neurological symptoms due to stress or disease?

[jrsoma]

I have developed some neurological symptoms over the past few months that have me very worried.  They include the following: very transient, migrating paresthesias on limbs, often a sensation of hot or cold on the skin, as well as pinprick feelings and a crawling sensation (like ants crawling), only on the scalp.  Additionally, dysesthesias include a slight burning feeling upon touch of skin on left hand and upper left leg, pain sensation when leg hair is touched.  Slight tremors in hands as well.  No numbness/weakness anywhere, no electrical shock sensation down the spine, balance is good except I 'feel' out of balance and occasionally a bit dizzy.

Blood tests completed several months ago showed no abnormalities, as did a CT scan of the head.  Have recently visited a neurologist, who ordered an MRI of head and spine, as well as EMG test on left arm--all of which are pending.

I should mention that the last year of life has been very stressful, with major life/relationship changes, and I am a person with a fairly anxious baseline affect.  I do have some obsessive psychiatric symptoms and I have developed a hyper-alert state, with a pronounced startle reaction to loud, sudden noises.  Emotional state is numb, I don't seem to feel normal moods.

My questions are: 1)do these symptoms suggest an organic nervous system disease (e.g. MS, other myelin diseases), 2)could they be due to some sort of partial seizure in my brain, 3)could they have developed from 5+ years of taking SSRI's (ending 5 years ago), and 4)would these be unusual symptoms to simply attribute to anxiety?

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

These symptoms do not sound like seizures, and I not aware of SSRI's causing this either. I would agree with the neurologist, that testing should be performed to exclude organic disorders. These symptoms can be seen in patients with MS, but are non-specific, they can also be seen in other inflammatory disorders. Stress can cause many symptoms within the body, and these could be secondary to that. However, this is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that organic disease needs to be excluded. Good luck.

[Spring-02]

I have noticed many times that if doctors or neuros cannot find any clinical evidence for the symptoms, that they suspect stress or anxiety plays a big part in the patient's problems. I have similar symptoms as you, such as the hypersensitivity and the startle response.  I keep close to home and try not to expose myself to any sudden unexpected noises.  I jump about a foot and my two arms fly up in the air, making it very embarrassing.  I have had two MRI's EMG's and an EEG, all of which have been normal, yet I exhibit neurological symptoms, weakness, stiffness, burning pain, tingling in lips, tongue and I cannot walk straight. I was a perfectly healthy 55 year old female and I didn't have a stress filled life, nor was I anxious or depressed.  I had great plans for retirement, golfing, travelling, etc.  Now my quality of life is much impaired.  My left hand is constantly numb and I also shuffle when I first get up and get stiffer as the day goes on. My problems started with a rash around my waist and then I started having difficulty standing and walking and developed foot drop.  Back and foot X-rays were normal and I didn't have Sciatica.  What I do remember is being jolted severely out of my sleep and being literally lifted off the bed.  After that experience it has all been down hill.  I was sent to see a psychiatrist and he ruled out depression and anxiety as I did not exhibt any of those symptoms.  During my last visit to a neuorologist,  he suggested that I may have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  I looked up all the symptoms for that and Fibromylagia (fibromyalgia) and I don't have them.  I am active going to Pool and Joint works and try to do my gardening but the chronic pain affects my life constantly.  My thoughts on all this is that the rash or virus that I had earlier somehow triggured these weird symptoms.  I had Bell's Palsy in my thirties and Chicken Pox as an infant.  Maybe this type of Herpes Virus that had been dormant has reactivated and caused these problems.  That is my take on the whole thing but I wish more people would not jump to the conclusion that the patient is just stressed or depressed.  Sure they can become that once their life is so affected, but that doesn't mean it was the initial cause.  Please contact me personally if you would like to follow up with your treatment.

The Canadian

[Newbis]

Gee, I have similar symptoms too (migrating paresthesias).  Just curious - and I don't mean to seem flippant here, but do either of you live or work near a cell tower or radio tower?  I've had my symptoms for 2 months now and have to wait 3 weeks to see a neurologist.  How long have you had this for?  I'm hoping that this doesn't get worse and am wondering if people are out there with similar symptoms for longer than I've had mine, without them continually getting worse.

