Where do I start? In the past two months, I have had an explosion of fasciculations all over, though especially in my eyelids, lower lip, legs and even around my shoulder blades. They don't hurt. I have always been a trifle spastic, though I started getting these eye ones, and more intensely, after an alcohol-fueled bender last year. I know, I know. (I scarcely drink now, due to bad experiences with alcohol, such as two instances of light-moderate withdrawal last year. I have been under stress due to marital separation.)
About three weeks ago, in conjunction with an emerging cold, I noticed a burning sensation in the back of my hand, and on the inside of my elbow, roughly, culminating in index finger nerve pain and stiffness. I also felt a strange sensation in my upper left thigh, which, if pressed or pushed, could radiate a little zap into my big toe. However, I had no trouble walking. The hand sensation only lasted for a couple of hours. I have remained with an on and off 'awareness' of my left thigh since, though there seems to be no weakness or difficulty walking, even very long distances.
A number of days later, in addition to fasciculatinons, I felt strange aches here and there, as if my muscles were being flexed, though they weren't...it was more of a sensation, a sort of nervous hyperexcitability, than any movement that I could detect with certainty. This lasted for about two days, on and off. Its main effect, like so much of this, has been to freak me out.
As well, over this same last number of weeks, my hands/arms have been falling asleep at night. This has happened before, on and off, as well. Sometimes it's one arm, sometimes both; sometimes the whole arm, sometimes half; sometimes the whole hand, sometimes just the pinky fingers, etc. I have had finger and toe tingles as well, sometimes after coming in from the cold; one or two toes or fingers will just remain tingly for some time afterward, such as a day. Sometimes, such as today, there is an after-sensation, like a slight burn from last night's nighttime bout of paresthesia.
It should be noted that I usually am in fairly good shape, sometimes very good shape. However, about four and a half years ago, at the age of 28, I had a bout of shingles. They were horrible. When they were coming in I felt prickly heat/sunburn sensations migrating all over the right side of my body, save for my head; then, godawful back cramps. Then, the rash itself developed on my right abdomen, hip and buttock. I did not have post-herpetic neuralgia. This has been the only major medical situation I have had in the last number of years. On occasion, especially when run down, I have felt that same prickly burn here or there, never seriously; a recent instance was when I felt it on my hand as mentioned earlier in this post.
I have worried myself sick over this, and will be visiting a doctor soon. My gut feeling is that it is benign, but what if it is serious? I have variously considered benign/cramp fasciculation syndrome (I think this is part of it, anyway), peripheral nervous hyperexcitability/neuropathy/radiculopathy, pressure palsies, and God forbid, MS. In the months before I got shingles, I got recurrent pimply looking rashes under my eyes, which seemed to be affected by tiredness or being sick. The doctor said it was seborrheic dermatitis and gave me coritcosteroid cream...which I overused, and which I wonder if contributed to the shingles (other than my idiotic lifestyle at the time.) I have been anxious/angry lately over being separated, and before much of this recent bout began, though after the fasciculations, I had an attack of anger/hypersensitivity, and I wonder if this ushered in much of whatever this is/these are.
I hope this makes sense. Any advice or insight is appreciated. Thank you--
This discussion is related to
Tremor, Fasciculations, and Tingling.