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what does optic neuritis feel like?
im waiting on EMG and neuro appointments. i just developed a small dull pin behind my left eye when I move it sometimes. Not every eye movement triggers pain if that makes sense. Itll happen when i look in different directions. I went to the eye doctor but she didnt do a full exam. She didnt see anything and i’m going back soon for a full exam. what could this be
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To be honest i'm somewhat concerned, you are now asking about ON after only last week being anxiously concerned about you having Nystagmus, please understand that continuing to seek MS related symptom information is likely causing your mental health more harm than good......
Optic Neuritis (ON) is inflammation of the optic nerve, it is most commonly unilateral and causes blurred, grey and dim vision, symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the 3 main symptoms suggestive-consistent with ON being pain with eye movement, loss of visual acuity 'and or' visual field, and loss of perception of the colour red.
People typically describe experiencing a sudden or gradual decrease in vision in the effected eye over a few days, descriptions like significantly blurred vision, like looking through a smudge of Vaseline, large area grey - black, complete blindness in the effected eye. Vision loss lasts on average 7-10 days and then gradually begins to improve between 1-3 months. Permanent damage to the optic nerve occurs in about 85 per cent of cases, but damage to the optic nerve does not always cause serious permanent visual problems, ON is also typically short-lived and resolves by itself without treatment in around four to 12 weeks.
Pain with eye movement, descriptions varies greatly, pain in or around the eye, dull pain like pushing on a bruise, throbbing, pressure, intense like an ice pick through the eyeball, pain typically resolves over a few days even though vision is still effected. Loss of colour brightness in the effected eye, reds predominantly wash out but then there are also greens too.
It's pretty common to additionally experience Uhthoff's phenomenon, which is caused by an increase in core temperature temporarily worsening vision and other MS issues, so things like hot weather, baths, sauna's, menstruation, infections etc etc ON is not exclusive to MS it is also associated with autoimmune conditions and bacterial or viral infections.
You ask what this could be, what it could be is more likely nothing meaningful towards the health of your optic nerve because what your describing is very vague, your basically saying this is a small discomfort that hasn't effected your vision at all and is inconsistently happening.....that type of description literally could be nothing or if any, something along the lines of eye strain, stress, lack of sleep, dry eye, ocular muscle strain etc etc
Breath...........JJ
Optic Neuritis (ON) is inflammation of the optic nerve, it is most commonly unilateral and causes blurred, grey and dim vision, symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the 3 main symptoms suggestive-consistent with ON being pain with eye movement, loss of visual acuity 'and or' visual field, and loss of perception of the colour red.
People typically describe experiencing a sudden or gradual decrease in vision in the effected eye over a few days, descriptions like significantly blurred vision, like looking through a smudge of Vaseline, large area grey - black, complete blindness in the effected eye. Vision loss lasts on average 7-10 days and then gradually begins to improve between 1-3 months. Permanent damage to the optic nerve occurs in about 85 per cent of cases, but damage to the optic nerve does not always cause serious permanent visual problems, ON is also typically short-lived and resolves by itself without treatment in around four to 12 weeks.
Pain with eye movement, descriptions varies greatly, pain in or around the eye, dull pain like pushing on a bruise, throbbing, pressure, intense like an ice pick through the eyeball, pain typically resolves over a few days even though vision is still effected. Loss of colour brightness in the effected eye, reds predominantly wash out but then there are also greens too.
It's pretty common to additionally experience Uhthoff's phenomenon, which is caused by an increase in core temperature temporarily worsening vision and other MS issues, so things like hot weather, baths, sauna's, menstruation, infections etc etc ON is not exclusive to MS it is also associated with autoimmune conditions and bacterial or viral infections.
You ask what this could be, what it could be is more likely nothing meaningful towards the health of your optic nerve because what your describing is very vague, your basically saying this is a small discomfort that hasn't effected your vision at all and is inconsistently happening.....that type of description literally could be nothing or if any, something along the lines of eye strain, stress, lack of sleep, dry eye, ocular muscle strain etc etc
Breath...........JJ
2 Comments
My symptoms have been driving me mad lately, its been so hard for me not to try and figure this out. :( The pain comes and goes throughout the day, and its not consistant with every eye movement. I’ll feel a dull ache behind my left eye for a few minutes with every other movement or certain movements then it subsides and may come back. I did notice one eye sees color dimmer, but i sleep on the side of my face so i always thought it was from the different light exposure to each eye if one is covered.
thank you for taking the time to answer my posts, i have days where i feel fine and have the strength to ignore my anxieties but other days if i feel my foot tingle muscle twitches ect now eye pain i immediatly start wondering whats going on again.
thank you for taking the time to answer my posts, i have days where i feel fine and have the strength to ignore my anxieties but other days if i feel my foot tingle muscle twitches ect now eye pain i immediatly start wondering whats going on again.
