fibromyalgia numbness and tingling

[kwag]

Hi. Thank you for taking my question.  I am 38 yo female.  I have been very active all of my life.  I jogged (til 1999) 2-6miles a day (most everyday), and I attended exercise classes about 3 times a week.  I felt good.  In 1999, my health went down.  I have always (since I can remember) had muslce twitches.  In 99 I began to have very sore and knotted areas in my muscles.  I was told by an ortho that I probably had fibro.  I did no testing because I could still function in normal life but I had to stop jogging because of severe pain on my inner ankles (post-tibial tendonitis).  My right nevicular bone fractured and it feels better(not treated for the fx).  My left one is still very painful but not all the time.  I now have more S/S of fibro:  some fatigue, most every tener spot, IBS (dx as Chronn's in 2000), dry eyes, weird skin sensations and numbness and tingling in the bottom of my feet.  That brings me to now.  The numbness and weird tingling is trying to drive me crazy.  It came on my left foot, then leg and sometimes right foot.  Then it showed up on my left arm and the left side of my face 2 1/2 months ago. My GP ordered and MRI with and without:normal.  Did labs of CBC, CHEM 7, thyroid, lupus , not sure what else: all normal.  I saw a neuro last week.  Did exam:normal.  Says does not look like MS or other problem and to come back if worse or lose fx.  So, What can I do to relieve this numbness?  I do stretches(yoga) just about every morning and some pilates for strength.  I take whole food supplements, no caffiene, very little sugar. HELP....KARMEN

[graham]

Hi Karmen, just a quick point. I noticed in your reply on 15 Jan that you took your B-100 complex, it's just that if you are arranging for your b12 to be tested through your doctor it might be better to hang off any supplements untill the test is done. I hope your doc does not take too long to arrange this.

Dave, I'm glad you picked up on the info for Karmen, I think it well worthwhile getting your b12 checked.  I noticed that you have been on medication for your colitis.  I'm not aware of the drug you were on, I was on Pentasa for some time, as was Karmen. I have read a number of comments suggesting that certain drugs for inflamatory/ulcerative conditions can also hinder the absorption of vitamins and add to the problem. It could be another pointer that your problems may be malabsorption related.

Good luck to you both
Graham

[Quantum1]

Do go ahead with the Neurontin or Elavil if you get the opportunity. For some reason, suppressing neural activity for a while can allow your body to "reset" its response levels so that you can back off the drug and retain the lower level of pain/paresthesia.

Plasticity of the nervous system is the enemy when it is causing problems like pain syndromes, but it can also be your friend in managing them.

I have fibro and have benefited from Neurontin. (In fact, my story is remarkably like yours, Karmen-- I was an athlete, then was felled by severe pain, knotted muscles, tender points, etc. I have continued with stretching and light weight lifting, but it's a real change. The Neurontin really calms the nerve symptoms, and I have been able to reduce the dose over time). Hang in there.

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

There is no particular treatment for numbness. However, if there is a painful quality to the sensation then a trial of a neuropathic pain medication would be reasonable. Some of the more common drugs to try include Neurontin (gabapentin) and Elavil (amitryptiline). Good luck.

[Dave-in-Switzerland]

Karmen,

You posted a reply / comment to my own question a few days back - thanks. I just wanted to point out something that might be of use to you, since our problems aren't all that different frokm mine -  although I only mentioned it in passing in my post, I too have had digestive problems for probably 10 years or so.  I was dxed with limited, distal ulcerative colitis in 97. Been taking Asacol ever since, and luckily it's been more or less in remission since '99 or so.

So what Graham had to say about absorption problems may well be a factor in my illness - which as I said is kinda similar to yours. My GP picked up lowish iron back in May, before my current problems started, and lowish rbc MG levels which have not improved despite taking 300 mg daily for 3 months.

So I'm thinking I should make sure someone checks my B12, as G. recommended. And I think maybe you should too - for what it's worth from a non-MD!  I do know that Crohn's messes up absorption more than what I have (which is basically confined to the tail end of the colon). Best of luck to you - I really hope we're both back out there pounding the pavement (or in my case, the trails) by the time the weather warms up again.  dave

[kwag]

Dave, I was on Pentasa for the colon for about 3 months.  then I began to eat better, well, not just better but totally different.  That helped my GI tract tremendously.  I cut out all pop and as much sugar as I can.  My colon feels pretty good now and I am not on any Rx drugs at this time (thank God).  If I eat pizza or something else bad, I feel it so I just have to fight that temptation. I took a B-100 complex today as I have the past few days and I did yoga and pilates exercises and I prayed for relief and I had much relief from the numbness today.  It was so mild.  There has to be a reason that so many suffer from the same S/S.  Anyway, thanks for your comments.  God bless

[kwag]

to Graham, how are your symptoms now?  Is B-12 and folate all that you needed?  Did you have a poor diet?  Why were your levels so low?