Burning skin sensation...

[SherryDenice]

Since March 2002, I have been experiecing this God awful sunburned sensation on my skin in different areas.  It started with a slight pain on my arms in 2002, went away, then came back in May of 2003 after a stressful period and attacked my face and arms.  Long story short.... I started Zolft in Septenber 2003 for depression that the burning caused and it took the burning away until December of 2003.  It came back but was not quite as intense and it had been.  It went away again and I noticed it occasionally on my face.  Just last week (July 21st to be exact) I started aching all over and the burning started back a couple of days after that.  My calves feel like they are burned, my arms have spots that feel burned, my knees have spots that feel burned.......

I have had an MRI of my brain in Aug 2003, a neck and c-spine MRI of June 2002 - both were clear.  I did stop the Zoloft back in May of this year and did fine up until now.  

I have been told it can be Fibromyalgia.  What in the world can cause a person's skin to hurt this way?????

Please, if you have any answers or suggestions, I'd love to hear them.  I'm 32 years old, have a 6 yr old son and a husband.  I'd like to believe that it's nothing serious.

Thanks!

Sherry

[dottie1958]

A related discussion, burning and stining pain back and shoulders was started.

[Elle2585]

A related discussion, Burning sensation and pins and needles was started.

[Carrie67]

Thank you for the information how the burning sensation might be Axiety. I did talk to my nero doctor and he now has put me on Trileptol to see if that help. I am just glad that some other people are also having the same thing that I am describing and that I am not nuts. I recently lost my job last month and was told by my hubby that I could just relax and enjoy the time with my children and don't worry about getting a job which I have not been trying to look for one right now with the holiday next week. I am trying to enjoy my time off and forgetting about everything that has to do with stress but there are days that the burning is worse then other days. When it does I go and sit down for a while and it seems to calm down a bit. I just would like to know if this is something serious that is going to change my life or is this something that will be controlled by drugs that I will have to be on for the rest of my life. I just would like to be normal again and not have this pain in the top of my head like Freddy Krueger fingers are going in to the top of my skull. If anyone else has this problem with a burning on the top of their head I would love to hear from them. Again Ariana thank you for your help and support.
Happy Holidays and have a Wonderful 2005
Carrie

[ariana]

Have you been told by any doctors that your burning sensation could be anxiety, stress, or depression related?
That's what I was told.  And although I'm not sure if anxiety is the CAUSE of the sensations, I have found it to be true that anxiety does make it worse.  The anti-anxiety medicines have helped me to the point of making life tolerable, but of course they are not without sid-effects and I am concerned about long-term use.  But I say this becasue I am a very anxious person and also have two young children that I worry about all the time.  I wonder what will happen to them if something happens to me. I have been told that I need counseling to control my anxiety and to take care of things in my life that are in my control to and let go of my worries about things that are not in my control.  I don't think the stuff is all in my head or psychological but I don't doubt any more that the mind and the body do affect each other.  I had chronic gastritis for 6 years and always tested negative for whatever could casue the problem.  My gastroenterologist kept telling me it was stress related and I didn't believe her, but when I started taking anxiety medicine to control the skin pain my gastritis and stomach problems went away- although I  still take protonix twice a day, which is similar to previcid.

[alpinevalley]

I have had the burning skin sensations since Sept 2004.  It started in the clavical area on the left side of my neck and spread to the back of my neck. I was treated for shingles and was treated with Valtrex.  It didn't help.  Now burning has spread all over my face,arms and neck and left hand.  It also is on legs and left foot.  I have had so many blood tests to rule out lupus, RA, MS, etc. all of which cause burning. Rheumatologist wonders if it is drug-induced lupus, but all the blood tests for lupus were negative.  Do have a positive ANA, but that is the only blood test that came out positive.  I am on neurontin - 3 pills x 2 times a day.  Also, rheumatolgist prescrived peroxican 20 mgs daily (NSAID).  None of these seem to help the burning.  Skin turns red when I get the burning really bad.  Went to ER once and they told me to say away from anything with niacin in it (was taking silver centrum and stopped that).  In fact, my internist took my off all drugs and all vitamins except for synthroid which I have to take daily.  Also still taking neurontin and peroxicam, but like I said they don't help.  My rheumatologist is concerned that the continued burning could damage my nerve endings if not controlled. I am very concerned about this too.  So far, I have seen my internist, neurologist and rheumatologist, but I wonder if this could be endocrinology related.  My internist also wonders if my body is producing too much histamine and had me taking a urine sample (over 24 hour period) and turn it into the lab.  Did that yesterday, and it will take some time to find out.

Does anyone have any idea what causes this awful burning.  I have it all the time and it is bad sometimes.

Thanks.

alpinevalley

[burnie]

Hello,
I was self diagnoised with type 2 diabetes about 5 years ago after undegoing extensive testing for gastro problems.  My symptoms were chronic nausea especially early morning and would go away sometimes after my daily vomiting routine was over. Never the less I was suffering everyday like pregnant women with bad morning sickness.  When I informed my doctor of my findings, the same doctor who treated my grandfather for diabetes he put me on glucontrol and my symptoms got considerably better in a short time.  My blood sugar was at 675 when found.  Over the past 7 months I have been suffering with a tremendeous amount of burning all over my body. It comes and goes at certain times of the day.  When it comes on the first symptom is the skin feels cold to touch very cold.  And then this stinging burning(like sunburned)pain spreads all over.  Its almost always in my legs and feet with numbness additionally.  Covers the chest, back of neck, shoulders, hips and lower belly area as well as the happy organs.  I have been to a neurologist who said it is neuropathy.  He prescribed Neurontin 900 mgs daily which does absolutely nothing to relieve the pain.  However I developed thoughts of suicide while taking it and stopped it completely. Mentally all is okay now however I am in a bunch of pain still. The doctor has prescribed oxycodone which takes the pain away but has made me dependent.  I would love to find out why this happening to me so I can stop medicines and live again.  Maybe its some alergy.  Thanks for listening.