Aa
Dr Abhijeet-revised symptom history
Hi Dr. Abhijeet, I couldn't find my original post, so here it goes again.
On New Years Day, 2001, I became all of a sudden nauseated. I ended up at the ER the following day to be told it was a virus, no blood work done. I then visited the ER two other times because of this severe nausea. It was my PCP who ran just the basic bloodwork and I was told that my white blood count was a little elevated, and also my platelets. Mild fever. I then made an appt with my gyn thinking that this may be from an ovarian cyst, he said no, but did do all bunch more bloodwork than my PCP did. Including CMV, metabolic panel, TSH, H pyloria, and EBV. He called and told me that I had a reactivated EBV infection. I did not have nothing but nausea at this time. I also had upper GI series, colonoscopy, barium swallow, and hepatibiliary scan, everything normal.
This all lasted about 3 months, in was in April of 2001 when I noticed twitches in my upper arms and it seemed that my legs would fall asleep easily when sitting for a short time or while sleeping. Then the bug crawling sensations started. I had those feelings just on the left side of my face, but over the next few years it spread to different locations. I had a brain MRI done in May of 2001, normal.
I was put on AD medication and it seemed to help some, but not totally take the feelings away.
I fell one day in my yard, in a hole and hurt my tailbone, I went to a chiropractor and he adjusted me. Within 2 days later I started burning in my upper legs and my tailbone hurt to sit on it, I had to use a pillow on hard surfaces. I called his office and told them what was going on and he told me that he thought I had MS and to see a neuro. I totally freaked out.
I went to a neuro and they did another MRI in 2005, normal. I since then have had two more, one in May 2006 and one in April 2007. Normal, except for sinus issues. Had the complete spine done also to see if from the fall that I had maybe there was a problem with my spine that would cause the leg burning. The only thing found on the MRI of the spine was a bulging disk at C-3. I am a migraine sufferer so I thought maybe it was coming from this. I also have loss of curvature in my cervical region.
So now 7 years later, I get random twitches, not really lasting long, they happen a few times a day. And burning sensations that feel like carpet or razor burn, these happen everyday and only lasts about 10 seconds and go away, to later come back.
I have no numbness, weakness, bladder/bowel fine, heat makes me feel better, vision is fine.
My tests so far have been....
4 brain MRIs-normal
1 complete spine MRI-normal
Bloodwork includes...
CBC
EBV (now normal range)
CMV
ANA
RA factor
Lyme
Metabloc panel
3x sed rate
Spep/Ipep
antiphosphloid (sp?)
Tsh
Fsh
And I'm sure there are others
ALL NORMAL
I don't know where to turn next. Its been a really frustrating last 7 years. I do have what I would think could be irritable bowel syndrome, and migraines, but besides that, I don't know what happened since the time I was nauseated for 3 months. It all went down hill, and I don't know what to do.
Could you tell me what testing that you think I could benefit from?
Thank you kindly, Jennifer
On New Years Day, 2001, I became all of a sudden nauseated. I ended up at the ER the following day to be told it was a virus, no blood work done. I then visited the ER two other times because of this severe nausea. It was my PCP who ran just the basic bloodwork and I was told that my white blood count was a little elevated, and also my platelets. Mild fever. I then made an appt with my gyn thinking that this may be from an ovarian cyst, he said no, but did do all bunch more bloodwork than my PCP did. Including CMV, metabolic panel, TSH, H pyloria, and EBV. He called and told me that I had a reactivated EBV infection. I did not have nothing but nausea at this time. I also had upper GI series, colonoscopy, barium swallow, and hepatibiliary scan, everything normal.
This all lasted about 3 months, in was in April of 2001 when I noticed twitches in my upper arms and it seemed that my legs would fall asleep easily when sitting for a short time or while sleeping. Then the bug crawling sensations started. I had those feelings just on the left side of my face, but over the next few years it spread to different locations. I had a brain MRI done in May of 2001, normal.
I was put on AD medication and it seemed to help some, but not totally take the feelings away.
I fell one day in my yard, in a hole and hurt my tailbone, I went to a chiropractor and he adjusted me. Within 2 days later I started burning in my upper legs and my tailbone hurt to sit on it, I had to use a pillow on hard surfaces. I called his office and told them what was going on and he told me that he thought I had MS and to see a neuro. I totally freaked out.
I went to a neuro and they did another MRI in 2005, normal. I since then have had two more, one in May 2006 and one in April 2007. Normal, except for sinus issues. Had the complete spine done also to see if from the fall that I had maybe there was a problem with my spine that would cause the leg burning. The only thing found on the MRI of the spine was a bulging disk at C-3. I am a migraine sufferer so I thought maybe it was coming from this. I also have loss of curvature in my cervical region.