[222much]

I have migrating tingling, pain, etc., in my limbs and occassionally in other parts of might body to include my neck feeling like it is so tight.  It started in my  left arm only with a percieved numbness and progressed to cold, hot, tingles, pain, and then to right leg, left leg, and recently to right arm.  This has been going on for about a year.  It got really bad around seven months into it but over the past month has diminished somewhat where I do have some parts of days where I am not affected.  I have had every test known, MRIs, bloodwork, etc., with no results.  Two nuerologist and a rhumatologist and GP threw up their hands and have referred me to a Medical Center in my state.  They also sent me to a Physical Therapist, which I just started with so I don't know if that is going to help or not.  I do notice that with stress I feel a lot worse and have been on Lexapro now for about six weeks so that might be one of the reasons I am feeling a little bit better.  I did not feel stressed when all this started, but there have been many stressful times in my life that I feel I handled just fine.  Maybe they have just built up and my body is saying enough.  I am willing to accept anything just to get treatment.  I would follow all avenues to find out if nuerological or stress or neurological caused by stress.  I hope they find something at the Medical center.  Until then, I just keep checking the forums to see if someone else has the same thing and finds an answer.  Good luck.

[Algernon71]

Parathesias and tremor can be caused by SSRIs, but it is not typical for these side effects to be sustained past the cessation of treatment.

[222much]

The SSRI has made mine diminish - or they are just diminishing on their own.  They certainly are not worse than they were before.

[heather_k]

I have had my second "episode" of paresthesias/dyesthesias in 3 years. The first episode lasted about 3 months. This one has lasted 5 so far. Both times began with a very tight feeling in the base of my head that lasted a couple weeks. Both times I have been tested by a neuro for MS and all tests come back negative. An alternative MD says he thinks it's mercury poisoning and I should have my fillings removed and use this chelation therapy spray... not sure I want to go through all that... not sure I believe it either. More worrisome to me now is that for the past ~3 months my whole body has been very shaky, especially my shoulders/neck/abdomen. My GP suggested counseling for anxiety, which I pursued. I have been taking Lexapro for a month, but the psychiatrist I see thinks my symptoms are a medical condition other than anxiety. He mentioned herpes viruses which I was tested for. HSV Type 1 and HHV-6 came back as positive for antibodies. So I went to see an infectious disease specialist. She said the viruses were not the cause of my symptoms and said my symptoms were "no big deal". Maybe not to her... anyway, I notice a lot of commonality with others in this posting.

[Spring-02]

Just checked in and thought I would post a response to questions raised by another posting.  No, I don't live near a cell tower nor major electrical lines.  I also wondered if Mercury poisoning may be a potential cause of neurological problems.  I have some mercury fillings but my dentist more or less quashed that particular cause.  I have heard of people having all their fillings removed, and it didn't improve their symptoms.  Also, considering the millions of others who have mercury fillings, wouldn't there be larger numbers also experiencing neurological symptoms.

There are just too many people like ourselves with so many similar symptoms all looking for answers.  Maybe there is no one particular cause for this, as we are all unique individuals and our immune systems play such an important role in disease prevention. My ANA levels were slightly elevated but I have so many allergies, that I suppose I have developed antibodies after some 57 years of living.  

Now, to pose another question to others with no diagnosis, but who are experiencing weird neurological symptoms.  Do you have allergies, and for females, are you post menopausal?  I feel so stupid at times when I can't talk right.  I either can't say the word at all or repeat the first word about five times.  For somebody who was considered very articulate, (I had to be for my job requirements) it is very frustrating.  I know that my cognitive ability is not affected but I can't find any medical explanation for problems with word finding, slurring my words, etc.  I can almost set the clock each evening when my lips and tongue start to tingle and the stiffness sets in worse. I know there is nothing between the thumb and finger on my hand or the palm of my hand to hurt but yet mine is painful and numb.  No wonder the docs think I am wacky with so many symptoms across the board and no clinical evidence to explain them.  Yet, I know my own body and before all this happened I hardly ever saw a doctor and was very healthy and active.  It also feels like somebody cut my fingernails way too short or they are sticking pins in the ends of them.

