cae

[Gina]

Well now I'm in total disbelief!
I travelled all that way to be told I have MIGRAINE??
never had a headache, except for first few days of virus.
No answer to muscular fatigue except to say that if I saw a rheumatologist he would say I have fybro which neuro "doesn't believe in".
I can promise you he got a 20min blank stare from me (think he got nervous in the end!).
he's sent me home with Inderal which apparantly lowers blood pressure, good idea considering my blood pressure can be 90/60 at times anyway.
I don't know I'm sick of this whole thing really
I have such bad muscle spasms in my back it's dreadful, taking off in the plane aggravated it to the point that I was as stiff as a board two hours later, but you know how these migraines are........

[GMP]

Lyme ruled out if you live/have lived in an endemic area. It can mimic MS, lupus, fibro etc. Educate yourself and find a doctor who knows about it. it is a controversial disease, and the tests are not very accurate, so it should be diagnosed clinically (based on symptoms) and is often easily cured but in rare cases it can remain dormant in your system and be resistent to antibiotics.

Good Luck!

[T Storm]

I too have had intermittent buzzing which is now almost constant in my feet.  I also have the feeling a needle is being jabbed into me in different locations, thumb, and top of foot, lower leg.  This lasts for a few seconds to several minutes and happens at different times, about once a week.  I have also noticed my head has begun to shake.  This is most noticed when applying eye make up and has also gotten worse over time.  I have had no luck with doctors yet.  I am just buying time until something else shows up that maybe they can put a "label" on it.  I walk with a cane since my left leg is in bad shape (need a replacement knee) but I have noticed a great weakness in both legs.  This causes me to shy away from walking and I have begun to gain weight, too much weight.  Good luck to you all in finding answers.

[lori]

RE: Gina's post Friday, July 21st

Gina,
I hope you are feeling better by now.  I had viral meningitis in June.  It has been six months and I am still having many of the symptoms you describe plus lack of balance, feeling like I got cracked on the head - not pain but a wierd sensation that makes me unsteady, etc.  Doctors keep telling me it's post-viral syndrome and it will eventually wear off.  I hope this helps.

P.S. If anyone else is still reading and has had similar diagnosis, please let me know ***@****
Thanks and good lck to all.

[TerriA]

So I am not going crazy!!?  I have been dealing with alot of the same symptoms you (Gina) talked about.  Started with a buzz in my left foot, twitch in left thumb, senitive in right side, with band-like feeling around joints.  My biggest complaint is trying to fall asleep, I jerk (about every 20 seconds) in different parts of my body, and couldn't get to sleep!!  Once I get to sleep (if I do) the jerking stops. I totally went off all aspartame products, and over the course of a year, my symptoms are much better, jerking is only mild at this time,buzzing and twitch are very rare.  Went to Neur. when my sympotms were at their worst. and went through all the tests MRI's, thinking it was MS, but she didn't think that was it, because I have not had any vision or muscle loss at all.  I have figured out that vigerous excercise makes it worse, and forget about any weight lifting.  But I still feel the aspartame has something to do with it, because it also makes it worse,  Its been over 1 year since my first attack, and I am still looking for answers.  Would love to hear from others.  Alot more to my story, but thats it, in a nutshell.

Sincerely,
Terri
e-mail:  [e-mail]