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Tingling, burning, fasciculations
Hello, I'm wondering if you could help with the following situation:
At three weeks post partum I began to experience tingling in my fingertips and toes which later spread to my feet and hands. My feet also felt cold. I had a small area of heat type sensation on my leg. Then, little electric shock sensations began in arms, legs, hands and feet. After a week of this I began experiencing burning sensations in my feet, legs, hands, arms and back. My clothing felt like sandpaper on my body. I also began twitching at first in my calf and then all over including the face. The neurologist said the neuro exam was normal as far as testing reflexes etc. Blood work was normal. MRI of the brain was normal. He said nerve tests would most likley reveal nothing. He said I had peripheral neuropathy and that it should resolve in six to eight weeks. I was also under alot of stress and he said it was also due to stress. He gave me some Imipramine in low dose to help with the pain. Imipramine helped right away but I began to have ringing in my ears so I stopped it right away. All my symptoms have resolved except for a burning spot on my leg and twitching all over my body. The ringing in the ears has not gone away even after stopping the medication. Could the twitching be benign? Could the twitching/vibrating in my face be related to the tinnitus? ENT exam revealed mild high frequency hearing loss in the left ear. The neurologist also said the fasciculations would also go away on their own, but they just seem to get worse. The neurologist really emphasized that this was mainly stress related. He said I have some type of hypersensitivity going on?
Any help you could offer would be appreciated. I also had a slight cold a week before all this began.
At three weeks post partum I began to experience tingling in my fingertips and toes which later spread to my feet and hands. My feet also felt cold. I had a small area of heat type sensation on my leg. Then, little electric shock sensations began in arms, legs, hands and feet. After a week of this I began experiencing burning sensations in my feet, legs, hands, arms and back. My clothing felt like sandpaper on my body. I also began twitching at first in my calf and then all over including the face. The neurologist said the neuro exam was normal as far as testing reflexes etc. Blood work was normal. MRI of the brain was normal. He said nerve tests would most likley reveal nothing. He said I had peripheral neuropathy and that it should resolve in six to eight weeks. I was also under alot of stress and he said it was also due to stress. He gave me some Imipramine in low dose to help with the pain. Imipramine helped right away but I began to have ringing in my ears so I stopped it right away. All my symptoms have resolved except for a burning spot on my leg and twitching all over my body. The ringing in the ears has not gone away even after stopping the medication. Could the twitching be benign? Could the twitching/vibrating in my face be related to the tinnitus? ENT exam revealed mild high frequency hearing loss in the left ear. The neurologist also said the fasciculations would also go away on their own, but they just seem to get worse. The neurologist really emphasized that this was mainly stress related. He said I have some type of hypersensitivity going on?
Any help you could offer would be appreciated. I also had a slight cold a week before all this began.
A related discussion, Burning hands / numbness was started.
I have a pinched nerve in 2 places and degeneration in 2 places in my neck on the left side. Should I get surgery or a shot of cortzone. Its really painful and affects my whole left side from the shoulder to the top of my head. I can hardly see out of my left eye. The eye specialist says I have damage to my eye. What do you think I should do? I'm in my 50's. Thanks Margaret ***@****
Hope someone has answered you.
CCF Neuro MD
CCF Neuro MD
Wow. I can't believe the stuff I have been reading. I have been doing the doctor circuit with the same sort of symptoms for almost two years. The suggestion for treatment was usually anti-depressants, which after a battle I did try, to no vail. I mostly suffer from the burning (cold) feeling which is usually isolated to mt feet, ankles, hands and wrists although it sometimes is all over my body. I can't stand the way my clothes feel. The severity of the symptoms come and go. I had a bout 6 months where I really felt it was "going away". But when the symptoms are bad, I have trouble keeping a poss. attitude. (Ofcourse, feeling down is symptomology to most doctors, I call it sanity!). How am I supposed to feel when my life has been changed so dramatically? Happy? No problem?