Hang in there, I am sure someday there will be a logical explanation for this. Just knowing there are others going through the same thing is reassuring that we aren't alone.

Take care,
The Canadian

[Newbis]

Hi :)...In response to your question, I don't have any allergies that I know about.  I started getting my symptoms at the end of March or early April, shortly after a very long cold, and also not long after they moved our office to a place near some radio towers (I've lived near a cell tower for about 4 years).  Having gone to England in the 80s where I had steak a couple of times, I've also worried about the possibility that this could be some sort of terrible prion-related disease, but probably I shouldn't worry since that's so rare and apparently so many other people get these symptoms without it turning out to be that.

I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with talking.  Did this start up sometime after your other symptoms, and how long after the other ones started?  I notice that my symptoms come and go, but I think that if it started affecting my speech, that would really bother me.  Anyhow, I hope that the speech thing gets better soon for you.

[jrsoma]

Hi, I thought I would check in and respond to the queries thus far.  Thanks everyone for their advice and personal histories, it does help very much to know that others are in limbo with annoying/debilitating symptoms yet no clinical diagnosis.

First, I am a 29-year old male, in very good overall health besides these neurological symptoms.  To answer the question, I don't live near a cell tower (that I am aware), and have lived in the same location for the last 5 years and have only recently begun to exhibit these symtpoms.  Neither do I have any allergies, aside from a light case of allergic rhinitis.  For the past year I can't even recall being sick with a cold virus or anything--though I suppose a virus could be resident with no presentable symptomalogy.  I have worried about some sort of heavy metal toxicity, e.g. mercury, and come to think of it I did have two fillings performed last fall, where mercury fillings were removed and replaced with ceramic ones.  Curiously, after that procedure I remember finding a small piece of amalgam still in my mouth.  But since they were removed I would think that large pieces like that would just pass through the system--it seems that mercury could only be an issue if it was present and available to the bloodstream on a chronic basis...?  Other than this, I find it vague to be able to attribute the onset of all of these neurological things to
anything but the stressful periods I underwent.

I guess it just seems that my nervous system is confused, i.e. it's sending signals down the wrong pathway, so what formerly felt like stress and anxiety now feels like bizarre sensations and such.  I know that sounds like maybe kind of a stretch, but that's really what it seems like.  My brain seems so hyperaware and focused on them that my total awareness is consumed by these symptoms.  I just worry that they won't be able to be reversed, even if the diagnostic tests I am having done reveal no organic disorder.  I guess there is always psychiatric treatment, I feel like maybe I should try some sort of anxiolytic agent or antidepressant to see if that would relieve some of the symptoms.

Also, I didn't mention before another curious fact about my symptoms--if I am moving, i.e. walking, exercising, or whatever, I don't seem to have, or at least NOTICE, many of them.  It's almost as if moving distracts the rest of my mind away from them, but when I am still they come on and demand my mind's attention...very weird.

[222much]

My experience parallels yours almost exactly, except that I am female and old enough to be your mother.  I do not live near cell towers.  I have been tested for metals, arsenic, etc., all negative.  I too WAS a very active person.  I am getting back to it and I do believe the SSRI has helped, even though I still have symptoms they are not as overwhelming.  I also don't feel many of the symptoms while up and walking, however, sitting, sleeping, etc., they ALL come out.  I also am hypersensitive to any change in temperature, strange feeling, even noise.  I think you are right about the nervous system going haywire.  Question is, how do we fix it.  I have an appointment at a large medical research center in July.  If they come up with anything I will let you know.

[Spring-02]

Just a quick question, what are SSRI's.  I presume it is some sort of medication, but wanted to be sure.  It seems that we are all afflicted with a hypersensitive nervous system that is out of whack.  I am also better if I keep active and moving but like the rest of you the symptoms are much more noticeable if I am at rest or trying to sleep. Last night I forgot to take my meds and tossed and turned all night.  It feels like my fingers were unthawing from being stuck in a snowbank.  Hope we continue this train of thought and find a common denonimator somehow through this dialogue.  Have a great day.
The Canadian.

