Shivering

[UA08]

This is just another question for my general knowledge. Is shivering pretty much uncontrollably in cold weather a symptom of MS of some sort? I haven't seen it well documented anywhere, but I know some here have said something about it.

I noticed it the first week of December, a month after my first pins and needles feelings in my back. I was walking to my final in 28 degree weather and was trying to look at my iPod. I couldn't keep it still long enough to change the song. My body just shook and shook with cold shivers. I had to put my hands back into my fleece. Then, later on last semester I tried to call my Mom walking back from class in the cold (I'm down South, so it's in the 30's) and I couldn't even hold the phone still. This has never been a problem for me in the past. I've been in NYC on New Years Eve for 8 hours, and was fine. (2 years ago) I think I would have noticed it. I am skinny and small, but I've never not been able to keep myself still long enough to hit "Call" or "text" on my phone. So now, I can't even both with moving my hands to change a song on the way to class. The rest of my body is shivering enough.

Just wondering if this is yet another thing I need to tell the doctor, or am I over thinking it.

[UA08]

Yes, I would love more input. It was real bad today, actually. Started sleeting, and I'm wearing long khakis, a long sleeve tee, sweatshirt, and a fleece. I still was practically vibrating and even walking differently because I was shivering so badly. When I got inside, I was breathing as if I had just ran to the student center, not walked. It's just odd to me. I don't know if I am just shivering differently because I noticed it now, or if it's a normal reaction. I definitely am not telling my body to shake in such a way.

[MomofTwo83]

I'm the same way.  I would much rather be cold than hot!  I have my window open in my bedroom next to me bed with a fan blowing in.  Woke up this morning with frost on my blankets and window sill...but I slept great!!  If I'm too warm I am in pain and can't sleep at all.  I have noticed that I shiver more than the normal person...at least I think so.  It doesn't take much to make me shiver and when I do it's not just a little shake...it's uncontrollable and a very big shakes.  I guess it's either a normal response to the cold or not...I dunno.  I have too much else going on and more important things to bring up to my neurologist than shivering.  Hopefully some others will chime in with their thoughts or experiences.

Victoria

[Sumanadevii]

Thank you for explaining that, Bob.  I had wanted to ask my neuro about it last visit.  As usual there was too much happening for me to bring it up.  For me the shivering is nearly as bad as the heat.  It brings fatigue on.  I keep myself inside most of these cold days because it just wears me out.  I am glad to understand why my body is reacting this way.

Sumana

[COBOB]

Shivering is an autonomic response to core hypothermia.  Typically cold receptors in the skin provide information the the body's "thermostat", the hypothalamus that it is cold.  The hypothalamus tells the motor centers to shiver or shudder.  It is considered an autonomic response and can be effected by lesion on or near the hypothalamus or corpus collosum.

Bob