Should I be concerned?

[calicathy]

Hi, I have some concerns and am hoping I can get some guidance and or answers here. I have had some strange symptoms and every time I google them, MS comes up. Its come to the point where Im not sure I am just so worried that I am paying attention to every little thing and maybe these are just normal things that happen or not? Sorry if this goes long. First I am a 41 yr old mom of 5, pretty heathly, no major health issues. about 2 mths ago I was sitting on the couch had a strange feeling in my left arm and when I lifted it, it was shaking. A pretty major tremor, I guess you'd call it. My right arm was fine. I thought it was pretty weird, showed my husband and older son and asked if that ever happened to them, they said no. Looked up tremor online, got things like MS, ALS so i shut it down and told myself i was being silly and to forget about it. It lasted about an hour, than over. A few days later I noticed a twitch in my right hand and a tingling feeling in both hands,like on top of my thumbs and wrists and going back over the forearms. Also had a tremor in my thigh one night at dinner. Started paying closer attention ( ok, getting a little freaked out) Also had pain in the arch of my left foot, especially at night, which I have had for quite a while and didnt think anything about it untill now. Started getting what I call "jumpy" muscles all over. Just random jumps or twitches ALL the time, on my hands thigh, leg, face , lips which was weird. Started keeping a journal of my symptoms. Than on Sept 10th I got a "jump " on the front of my left shoulder. A big one that was pretty constant. My husband could see it twitching from across the room. It never hurt while it was twitching, just very annoying. It lasted until the 23rd, for 13 days. When it finally stopped it was extremely sore. I hurt to move it at all, driving and turning the steering wheel was very painful. It still hurts now although not as bad, over a month later. The tingling and pins and needles on my forearms had become pretty constant. Would also get the tingling on my outer calves and thighs. Also the pain in my foot every night and a hot feeling on the bottom of my foot and on the palm of my left hand would come and go. That made me remember about a year ago waking up feeling like a curling iron was touching the bottom of that foot. It was so strange I remember searching on the internet at the time, but found nothing so forgot about it until now. One day I got a shooting pain in the back of my head, just real quick and then a tight feeling around that spot, hard to describe without sounding crazy. While driving on Oct. 8th I suddenly felt this buzzy vibrating on the tip of my nose which radiated over my face and blurred my vision for a second. I got scarred and pulled over. The next day I videoed a twitch happening on my hand with my phone. I feel like I need proof that Im really experiencing this. So during this time I was also very tired, but I had alot going on, planning a birthday party so that could explain it but then one day I woke up with more energy than Id had in a while and i noticed the tingling had gone and the twitches where not as often. I was so relived. But yesterday there was more tingling on my arms and my leg woke me up in the middle of the night with a major twitch, I think its called muscle faciilations? Ok, thats it. Am I crazy, paranoid or should I really be concerned and go see a Doctor? I have gone to the Dr. on and off over the last few years with fatigue, concerned about my thyroid because my mom has hypo thyroid-ism, but my blood test always came back fine. I have always had perfect vision but 2 yrs ago I suddenly couldn't see up close anymore. The eye dr. just says that's normal with age, and Im guessing with MS they can tell if its something different going on? Do you see how Im getting paranoid and now attributing every thing going on with me to this. Ugg, sorry. So if any of you have time to give your opinion I would appreciate it. Thanks so much for listening. Cathy

[maxthecat9196]

I agree.  Get in to see a neurologist.  Perhaps an opthalmalogist as well.  It definitely sounds neurological.  Your primary care doctor might be able to order some of the tests you need- be an advocate for yourself.  That is one lesson I wish I could have learned more quickly.

Good Luck, and keep us posted.
Tammy

[MsmsinFl]

Make sure you get these 2 tests:

Thyroid,  (TSH, free T3 & T4)  and
B12

Problems with them can cause symptoms similar to yours.

[ohpenny]

Hi,

I am due to see a neurologist for the first time on Monday 31st. I suffer similair to yourself, however I also have severe balance issues also, I fall if the room is dark or shut my eyes, I cannot walk in a straight line I fall over. I am currently being treated for minieres disease (inner ear disorder) but my gp thinks my other symptoms are not related to  minieres so therefore I am going to see the neuro. I have many of the symptoms you describe and I too think am I imagining this, could I be making them happen because I am thinking about it, etc. I am worried they will say it's all stress related, I am not stressed. I also suffer some terrible head pains like a searing pain sometimes seconds sometimes it lasts a while, but quite severe at times. I also suffer occasionally with speech problems, stuttering sounding drunk and really having to think about my words and sentences.

I had a jumpy muscle to the lower right of my body, it lasted 3 weeks, I also had a jumpy muscle in my thumb which lasted a month. My left arm at the moment is causing me a lot of trouble, aching, tingling causing partial numbness to the side of my hand and fingers. Do you find your arm feeling weak and tired? mine has started with this over the past couple of weeks, as though I have been using it for weight lifting or something when I am only doing normal things, like typing this makes it ache and I am resting it on my leg.

The list of symptoms is endless, but hopefully if we keep persisting we will get answers. It sounds like you are just like me and starting on what could be a long journey.

Keep in touch and all the best

[kwarendorf]

I agree. If nothing else, the stress you are experiencing by not learning about what's going on will undo you. Find a neuro and start the dialog :-)

[jensequitur]

Your symptoms definitely sound neurological, but at this point it's hard to say what they are - there are so many causes of those kind of symptoms.

I would definitely talk to your doctor about getting referred to a neurologist.  They'll be able to give you an examination and pinpoint any problems, and schedule you for testing.