I Have also had trouble sleeping! I used to be champion sleeper of the universe! At one point a vision problem, sensitivity to glare, a bunch of weird stuff like that which I can only describe as "hypersensitivity". I have pain which is centered on my spine in between my shoulder blades and seems to travel from their under my shoulder blades, muscle spasms, extreme stiff neck, etc.
All tests neg. although I did have a strange lyme result, but Drs. think it is neg.
Does anyone have any nutritional suggestions? Anyone try a macrobiotic diet or vitamin therapy, etc? I have found that staying active (walking, etc.) does more than any drug I have tried.
I Have also had trouble sleeping! I used to be champion sleeper of the universe! At one point a vision problem, sensitivity to glare, a bunch of weird stuff like that which I can only describe as "hypersensitivity". I have pain which is centered on my spine in between my shoulder blades and seems to travel from their under my shoulder blades, muscle spasms, extreme stiff neck, etc.
All tests neg. although I did have a strange lyme result, but Drs. think it is neg.
Does anyone have any nutritional suggestions? Anyone try a macrobiotic diet or vitamin therapy, etc? I have found that staying active (walking, etc.) does more than any drug I have tried.
Dear Sheila:
We usually check mental status, language, cranial nerves, motor system, tendon reflexes, cerebellar function, sensation, etc. But, then again we usually are seeing really sick patients (not to say that you are not sick, just that we see people who usually have already seen a few physicians). I am glad that your exam was normal.
CCF Neuro MD
We usually check mental status, language, cranial nerves, motor system, tendon reflexes, cerebellar function, sensation, etc. But, then again we usually are seeing really sick patients (not to say that you are not sick, just that we see people who usually have already seen a few physicians). I am glad that your exam was normal.
CCF Neuro MD
Went to the Neurologist yesterday. The exam was normal. He said at this point he just wants to additional blood tests and does not want to do any additional testing at this time. He said that it is possible I may have an inflamation in the nervous system and my symptoms could continue for awhile and then just disappear. He does not want to rule out MS but can't make that diagnosis at this point. If I have another "attack" with new symptoms, he will then repeat an MRI of the head and possibly a spinal tap. He told me if I can put up with the minor symptoms I am dealing with now and the anxiety of not getting a diagnosis, then this is the best route to take.
He definitely believes that the cause is neurological but can't give a diagnosis. He said the MRI was non-specific but I am not totally sure what he means. I guess since it was only one lesion, it's really not a big deal. So, I guess I will just see how things go.
Roberta- the GP did order the MRI because she suspected MS as well. Let me know how things are going.
He definitely believes that the cause is neurological but can't give a diagnosis. He said the MRI was non-specific but I am not totally sure what he means. I guess since it was only one lesion, it's really not a big deal. So, I guess I will just see how things go.
Roberta- the GP did order the MRI because she suspected MS as well. Let me know how things are going.
Also, one question? What exactly should a neuro exam entail. The exam I received took 5 minutes and that was mostly sensory stuff. I just thought there would be a little more to it than that.
I am a female, 45, always healthy, til last Oct. I started to experience tingling, vibration feeling all over my body. It goes from my feet to all over, depending on how tired I am. It feels like your feet are always 'asleep'. I have been thro 2 mri's. The first one of the brain showed a few white spots, but the spinal Mri and the spinal tap were normal. I also had a visual evoke test, which also was normal. I have had all the auto- immune tests done, spinal tests, adrenal tests, mercury and other chem. tested..... all normal. The only thing that has come up abnormal is that my B12 is always low. I have had 10 weeks of shots...then went two weeks without and now had another low showing. I have what symptoms would consider IBS...nothing stays in my bowels very long..ie.... 1/2 hour to 3 Hours.... the tingling all over tho, gets worse the more tired I get.... it feels like a tens unit going off at all times. My eyes have also been blurry thro this all.... like a fog is over them. My dad had ALS, i have been tested for that.... all neg. His twin sister has epilepsy, and now her grand daughter has these same symptoms as me.... ie my cousins daughter. Could this all be a family thing with nerves? My dad's younger sister also died from ALS...but have been told that what he had was sporadic ALS. this tingliness needs to be gone.... I have had this for 4 months now and no ans. I am going thro all the intestinal tests coming up this next week.... question is ?? why do i stay low on b12? and can that give all the tingly feeling ? thanks.... email @ bpick @imt.net if whatever..... thanks.