PS.   MS runs in my family but not close relations, second cousins, grand aunts, etc.  Also, Pernicious Anemia in my grandfather and two aunts on my mother's side. She died of a brain hemmorhage at age 48, due to a weak artery in her brain. A cousin on my maternal side recently died from a brain tumour and another one has been diagnosed with a kink in the artery of her brain.  My two MRI's have been normal so that rules that out for me.  One more question do TIA's (Transient Intermittent Strokes) show up on an MRI?  When people see me it seems that they jump to the conclusion, that I had a stroke because of my speech and walking and balance problems.  Could it be possible that some of us actually did have TIA's.  My blood pressure is OK so that doesn't seem to flow, but who knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Raramac]

For the past two months, I have been having burning and tingling sensations all over my body. I have noticed it on my back, neck, hand, legs and head areas. These sensations are most observed while i am doing nothing- physical activity seems to help for a while, but afterwards the sensation comes back.I also get growling sounds from my stomach and my body also feels cold often, especially when i wake up. Some days are more worse than the others.

I have been facing some stressful conditions such as job loss.

I went to my family doctor who checked my CBC, metabolic panel, thyroid stim. harmone and vitamin B-12- all indicating no problems. On his recommendation,I have also been monitoring my weight, temperature and blood pressure frequently- again, all indicating no problems. He did ask me to come back in a week's time should things continue. I am going to him again shortly.

Do any of you have any ideas on what i am faced with or have had similar experiences.

Thanks

[jrsoma]

SSRI's are a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a newer class of antidepressant/antianxiety/anti-OCD medications that affect the serotonin levels in the brain.  I took these drugs for 5 years or so for depression, it felt like they did change my brain chemistry in that span of time.  Now I'm wondering if some of these current symptoms are resultant from either long-term damage caused by those drugs...of course it would be difficult to ever be sure.  From reading many of these postings on this forum it seems that bizarre neurological symptoms can arise in persons who never took psychiatric drugs--maybe it's a issue of many factors coming together, e.g. genetics + environmental stressors + psychological factors + pharmaceuticals +???

To 222much: I would be very interested in knowing the outcome of your evaluation at the research facility, thank you.

[Newbis]

Gee, that's interesting that other people have noticed that being in motion tends to help for awhile.  I find that when I play the piano or take a walk, I tend to feel better (although walking doesn't always work as well on those days when the problem expresses itself as pain in the feet).  Stress and deadlines tend to make it worse.  However, even when I'm not under stress, the symptoms are still there.

Maybe together we'll discover something new.

I don't have any mercury fillings.  However, I eat a lot of canned fish, and maybe that's just bad.  I try to eat the smaller fish more, as they aren't supposed to have as much mercury, but then again the cans are made of aluminum.

[Spring-02]

Thanks for the explanation regarding SSRI's.  I had guessed they were some form of medication.  They tried me on Effexor when they thought I had anxiety or depresson, (before the psychiatrist ruled that out) and I could only take it for three days.  I felt so dizzy, nauseous and spaced out.  I would rather be lucid and in pain, then doped up so my brain is in a fog. I still maintain it is easier for the medical people to write a prescription for anxiety meds, rather then to take the time to investigate the problem, or actually take time to really listen to what the patient is saying.  No wonder so many people become depressed, nobody can understand their pain or frustration and they just want to get them to pop some pills, to make it all go away. If only it were that easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's my gripe for today but have a good weekend and thanks to all for your postings.  There seems to be one common thread running through this forum, way too many people have strange neurological symptoms that can't be explained by clinical testing, and they are more or less written off as psych cases.