So now 7 years later, I get random twitches, not really lasting long, they happen a few times a day. And burning sensations that feel like carpet or razor burn, these happen everyday and only lasts about 10 seconds and go away, to later come back.
I have no numbness, weakness, bladder/bowel fine, heat makes me feel better, vision is fine.
My tests so far have been....
4 brain MRIs-normal
1 complete spine MRI-normal
Bloodwork includes...
CBC
EBV (now normal range)
CMV
ANA
RA factor
Lyme
Metabloc panel
3x sed rate
Spep/Ipep
antiphosphloid (sp?)
Tsh
Fsh
And I'm sure there are others
ALL NORMAL
I don't know where to turn next. Its been a really frustrating last 7 years. I do have what I would think could be irritable bowel syndrome, and migraines, but besides that, I don't know what happened since the time I was nauseated for 3 months. It all went down hill, and I don't know what to do.
Could you tell me what testing that you think I could benefit from?
Thank you kindly, Jennifer
Thank you again for your help. I never had my B-12 level tested. I don't think it would probably be useful now that I am taking the Metanx. Wouldn't that mess with the test results?
I am now trying to recover from the flu. Just can't seem to shake it. I hate being sick.
I was thinking the Cymbalta because I really don't want to gain weight with the others like Lyrica.
I understand that its hard to diagnose someone based on what they tell you, and not being able to examine them. I guess my real concerns are Lyme and especially MS.
I will be getting my new brain MRI done next month. Hopefully it will still be normal.
Anyway, thank you for your help. Its really nice of you. You have given me alot of info. Have a nice weekend.
Jen
I am now trying to recover from the flu. Just can't seem to shake it. I hate being sick.
I was thinking the Cymbalta because I really don't want to gain weight with the others like Lyrica.
I understand that its hard to diagnose someone based on what they tell you, and not being able to examine them. I guess my real concerns are Lyme and especially MS.
I will be getting my new brain MRI done next month. Hopefully it will still be normal.
Anyway, thank you for your help. Its really nice of you. You have given me alot of info. Have a nice weekend.
Jen
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi.
Hope you are fine today.
Have you done the vitamin B12 levels? Deficiency of vit B12 is known to show up on MRI of spine as some lesions, but there may be some cases where the lesions may not show up.
Lyme does cause neuropathy, but I do not get the feeling that this is Lyme. MS should be a distant and last resort!
Cymbalta is good. If it suits you, it can prove to be a good pain reliever. It is primarily an antidepressant.
I wish I could be more specific with your diagnosis. But it is really difficult to diagnose on a forum!
Regards
Hope you are fine today.
Have you done the vitamin B12 levels? Deficiency of vit B12 is known to show up on MRI of spine as some lesions, but there may be some cases where the lesions may not show up.
Lyme does cause neuropathy, but I do not get the feeling that this is Lyme. MS should be a distant and last resort!
Cymbalta is good. If it suits you, it can prove to be a good pain reliever. It is primarily an antidepressant.
I wish I could be more specific with your diagnosis. But it is really difficult to diagnose on a forum!
Regards
Thank you for getting back to me. I am just wondering how I got this. What kind of testing would be essential right now in regards to the vitamin deficiency? Should I worry about Lyme or MS? I heard that Lyme disease can cause neuropathies. What about Cymbalta, I have read that this is good for nerve pain and also depression?
Thank you again, and again!!
Jen
Thank you again, and again!!
Jen
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello.
I am sorry for the late reply.
There are some very obvious indicators which suggest that your symptoms of burning are due to either a small fiber neuropathy or neuropathy of vitamin deficiency. Since you find improvement with Metanx, please continue it. This may just be a symptomatic relief, but it still is better than nothing.
I do feel that the twitching that you get off and on may be related to your heightened anxiety and stress. I am sure you have some thoughts to share on this. Do you see yourself getting more twitches when you are anxious?
Regards
I am sorry for the late reply.
There are some very obvious indicators which suggest that your symptoms of burning are due to either a small fiber neuropathy or neuropathy of vitamin deficiency. Since you find improvement with Metanx, please continue it. This may just be a symptomatic relief, but it still is better than nothing.
I do feel that the twitching that you get off and on may be related to your heightened anxiety and stress. I am sure you have some thoughts to share on this. Do you see yourself getting more twitches when you are anxious?
Regards
Its me, started taking the Metanx again that the neuro gave me. Its been 3 days, I think the burning has settled down a little. Metanx, in case you don't know is a prescription B vitamin. I noticed last evening while I was sitting on the couch, my husband wanted me to rub his feet, he laid his legs across my lap, over top of my pelvis bones, and I started to get this cold burning feeling in the upper part of my legs, on the top and sides. As soon as I started feeling this, I had him move his legs and it went away. This also happens when I sit on a hard chair. Very weird. Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you
Thank you
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Allentown, PA
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
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
