French Canadian Genetic Degenerative Disorder? Help!!!

[cinivon]

I am a 30yo woman of 100% French Canadian ancestry. I have had increasingly worsening parasthesias in my hands, feet, arms and legs. It feels like electric shocks and needles stabbing the soles of my feet and my arms and hands. Occassionally the numbness and tingling effects parts of my torso neck or face.  A recent EMG shows no nerve damage. Though a sleep study shows a lot of limb movement at night, the numbness,pain  and tingling are not limited to my legs and is not relieved by movement. A neurologist suggested RLS, but since it is not limited to my legs, happens all day, even when I am moving, and is not helped by Mirapex, I disagree.My mother experiences similar symptoms at my age, an now has severe neuropathy in her arms and legs. She even had carpal tunnel surgery at one point about ten years ago and has been taking medication for restless legs for many many years with no benefits at all. I suffer from severe migraine, which is treated sucessfully by Topamax. Her father died young (53 or 54) of heart failure after years of burning, stabbing, tingling, and numbness in his arms and legs. I am tired all of the time. A prescription for Ritalin does not even keep me sufficiently alert to function. Sometimes i have "attacks" where my speech gets slurred and I get very confused, my vision blurs and my movement gets jerky- others say it resembles a stroke or a seizure. My neurologist has "thrown in the towel" and suggested accupuncture, which I cannot afford. There has got to be another option....
My sleep doctordid a blood test and said my iron storage is "off" and that my b-12 is borderline. She ordered some more tests. I also have an empty sella and have suffered from depression for many years. There has got to be an answer out there- I do not wnt to progress to permanent nerve damage and heart failure like my grandpa and suffer like my mom.

[tinajena]

I hope you get this message. We have ALOT in common. My mom has spinalcerebeller ataxia and I have same neuro problems as you, plus more and my neuro doctors have done everything to find out whats wrong with me. I would like to discuss this more with you. I just told my doctor today about the French Canadian family history.

[cinivon]

I do not exercise as much as i should, but i do indeed try to stay active. I eat a very balanced diet, plenty of veggies and whole grains and good proteins like soy, fish and chicken. I do breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, but cannot afford to see a practitioner for Reiki or Acupuncture. I did take a yoga class, and now do some at home with my daughter, but I stopped the class when the postures became to much for me- too painful and stressful- defeated the purpose. I just really want some relief any way I can get it. Thanks for your reply.
Cyn

[agirlywomanchildcreature]

do you excercise? and eat healthy, balanced, wholefood? have you ever seen a natural healer type ?  try to meditate to tap in to your intuitive knowledge source, yourself. and maybe try yoga
do your research, though. definitely no point in stopping!!