The Canadian

[Dayle]

My symptons are now constant. I experience what can only be described as a small electrical zap in the base of my skull every so often. It is immediately followed by a moment of dizziness. Neither stays more than an instant but both certainly get my attention. The aching and often tingling pains run up and down my right arm, from my skull to my fingertips and also, there feels like there is some involvement with my right foot and leg. My big toe and two toes next to it are numb all of the time. I'm waiting for a battery of blood test results and hopefully something helpful will surface. My doctor put me on an anti-inflamatory, but I'm not tolerating it well and have stopped taking it completely. The stuff makes me sick to my stomach. I do have allergies and have taken Flonase daily for about 10 years. I hope the blood tests provide some answers. She also mentioned putting me in physical therapy if there is no significant improvement. The pain makes me very tired by the end of the day. Any ideas from anyone will be appreciated.

[Spring-02]

This evening when I was down talking with my teenage son and one of his friends, another one of their friends suddenly appeared unexpectently.  I screamed a blood curdling scream and fell on the floor and nearly gave the girl next to me a heart attack. The cat took off and hid in the garage.  My son explained to them that "my mom's nervous system is very sensitive."  Sensitive is one thing, but falling on the floor is another, I am getting paranoid about being out in public anytime there is unexpected noises or sudden movements.  I cannot control my response and it is very embarrassing.  Are any of you like that?

I also notice that some of you  notice a difference in temperature in the affected limb.  Usually my foot and leg are cold and numb in the day time and hot and throbbing in the night.  If you have ever had your finger pricked for a blood sample, that is how it feels in my fingers, except the pain lasts for five to ten minutes.  It is very strange how the pain radiates around and may only affect the tip of one finger sometimes or usually the thumb, other fingers and the palm of the hand.  

I first noticed I was having trouble with my feet when I was golfing.  The last three toes on my left foot were cold and numb and the foot almost felt dead.  The physical therapy and pool exercises help stablilze things, but I hate to think where I would be without them.  The staggered gait and stuttering are also unexplained and I certainly don't know how to control them.

My neck is so stiff that I can't turn it sideways so tonight will be a challenge to get to sleep and stay that way.  Yes, I too notice symptoms are worse at night and especially if you are at rest.

Surely somebody somewhere will come to some conclusion for these troubling symptoms that impair a person's quality of life and add so much to their anxiety level and affect relationships.
When all the tests come up normal, you are left even more perplexed and wonder if you are imagining all this pain.

Thank God for these forums and for the exchange between people who are also battling an unseen enemy, but one who silently waits to strike unseen, and who never lets go.

Take care and all the best.
The Canadian

[Allycatco]

Just took a look at this site, wanted to give you a little help on what might be going on, I have RSD/ CRPS. I experiance the same types of symptoms, So maybe you should see a neurologist about that all. Just look it up on the internet as well. It might give you  a piece of the puzzle. I hope this helps. It justreally sound like it with the off balance-ness.

[Newbis]

One other thing I was noticing about my symptoms is that they started about a month after our office moved into a new building, where the carpet seems to be new. Since my symptoms get worse if I stick around the office a long time, I'm starting to wonder if it's the building.

Anyone else here have any possible connection regarding exposure to chemicals or newly renovated building environments?

[ozlady]

What you are talking about is Distraction Therapy!!! Naturally, if your mind is busy concentrating on something interesting, or involving, you are less likely to notice your physical symptoms, unless they interfer with what you are doing.  This is therapy that we all naturally practice "taking your mind off it" so to speak.  Unfortunately when the actual worrisome event is overwhelming, then nothing can turn your thoughts away from it

[jrsoma]

Yes, I believe you are correct in your Distraction Therapy comment...if you can distract the brain from receiving these bizarre signals and instead focus on something else that 'consumes' its attention sufficiently, your consciousness will not be aware of the symptoms for the duration of the activity.  I just wonder if it is possible to do enough of this activity to calm down those weird neural connections over time, so that the brain re-wires back to a more normal state....?  Exercise definitely helps my mood and symptoms, but they always inevitably return afterward.  So I'm stuck in a recurring loop of self-debate on whether most of these things are caused by a stress response gone bizarre, or represent some other neurological event that is its own syndrome.