I hope things worked out at the doctor's visit.
CCF Neuro MD
CCF Neuro MD
Yes, I think you should see a DR.
Who ordered the MRI? was it your GP? Normally don't the Neurologists order these? When I went to the GP they ordered a CT Scan and were looking for scar tissue (would that be the same as the white matter?).
Anyway, Good Luck on with your appt.
--Roberta
Who ordered the MRI? was it your GP? Normally don't the Neurologists order these? When I went to the GP they ordered a CT Scan and were looking for scar tissue (would that be the same as the white matter?).
Anyway, Good Luck on with your appt.
--Roberta
Roberta, I have had pins and needles all over my body all day. This happened on two different occassions. I recenly had vertigo following an illness and then have had numbing/tingling mostly on my right side. At some points my face, tongue and head was very numb but subsided after about 2 hours. I have felt a lot of fatigue the last 6-8 weeks. I did get an MRI of the head and they found one white matter abnormality. Apparently, a typical MS matter but not in an atypical area. I have felt much better in the last week and have only minor tingling/numbing, pins and prickles on my right side. I also recall a few times in 1999 when I had some tingling and numbness for a day or two but blew it off. I have an appointment with a Neurologist in two weeks but feel almost silly going since I feel SOO much better. Maybe this was all caused by a virus? Do you think I should keep the appointment?
Jeff,
No, I was not. I have been experiencing the pins and needles frequently. They tend to last 1 - 4hrs. Have you felt this?
No, I was not. I have been experiencing the pins and needles frequently. They tend to last 1 - 4hrs. Have you felt this?
Were you taking any medications when your problems started?
I have been waking up at 3:00am with my right heel tingling. I thought that it was pain at first, but now I feel pins and needles. I hung my foot over the side of the bed and was able to get back to sleep. I am worried that something more serious is going on.
Has anyone out there experienced "Pins and Needles" ALL OVER their body for periods of 1-4 hours?.
--Roberta
--Roberta
To the doctor: Since my original post, my symptoms have returned. I was 90% recovered for three weeks and now I have burning, tingling and twitching again. The twitching never really went away, but subsided alot. Now the twitching has picked up and my feet, legs, hands are burning with a gritty feeling to them. If this is post viral illness, is it common to come and go or will it get worse? I can't believe how good I was feeling and now it started up again. I should mention that I have been very sleep deprived for a very long time due to pregnancy and now a new baby. Can all this really be anxiety related and if so, how is it treated. Also, is peripheral neuropathy something that comes and goes or does it get worse. My neurologist basically doesn't have any other answers. Should I seek a second opinion?
Thank you for any help you can offer.
Cindy
Thank you for any help you can offer.
Cindy
My Dad is 70 years old. He has been experiencing pain for almost 3 years now and no doctor or medication has been able to help him. In the course of this time he has had an MRI, complete blood work, he has been seen by dermatologists, allergists a chiropractor, neurologist and psychiatrist. All of these doctors have found nothing wrong. They claim that he is aging and people get pain when they get old. My Dad has the following symptoms:
SYMPTOMS:
A tingling sensation under his skin, clothes hurt to the touch.
He claims that it feels like there are bubbles under his skin.
He is in pain and can hardly moves sometimes. The pain never
goes away.
Sometimes he has episodes where he shakes all over and we think
that the stress he is under is causing anxiety attacks.
The last three years have been very difficult not only for my Dad but for my Mom, my husband and myself. My father is a very calm, loving and easy going guy. My parents are still very much in love with each other and do not have any problems.
MEDICATIONS:
We have tried Neurontin and it has made him sick.
They even put him on Zoloft and that made him sick too.
Please be advised that the Neurologist my father saw recommended him to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist did not find any signs of issues or anything mentally wrong. They gave him Zoloft to control any anxiety attacks.
I need help for my Dad. His general practitioner is out of answers and I am not giving up. Any help offered is deeply appreciated.