Keep in mind after all these months you are likely now in a chronic state of anxiety, with not enough time between triggers to stop your self from the impulse to do all your anxiety feeding behaviours, so your yoyoing back and forth....
"Anxiety activates the autonomic nervous system – the flight or fight response – which can express itself through a number of different physiological (and generally unpleasant) bodily symptoms including panic attacks, fast pulse, palpitations, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain/tightness, sweating, choking, headaches, insomnia, irritability, uncontrollable muscle tension/twitches, trembling, feeling faint/unreal, tingling in hands/arms/legs, tightness in throat, dry mouth, problems with speech, fear of dying, going mad and losing control. Research tells us that most people have suffered some form of panic attack and experienced symptoms similar to the above at some time in their life.
The flight or flight response is based on adrenalin, the hormone of fear. Adrenalin works by prioritising the blood supply, making sure that oxygenated blood is available in the arms and legs for a quick getaway and through the brain to help us make split second decisions. The blood supply is taken from areas of the body where it is not needed in times of danger, such as the stomach and sexual organs, because if one is in a life-threatening situation, they are not going to stop and eat a meal or have sex. This is usually the reason why when someone is continually stressed, he or she may feel sick, is unable to eat and may go off sex.
The body can act inappropriately to the strains and toils of everyday living and adrenalin production may be unnecessarily initiated in response to a minor stressor. A chain reaction is then set in motion – one starts to sweat, feel sick and suffer palpitations and the whole stress response takes over, resulting in anxiety. One can then start worrying about the way they are feeling and this then exaggerates their anxiety and a chain reaction begins. From this, secondary fears can also develop – fear of bodily sensations caused by anxiety – commonly referred to as fear of fear. The unpleasant bodily sensations of anxiety and panic can then be feared as much as, or even greater than, the situation or event that triggered the anxiety response."
http://anxietycare.org.uk/the-biological-effects-and-consequences-of-anxiety/
You know what's going on but your fear of having a serious disease makes it harder to focus on the medical condition you know you are battling ie health related anxiety!
It is time to get serious about your mental health and brake this cycle, the cycle of anxiety will continue coming and going throughout your life if you don't do the work needed to understand your anxiety and learn what helps you shut it down before it takes hold!
Choose to change your tomorrows...........JJ
"Anxiety activates the autonomic nervous system – the flight or fight response – which can express itself through a number of different physiological (and generally unpleasant) bodily symptoms including panic attacks, fast pulse, palpitations, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain/tightness, sweating, choking, headaches, insomnia, irritability, uncontrollable muscle tension/twitches, trembling, feeling faint/unreal, tingling in hands/arms/legs, tightness in throat, dry mouth, problems with speech, fear of dying, going mad and losing control. Research tells us that most people have suffered some form of panic attack and experienced symptoms similar to the above at some time in their life.
The flight or flight response is based on adrenalin, the hormone of fear. Adrenalin works by prioritising the blood supply, making sure that oxygenated blood is available in the arms and legs for a quick getaway and through the brain to help us make split second decisions. The blood supply is taken from areas of the body where it is not needed in times of danger, such as the stomach and sexual organs, because if one is in a life-threatening situation, they are not going to stop and eat a meal or have sex. This is usually the reason why when someone is continually stressed, he or she may feel sick, is unable to eat and may go off sex.
The body can act inappropriately to the strains and toils of everyday living and adrenalin production may be unnecessarily initiated in response to a minor stressor. A chain reaction is then set in motion – one starts to sweat, feel sick and suffer palpitations and the whole stress response takes over, resulting in anxiety. One can then start worrying about the way they are feeling and this then exaggerates their anxiety and a chain reaction begins. From this, secondary fears can also develop – fear of bodily sensations caused by anxiety – commonly referred to as fear of fear. The unpleasant bodily sensations of anxiety and panic can then be feared as much as, or even greater than, the situation or event that triggered the anxiety response."
http://anxietycare.org.uk/the-biological-effects-and-consequences-of-anxiety/
You know what's going on but your fear of having a serious disease makes it harder to focus on the medical condition you know you are battling ie health related anxiety!
It is time to get serious about your mental health and brake this cycle, the cycle of anxiety will continue coming and going throughout your life if you don't do the work needed to understand your anxiety and learn what helps you shut it down before it takes hold!
Choose to change your tomorrows...........JJ
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