[jrsoma]

Yes, I believe you are correct in your Distraction Therapy comment...if you can distract the brain from receiving these bizarre signals and instead focus on something else that 'consumes' its attention sufficiently, your consciousness will not be aware of the symptoms for the duration of the activity.  I just wonder if it is possible to do enough of this activity to calm down those weird neural connections over time, so that the brain re-wires back to a more normal state....?  Exercise definitely helps my mood and symptoms, but they always inevitably return afterward.  So I'm stuck in a recurring loop of self-debate on whether most of these things are caused by a stress response gone bizarre, or represent some other neurological event that is its own syndrome.

[LRS337]

I would strongly check out the possibilities of B12 deficiencies. Often times a test result in the normal (but lower end) range will lead your GP or even neuro to rule out B12 deficiency when that can be a very definite cause.

See this other post from the Neurology forum:

Q: ...asked GP for B12 shots. She complied, but wanted me to only take it once a month since my level was normal. Doctors said not to get my hopes up, that there are many muscle things we know nothing about and B12 is a wonderful thing. 16. Nov 2..began taking Shots tiwce a week (against my doctors wishes). Within 2 days, I was dreaming again. Within a week, the parasthesis went away. Within 2 weeks, the pain started diminishing. Now my muscles feel like they are loosening up and I am gaining my flexibility back. Still not exercising, but feel like I can maybe next week. The parasthesis comes back sometimes, but seems to be coming from my back which is still weak. It goes away when I move. I have had 7 shots in 3 1/2 weeks. I guess my question is: do you believe A low normal B12 can do all this?

A: You seem to be having a benefit to taking vitamin B12. Most studies have shown that taking the vitamin oral in large doses is comparible to getting IM injection. So, if it is giving you benefit, then unless you enjoy shots then you might switch to oral. Whether a low normal value of B12 can give you symptoms, depends. If you initially had a low level (before assay) then you might just be seeing the added dosage uping the level to low normal now. I don't think taking B12 will hurt you as it is water soluable... Yes, we have seen people who respond to low normal B12 levels with severe PN symptoms.

*******************************************
I believe that by the last statement he means to say that they have seen people with "low normal" B12 readings who have severe PN that is caused by that B12 deficiency. Possibly some people are much more sensitive to that deficiency?

For much more information on this, see:

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=573

"B12 Malabsorption often causes neurological damage"

Their resident expert there also has expressed that research has shown that there is a genetic link with both B12 deficiencies in general and also with pernicious anemia... AND that persons could have pernicious anemia and not have the PN while one could be B12 deficient and have the PN and not have the pernicious anemia.

My father had pernicious anemia quite seriously, so that link - and a possible B12 deficiency connection is something that I want to pursue. concerning my own PN.

[janes1]

I have been having cracking noises in my head, like electrical wire noises when I rotate my head.  Also, pulsating in the brain, and pain in the brain/head/skull.  What is this?  An MRI came back normal.  I have headaches, not the normal kind on the temples, but all over the head.  My skull is also tender.  The pulsating is as if I have a blood vessel in there pumping blood all the time.  I'd like to know if this is dangerous, or what next I should do.  I went back to my family doctor and all she did was precribed a mild antidepressant.  I don't suffer from depression but she thinks that this antidepressant in a very low dose (10 mg.) might be able to help with my headaches.  I am not so sure this will cure the pulsating in the brain though, which is what bothers me most, not because it is painful, but because I wonder it might lead to something more serious if not treated.  I appreciate any advise.  Thanks.

[janes1]

I have been having cracking noises in my head, like electrical wire noises when I rotate my head.  Also, pulsating in the brain, and pain in the brain/head/skull.  What is this?  An MRI came back normal.  I have headaches, not the normal kind on the temples, but all over the head.  My skull is also tender.  The pulsating is as if I have a blood vessel in there pumping blood all the time.  I'd like to know if this is dangerous, or what next I should do.  I went back to my family doctor and all she did was precribed a mild antidepressant.  I don't suffer from depression but she thinks that this antidepressant in a very low dose (10 mg.) might be able to help with my headaches.  I am not so sure this will cure the pulsating in the brain though, which is what bothers me most, not because it is painful, but because I wonder it might lead to something more serious if not treated.  I appreciate any advise.  Thanks.