Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Lost and a bit scared. Any help appreciated!

Sorry this is lengthy.
I've tried my best to organize it in an easy to read manner.

Time line (starting at most recent event, then going back) All right leg/side

Started with severe "sciatic" pain
(Felt in butt, hip, thigh, knee, calf)

Pain persisted (when it normally subsides within a day or so)

7 days later as I was walking right toes (small toe, and next 2) became extremely tingly and "buzzy" feeling. So much that it made me stop and remove my sock as I thought maybe that was causing it (wearing slide on sandal with socks)
The tingly feeling continued until it just became "numb" feeling.

This numbness later (later as in I am certain when it actually happened) moved up the side / bottom side of my foot.

Coldness toes and numb area became extremely cold (this was first noticed when I was outside on a pretty warm day, opposite foot/toes were hot)

Sciatic pain has persisted throughout.
Calf pain (sharp stabbing pains) have become more dominant and persistent.

Leg weakness
Foot is feeling "droopy" and drags at times

Numbness has now moved up into my calf
(This was noticed when I shaved and the area just felt very different)

***Note: the numbness I feel in my toes and calf are actually very different feeling.
While I am almost constantly aware of the numb feeling in toes, the calf is not like that. Again I only realized it was numb while shaving.
I can compare the calf feeling to what it felt like while having an epidural during child birth.***

Pain has now also started in lower back. A deep painful ache that is localized.

Pain shoots down from calf (EXTREMELY painful) into ankle and foot. Ankle pain can be described as someone taking a hammer and smashing my ankle. Sharp shooting pains.
Calf pain at times feel very similar to the pain felt during a "Charlie horse"
Wearing a tight knee sleeve on this area seemed to help to a degree. Like it 'held' it together. (Difficult to explain)

Pain is also beginning to radiate down into tailbone (feels like the pain is literally 'flowing' into it)

Pain is now also radiating into pelvic bones. Again kind of a 'flowing' feeling. Very painful and uncomfortable. Can be sharp and stabbing.

Extreme back pain after standing for short periods.

Waking up in morning and using the rest room, 'bottom' area (area that is sitting on toilet) is extremely sore feeling. As if I was horse back riding the entire night.
Bottom bone is also painful to push on (bone felt right below butt)

Difficulty peeing. I know I have to go (because I just drank a ton) but the actual feeling is not there.
Having to push / strain to get anything out which sometimes doesn't even help.

Note: All while (which I only came to find out was a symptom while reading online) Slight bending of neck products shooting pain down spine but is really felt at base of spine.

Unable to bend much at all. Is not only painful but it also just feels like 'I'm not meant to bend like that'

Numbness also seems to have moved up (not all over but more spotty) to top of butt.
Like my calf numbness. Only notice while touching area.

Odd sensations throughout (butt, pelvis, thigh, calf, foot) Feelings of buzzing, muscles contracting, spasms, pins & needles.

One particular night while laying down (really hard to explain) it felt as if a muscle would contract in my upper thigh (almost butt area) then go to middle thigh, behind knee, and then calf. This would repeat itself.
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Numbness or lose of sensation seems to come and go in crotch. Seems like one minute it feel too sensitive and others there's a loss of sensation to some degree.

Through this entire time driving has also been difficult. The way I'm seated seems to hit all the trigger points for pain in my back and butt. Also pushing foot on pedal is difficult and painful. Feels like it's hard to control the small movement needed to press the pedal in a smooth and constant manner.

BACKSTORY - MVA accident in '10 broken neck. Fusion done.
Several months later a slew of different symptoms started. Muscle spasms, flashing on both eyes while in low light / dark
I can't recall every symptom but they led me back to my ortho surgeon who did my neck. He wanted to refer me to a neurologist and mentioned that it sounded like MS.

Neuro sent me for a brain and neck MRI.
Several days later a nurse from the neuro's office called me and informed me that I had Chiari Malformation and explained how each symptom was caused by it. It was lengthy and very informative conversation. She also had said the only fix would be brain surgery, which I wouldn't need just yet.
Here's the kicker...
I went in for my appt to discuss the findings with the neuro. He more or less walked in and said the MRI showed ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and I was all clear. You can imagine the look on my face. He quickly then accused me of being a hypochondriac because I had a "laundry list" of symptoms (whoops, thought writing them down was helpful)
He was the nastiest Doctor I have EVER had the pleasure of dealing with.
This experience was rather traumatizing and so I never followed through with anything. Also at the time he was the only neuro who took my crappy insurance.
Most symptoms eventually subsided except for the eye flashing which has been present ever since.

Fast forwarding to now..looking back at the past several months I can now see different symptoms. Several occasions I'd get severe lower back aches after just standing / walking for short periods. Tightness / pain around abdomen. Sciatic pain became more and more frequent (used to just come here and there every few months, never lasting)

After all this pain started (about 5 weeks ago I'd say now) I went to the ER. ER more or less said they couldn't help and I needed to go see a neurosurgeon or my ortho who did my neck.
I went back to the ortho and he immediately thought with all my symptoms I probably had at least 2 severely herniated discs. Went for my MRI and everything as far disc herniations go was normal. He said once again that I needed to go to a neurologist and it sounds like MS.

I'm sure I've missed some things (symptoms)
At the moment sadly the chances of getting seen by a neurologist is slim. I don't have a PCP however I am going to get one (seeing s PCP will be more affordable and I figure it's better than nothing)

Ah! See remembered some (memory seems to be an issue too)
Sense of balance definitely seems off.
When ever I lay down on my back in this one position (partially reclined) I get vertigo.

Also, which I didn't think much of oddly enough until I read something online, there were several nights a couple weeks ago while closing my eyes trying to go to sleep it felt like my eyes were darting back and forth super fast.  
While all pain has solely been in my right leg the past few days I've been feeling weird sensations "buzzing" in my left leg.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well this is rather frustrating..
I keep getting an "unexpected error" page every time I try to reply to your comment with the rest of my post or just comment. Is there some kind of post limit? May explain why it didn't post the entire thing.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi. You don't say when this started or how long it's been going on. If it's been a matter of days or a week or 2, this is not likely to be a matter of MS, since MS does not 'move' this fast. I'm assuming you're wondering about MS as you've posted in this forum. Have you tried the general neurology forum?

Have you seen your primary care doctor? That would be the place to start. You could have injured your spine in some way, you could have a herniated disc, there could be a lot of possible causes for the pain and discomfort you're experiencing. I'd think MS would be pretty far down the list, considering your many symptoms.

First, though, I suggest you see your primary doc if you haven't already. He or she should be able to guide you from there.
Helpful - 0
5 Comments
My apologies I thought I added such info.
Looking back it would seem as if things come in "attacks" symptoms start, run their course and go away for a matter of time and then return (though not always as the same symptoms)
The more recent symptoms have been going on for I'd say a couple of months. It's hard to say exactly when as I tend to brush things off and chalk them up to whatever.
No herniated discs as shown on MRI (I thought I added all of this lol)
And no PCP as of right now. As I said I'm looking into getting one but with my insurance being so crappy it's difficult.
Grrrr..looks like only half of my question was posted! I knew I wasn't crazy thinking I added all that info!
Is there a way to edit the original question?
GOODNESS! After much frustration I seem to have been able to post the rest of it! It's posted as a comment not a reply to this (I think)!
My apologies again! And thank you for your time :)
What you describe could be bad disks in your back and possibly your neck. I have two bad disks and that is what happens to me. I have one in my lower back and one in my neck.
Alex
The rest of my post didn't post in the original post. I posted the remainder below in the comments.
MRI showed no disc herniations.
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease