Poly Neuropathy symptoms, Sciatica, Carpel Tunnel, burning, numbness

[tjlazer]

I've had back issues for 20 years now, I would "throw my back out" every few years playing sports and being stupid lifting heavy things, etc. I would always bounce back and learned to be more careful and that seemed to help a lot.  I've also had RLS since then but didn't know what it was and recently find out it's related to nerve issues.  In 2008 I had an MRI I was told I had DDD and my back issues would get worse.

After being more careful with my back I seemed to be doing well and avoided injuries until 2014. After vigorous working out for months to pass a fitness test, I seemed to be fine afterwards, but a week later my lower back started to hurt.  I took it easy but this lasted for 4 months. It then spread to my left Leg with Sciatica pains in my Butt, leg and Foot.

After about a month of this my Back Pain went away and my left foot went numb. The back pain was greatly reduced but it was still there a little, nowhere like it had been though.   I have to mention that a few months before all this I started having lots of stress and anxiety due to work and home issues, and it got worse as my health issues continued.

I went to see my Dr and he did an MRI. Of course it showed a slight bulge at L5-S1. Went to see a Chiro for a few months and it didn't help. Went back and forth for a year with the doctors and when I had another MRI the bulge was better, but still pain and numbness with pins and needles. 1.5 years go by with no improvement and this past April my right foot starts to get numb. Started very gradual and got worse by the day.

Sciatic pain down the leg too. But not as bad as the left. This scared me so I go find another doctor. They order and review my 3rd MRI and say I need bilateral foraminotomies, as there is some narrowing of the foramina. They recommend ESI's to see if it helps first.  Had 2nd opinion done and was told it's not as bad and surgery is not recommended. (Milt to moderate narrowing on MRI report) Chiros also tell me my x-rays and MRI's are not so bad to have surgery.

During this time I was getting desperate so I started doing pull ups or dead hangs to help stretch my back.  Also used a back stretching device called a NuBax Trio.  This stared to hurt the back of my arms, and also the hanging started to hurt my hands, but I did it every day as I wanted to decompress my back!  At about this time I start to notice my hands, especially my ring and pinky fingers were getting a little numb. Especially when sleeping on my back at night. Then a month later my other fingers were getting numb.  They were also getting a little weak, and when looking up the symptoms they were just like Carpel Tunnel, and Cubital tunnel syndrome.  When I am up and about the numbness goes away, but there is a very low grade numbness now in my arms and hands and they are weaker.

Legs and feet are worse, with feet having numbness and burning.  Feels like Tarsel Tunnel syndrome.  Legs are getting weak and hurt a lot, making it hard to go up stairs. Have twitching in calfs and pain when sitting down or laying down for a long time.  I take lots of breaks at work to keep moving as that helps, and I do moderate walking to keep active as I do now want muscle wasting to get worse.

After a few months of this I notice my head, face and neck are starting to tingle and get slightly numb to the touch.  Some occasional facial twitching.  Same for my torso, and my stomach or ribs will twitch on occasion.  Was also having some GI issues for while there as well as increased heart palpitations.  (Have had those for years though)

Went to a Neuro and they did EMG and NVC on arms and legs and except for the left leg with the initial sciatica, all came back normal.  They said they can't help me.

During this time during a Cervical MRI they said I had a enlarged Thyroid!  More tests and it's a large nodule.  Biopsy came back suspicious but not conclusive for cancer.  I will have to retest.  Thyroid blood tests came back normal.  TSH, T3, T4 and antibodies.  

On another MRI they see something on my liver and more tests determine it was a benign cyst.  Then I had a mole looked at that looked suspicious and it was basil cell carcinoma!  Had it removed.

This is where my anxiety peaked.  I had to really get my anxiety levels down which I did.  It's been a rough few months.

Went and had many blood tests to try to figure this out after doing lots of research.

-CBC
-Thyroid tests
-Heavy Metal test (hair)
-Stool tests
-Epstein Bar Virus (old infection, not active)
-Cytomegalovirus
-Vitamins
-Lymes
-Lupus (ANA screen)
-Celiac
-Glucose

Glucose fasting I am 96.  Hemoglobin A1c was 5.7, which is pre diabetes.  So this might be an issue.
Found out I was really high in B12 and B6!  Stopped taking the supplements (was taking something called Nerve Reset)  Decided to go gluten free and eat healthy.  Been doing that for about a month so far.

Up to this time I was getting more heart palpitations, facial twitching and increased light headedness.  These all seem to have lessened after stopping the B6/12.  Seeing a Chiropractor now that is doing upper cervical adjustments for me to see if he can get my spine in better shape.  Time will tell if this will work, seems to help.

Not sure what to think at this point!  Is it spine issues or something else?  Another Chiro wants me to spend big bucks on spinal decompression (DRX9000).  Will be seeing a new neuro to see if they can shed some light on this!