MS?

[chilidog77]

In 6/2002  I got this weird sensation in my right cheek. The sensation was tingly kind of like a hair was tickling my face.  I also had a sensation of cold on my left arm.  I went to see a neurologists at Mass General. After an extensive neuro exam that she said was perfect and would send me for an MRI only to calm my nerves. So went for the brain MRI with dye and that came out normal.
She said some people have weird sensations.  Over the next three years the sensation would reappear but I would think of what my doctor said and try not to think about it.  In 6/2005 I went back to her for the same reason.  She did another exam and said I got an A+ it was perfect. But she would send me for an MRI if it would help me start eating again.  I had another brain MRI with dye and a spine MRI both were normal.  She felt it is anxiety. I am a highly anxious person from a highly anxious family.  I did go to the dentist in 2003(I had not been in a while) and I had a tooth abcess in my right upper front molar. My dentist thought it could be causing funny sensations.  But after 5 years and a root canal I still have it on and off.  It is not constant and if I am busy I don't even notice it.  If I concentrate on it it gets worse but still mild.  I have not really had the arm sensations come with it until last week.  I have no other symptoms. I take hot showers and live in a very hot city. No fatigue or numbness.  It seems to last sometimes as a few days to a month.  My neuro said she would have seen some change in my exam or tests over three years.  She said I was perfect.  Do I ignore it and get on with my life?

[Ollie4]

I have had fatigue for about 2 years along with patches of numbness in my legs . During the last year my fingers get tingly when I take a deep breath - only unconsciously - if I try to make it happen the tingle sensation does not occur . Now I am experiencing numbness patches in my arms - pinched nerve or something else????

[Sherrizim]

Hi chilidog,

I want to comment about the possible connection between your dental work and tingly sensation in your cheek.  Quite a while back (when I was 17 and 18, I'm 40 now), I had 2 jaw surgeries for malocclusion.  Ever since, on occasion, I experience some numbness or a tingly, feather tickling sensation on my chin.  I suppose the difference between your sensation and mine is that my doctor warned me, before I had the surgery, that it was a possibility.  Thus I don't worry about it when it happens.  I don't know why it comes and goes, but I just relate it to nerve damage or something related to the surgery.

I know how frustrating it is to have a symptom and no explanation for it.  I've had a headache for about 8 weeks now and it isn't quite clear why.  You can take some reassurance in the fact that you've had normal test results and your condition hasn't worsened over time.

Do you trust your doctor?  Have confidence in her competence?  If so, then why not believe her?  It sounds like she has not been dismissing of your concerns at all, but rather, has conducted tests so that you might be reassured by the normal results.

I wish you the best in overcoming your paralyzing anxiety.  If you find it difficult to overcome on your own, you might find it helpful to talk to a therapist about it.  I'm a psychologist, and I also see a psychologist for my own issues.  Truly, it helps!

S~

[Quixotic1]

I was not trying to belittle you or your symptoms.  I was trying to put them into a context of whether they need to dominate your life.  It's called reassurance.  I still maintain that not every weird sensation we have needs or will get an ultimate explanation.  Health hypervigilance does destroy lives and makes everyone around miserable.   If your symptoms were progressing over these five years it would be entirely a different matter.

I read your post several times and thought about it carefully.  I was not dismissing you nor trying to be "cute."  That's not my style.  If you don't want to hear a full range of opinions don't ask questions on a public forum.

If you sensations "paralyze" you, then give them all the attention you wish.  I'm sorry you're suffering.

Quix

[chilidog77]

How cute are you?
Yes, I know my symptoms are minor..but weird.  My doctor says I am hyper-vigilant.  Whatever!  Thank you for your wisdom.  I really do appreciate it.  But when my symptoms do pop up, it is at times...paralyzing.  Cold arm..weird face..
Why is this happening to me?  Everyone wants to have a reason for what they are feeling.  I am going to live my life and try to put this at the back of my mind.
Thank you for taking the time to answer.

[Quixotic1]

My response is a little different, but, in the end, it REALLY does depend on your anxiety and how you handle it.

You've had a tiny sensation that, by your own description you have to concentrate on to make it really noticable.  People live with things like this for their whole lives without dwelling on them.  You clearly know many of the other signs of MS and don't have them (eg. fatigue, heat intolerance, numbness).  It has been 5 years.  I can't imagine that repeated MRI's or a spinal tap would be justified by having a tiny area of paresthesia.  I do not think that even if the MRI showed a lesion or two they would treat you based on that (though I am not a neurologist).

I would recommend getting on with your life.  If you have a degenerative process it will tell you at some point and it will be much more than a tingling on the cheek.  If someone presents to a neurologist with minor symptoms suggestive of MS and the first MRI is clear, usually another is scheduled for 3 to 6 months.  Then, possibly one year later.  If there are no further symptoms the plan is wait and see.  You had exams separated by 3 years.  I would take that and try to relax.

Anxiety magnifies all of our sensations and our worries.  I do think you would be happier if you could get some help with that.  The people over on the anxiety forum here on MedHelp are wonderful with this kind of thing.  You might want to bounce it off them.  Good luck, quix

[Idab]

Even if you tried, you wouldn't be able to ignore it, without proper medical confirmation that you are going to be ok.  It is what we are all waiting for.  I had my first appointment with a Neurologist a month ago and was amazed actually at how 'out' I felt in the waiting rooms.  Everyone around me was either in a wheel chair or showed clear signs of nerve degeneration (shaking noticeably) and I was sitting there with these gnawing pains in my legs and swallowing difficulties that were/are definitely not noticeable to the eye, but have been around for a long time and are now hindering my progress in life.  Unfortunately this leaves me with the horrid thought that perhaps I need to get to that stage before a diagnosis can be made.  Just this waiting, I think, causes nerve damage, but then maybe it is the Neurologists way of speeding up the process?

I would suggest you continue to monitor your symptoms, easier said than done I know, and if they start to worsen, perhaps change your Neurologist, considering she keeps coming up with the same results, with no obvious relief to your on-going symptoms.  Also read through some of the posts here, if you haven’t already done so.   There are some interesting articles on the causes of anxiety.

Please keep us posted as to how you progress.
Take care