SYMPTOMS:
A tingling sensation under his skin, clothes hurt to the touch.
He claims that it feels like there are bubbles under his skin.
He is in pain and can hardly moves sometimes. The pain never
goes away.
Sometimes he has episodes where he shakes all over and we think
that the stress he is under is causing anxiety attacks.
The last three years have been very difficult not only for my Dad but for my Mom, my husband and myself. My father is a very calm, loving and easy going guy. My parents are still very much in love with each other and do not have any problems.
MEDICATIONS:
We have tried Neurontin and it has made him sick.
They even put him on Zoloft and that made him sick too.
Please be advised that the Neurologist my father saw recommended him to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist did not find any signs of issues or anything mentally wrong. They gave him Zoloft to control any anxiety attacks.
I need help for my Dad. His general practitioner is out of answers and I am not giving up. Any help offered is deeply appreciated.
I am a 35 year old female. After the birth of my 4th child (10/99), I started having pain, swelling and stiffness in my spine. I also have burning, tingling and some numbness in my left shoulder (shoulder blade area), as well as in my left breast. I have also experienced pain in my umbilicus area due to a small hernia. Also constipation and cramping I'm assuming as a result of that. I have been checked for lupus and arthritis, as well as hypothyrodism. The only test that has come back questionable is my blood sugar. It was very low (71) in the late afternoon. (no fasting). The only trauma I can think of was during my labor, my epidural was extremely painful. The pain was not upon injection, but in another area. It was as if a nerve approximately 3 or 4 inches higher (left side of my spine) was being severed. I should have had the anest. stop, but was delivering a 10lb baby and after weighing the situation, the epidural pain seemed mild to delivering this child with no medication! Of course, I didn't know I would have such difficulties afterwards. Could this pain be a breast tumor? or just nerve damage. I've also read about epidural abcesses??? I am breast feeding and wondering if that could cause some of the heaviness and pain affecting the nerves. Wouldn't if affect both sides of my back? I had a 6 week post-partum exam with no complications. Sorry to ramble - THANKS for any help.
It would be interesting to see what this says:
TITLE:
A CASE OF GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME WITH WIDESPREAD FASCICULATIONS.
AUTHORS:
GILBERT GJ
SOURCE:
DIS NERV SYST 1965 APR;26:233-5
NLM CIT. ID:
65085745
LANGUAGES:
ENG
KEYWORDS:
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
DIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIAL
MUSCLE CONTRACTION
PHYSICAL THERAPY
POLYRADICULITIS
REST
TITLE:
A CASE OF GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME WITH WIDESPREAD FASCICULATIONS.
AUTHORS:
GILBERT GJ
SOURCE:
DIS NERV SYST 1965 APR;26:233-5
NLM CIT. ID:
65085745
LANGUAGES:
ENG
KEYWORDS:
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
DIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIAL
MUSCLE CONTRACTION
PHYSICAL THERAPY
POLYRADICULITIS
REST
Dear Cindy:
No, fasciculations would not cause ringing in the ears.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
No, fasciculations would not cause ringing in the ears.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Hi Cindy. I don't know if we've ever talked or not. Wow are our stories also similar. My symptoms are a lot like yours and began when I was under incredible stress with my three children 5 and under. I also felt "viral" preceeding my neuromuscular "outbreak." I had other symptoms you have not had such as visual disturbances and mouth sores. Four years later they are 80% better. The neuromuscular symptoms are slow to catch up to that level of improvement. I also twitch, burn and experience parasthesias. My cramps are mostly gone. I have heard many other twitchers speak of the tinnitus and I think it is nerve-damage myself. A lot of people say it hypes up when the twitching does. E-mail me if you want to chat confidentially. ***@****
Dear Dr:
Thank you for your prompt response. I'm wondering if you thing the ringing in the ears is related(viral) to this issue and do you think it will also resolve on it's own because at this point that is my main problem. My ears have been rining for two weeks.
Could the facial fasciculations have any relationt to the tinnitus, ie: any muscles or ligaments in the ear twitching?
