Numbness associated with MS

[cleorae]

I began experiencing numbness in my entire arm or hand that was unlike anything I have ever felt before. The numbness is complete, and usually runs from the shoulder right down to the tips of my fingers, but only happens while I am sleeping. I was wondering if this is 'typical' of MS numbness? I know MS symptoms tend to appear, and then go back into remission, which is true with my numbness in my arms. For months I had no nightime wakings with my arms fully numb, but they just recently started again. Within a minute or two of waking they are no longer numb and I am able to fall asleep again. I am also getting all over body twitches, but these have been persistent, sometimes there are more of them and they are more obvious, but these happen day or night and any place on my body. I am just wondering if the numbness that is a sign of MS would be present for a period of time (such as days or weeks) before disappearing. I can't understand why the numbness only happens at night. I was given a lumbar, cervical and brain MRI with contrast when I first began experiencing the night numbness, and everything looked fine, but I also know that it MS is in it's early stages it doesn't always show up on a MRI. Any insight you might be able to offer would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.

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

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.

   The symptoms that you describe sound the most like carpal tunnel syndrome or a possible peripheral nerve entrapment at another site along the arm.  Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist and classically causes night time wrist/ and even sometimes whole arm numbness/pain.  This is thought to be related to repetative stress injury, but also has other factors ivolved such as the size of your canal etc.  For this I would suggest that you have an EMG (Nerve-Muscle test) with nerve conduction studies(NCS) to evaluate for signs of carpal tunnel.  The first line of treatment is to obtain wrist splints that are worn at night which help by maintaining the wrist in a striaght position. Multiple sclerosis(MS) does not present this way.  MS presents with focal numbness, optic neuritis, and/or dizziness/imbalance, etc, that lasts for several weeks then improves.  It is not correct that MS does 'not show up on MRI in the early stages'.  Most patients with MS have multiple lesions on their first MRI, after presenting with their first symptom (the reason is, that much of the brain does not give rise to symptoms when a lesion is present and only "eloquent" areas give rise to symptoms, thus many lesions are silent clinically).  When patients are very concerned about MS we suggest more testing, ie adding an MRI of the cervical spine, SSEPs and lumbar punctures to obtain more evidence. The twitches that you describe have the characteristics of benign fasiculations and should not give rise to concern in the absence of weakness and atrophy of the muscles.  Your EMG will help with this diagnosis as well.

I hope this has been helpful.

[mike1105]

the numbness at night is probably related to sleeping position. sometimes, nerves in the brachial plexus can be pinched if your head is tilted a certain way while you sleep. when you wake and shake the affected area (thus relieving the pinching) the numbness goes away. you  may be predisposed to this becasue your daily activities may create tightness in the neck area muscles--before you go to bed, and often during the day, you may want to try certain neck muscle stretches (especially those designed for the scalenes). i doubt the numbnesssa t night has anything to do with MS. you may also want to try sleeping on your back.

[JCmcc]

Dear, Friend



   My response is not professional advice or meant to be taken as medical advice.

   With that said: With the variables presented MS seems unlikely. The problem with numbness, as aforementioned, is a constant problem involving sleeping positions, tension, and the b.plexus. Other factors could be considered and clinical correlation is mandatory for deeper insight.

   The twitches too are variable and non-specific. I am seeing more and more that unexplained benign neurological interuptions are commonly a result of stress (Neuropsychology) and sleep issues.

   MS symptoms do not appear for a few hours and then go away but rather an attack, lasting weeks to months, and then relpase. Or to the contrary, for some, steady progression. If it has been several months since your last set of MRI/s and new and/or symptoms have become impressed. See a neurologist.

   I hope that I have been helpful.



Good Luck!

JCmcc.

[terrijean]

Hi,



I too have had the same night numbness at times on and off in the past.  I am still in limboland with no diagnosis.



I had what you describe twice badly - once in my left leg that lasted a couple of hours when I was in bed and the last time was my left arm, which is as you describe.  This particular incident it took about 3-4 hours for it to subside completely.  My alarm clock went off that morning, laying on my stomach and my alarm clock went off, went to turn it off with my right arm and did not realize my left arm was completely dead numb at which point I fell out of bed luckily not breaking anything.



I know this is a forum where some people will say it is not this, not that and some say MS does not cause these things, BUT everybody with MS or any other disease affecting the neurological system will have different symptoms and NOT all are the same.  For example, the words "relapsing and remitting" means exactly that and "waxing and weaning".



It upsets me that when you, I or anybody are looking for answers, we get comments negating symptoms in which they should not.  



My physician said it is the brain that is not firing the neurons to tell your body what to do etc.  



You and only you know your own body, and are looking for a medical doctor's help on this forum as have I been.  I know for myself that my severe night numbness IS NOT sleeping positions of the neck or spine, and particularly not psychological.  IT IS REAL...



Just keep your head up and fight for the true answers your looking for......



terri

[wiseone]

I was reading your post on relapses and found it to be interesting.In July of 06 out of the blue I had very bad chest pains that lasted for almost 8 weeks..the cardiologist stated that after all of the work ups its was just bad inflammation in the chest wall or costacondritis nothing i took for med helped it faded away on its on.Now in dec i have been numb for over 30 days. I took a nap on a normal day and woke up with numbness on my left side it felt as tho my arm and legs, feet on left side had gone to sleep however they never woke up( o never sleep on my left side). I tried to sleep it off that night but decided to go to the er the following am..they admitted me for fear that i had had a stroke and kept me for about 5 days. My neurologist stated that i had a million dollar work up..they did mri's,ct's,spinal tap and loottsss of blood work and they all came back fine. I am still have the numbness-tingling to this day on my left side only including face,sometimes it alternates from had to foot face etc and sometimes its all three.. and I have what i call episodes where it feels like under my skin is aching sharp-dull and nothing that i take causes the pain to go away it has to fade on its own, however when i have these episodes it makes me weak on my left side causing me to limp, not use my arm to much etc..the neuro says he doesnt think it was a stroke all test have come back fine I also had a brain study eeg at doc's office which was normal however I am still numb and taking a med lyrica which does not help..also did and evoc test today to study nerves in eyes, ear, and spine