Thank you
Thank you for your prompt response. I'm wondering if you thing the ringing in the ears is related(viral) to this issue and do you think it will also resolve on it's own because at this point that is my main problem. My ears have been rining for two weeks.
Could the facial fasciculations have any relationt to the tinnitus, ie: any muscles or ligaments in the ear twitching?
Thank you
I believe your name was Nancy? I have been experencing
the same symptoms that your are. I started this whole process
with my PCP he then refered me to Back doctor. I had a back
problem that pestered me for a couple of years, I was relating the numbness and tingling in my hands and feet to this. I was then referred to a neurologist. The bone doctor said I could possible have LGS or MS. This was obvisouly a blow to what I had planned for my families future. I, at the time this all started, was working 60 hours a week. The fatigue level and numbness was not going away at all in fact the more hours I worked the worse everything got. I changed jobs against my wishes, but if I had not I would have ended up hurt really bad. I work on air conditioning equipment on commerical buildings so when you are multiple stories up, disey and numb feet are not a good combination. I have been to several neurologist and about 70 or so blood test later everything has come back normal. This all started Mach of 99. I currently can not get going at all. If I work a long day 10 hours or so it will take me 2 days to recover from that. I am taking neurontin 300mg 2 times a day and without this I would be out of work and in big trouble. I went through a spell of extreme nosghia and dissyness the neurontin has kept this under control very well. If I stand on my feet for more than 10 minutes at a time it feels like pins are sticking in my feet. I am or just did turn 30 years old and was very healthy and stout. This has 100 percent change alot of things. Reading your comments has helped me alittle because maybe I am bringing this on myself. Good luck to you and Email me if someone comes up with solutions to these problems. ***@****
the same symptoms that your are. I started this whole process
with my PCP he then refered me to Back doctor. I had a back
problem that pestered me for a couple of years, I was relating the numbness and tingling in my hands and feet to this. I was then referred to a neurologist. The bone doctor said I could possible have LGS or MS. This was obvisouly a blow to what I had planned for my families future. I, at the time this all started, was working 60 hours a week. The fatigue level and numbness was not going away at all in fact the more hours I worked the worse everything got. I changed jobs against my wishes, but if I had not I would have ended up hurt really bad. I work on air conditioning equipment on commerical buildings so when you are multiple stories up, disey and numb feet are not a good combination. I have been to several neurologist and about 70 or so blood test later everything has come back normal. This all started Mach of 99. I currently can not get going at all. If I work a long day 10 hours or so it will take me 2 days to recover from that. I am taking neurontin 300mg 2 times a day and without this I would be out of work and in big trouble. I went through a spell of extreme nosghia and dissyness the neurontin has kept this under control very well. If I stand on my feet for more than 10 minutes at a time it feels like pins are sticking in my feet. I am or just did turn 30 years old and was very healthy and stout. This has 100 percent change alot of things. Reading your comments has helped me alittle because maybe I am bringing this on myself. Good luck to you and Email me if someone comes up with solutions to these problems. ***@****
Dear Cindy:
Congradulations on the baby, I hope he/she is doing fine. What your describing can be a completely benign condition. The normal lab work, the normal MRI, the normal neurological exam would indicate that what you have is benign. The viral illness before this all started, with you likely being really tired and fatigued from the new baby would also fit with a benign condition. I would agree with your neurologist and what your experiencing should go away on its own. You are likely experiencing a post-viral effect. It may take some time for all the symptoms to resolve, try and be patient. Those who have benign fasciculations can attest that the battle is psychological. These things can drive you nuts, as can the ringing in the ears.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Congradulations on the baby, I hope he/she is doing fine. What your describing can be a completely benign condition. The normal lab work, the normal MRI, the normal neurological exam would indicate that what you have is benign. The viral illness before this all started, with you likely being really tired and fatigued from the new baby would also fit with a benign condition. I would agree with your neurologist and what your experiencing should go away on its own. You are likely experiencing a post-viral effect. It may take some time for all the symptoms to resolve, try and be patient. Those who have benign fasciculations can attest that the battle is psychological. These things can drive you nuts, as can the ringing in the ears.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
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