Numbness, twitching, anxiety oh my...

[xoxoxoxo]

Hello everyone...I'd really appreciate any insight...I'm really struggling at the moment.  Ok...I had a baby 5 months ago.  It was an ordinary pregnancy and delivery, though I did get repeated epidural medications because they really weren't working very well...nonetheless, 18 hours later...my petite 9lb daughter arrived.  Fast forward about three or four months.  I started having some blurry vision, which I kind of had during the pregnancy...but figured it was time to see the eye dr.  I did, and the exam was fine...just need bifocals.  A couple of weeks later I started noticing muscle twitching and little bouts of nerve pain in my fingers and toes mostly.  It progressed to serious buzzing in my feet...and prickly sensations on the top of my hands.  Lots of palps and tachy, but that is not unusual.  It was pretty gradual so I didn't rush to any dr...but then it sort of hit.  I realized that I'm basically numb!  I can feel a pinch, but on the surface of my legs and forearms, it's pretty numb.  At first I couldn't figure out what was going on...I had some major panic attacks that made everything worse, but I'm still numb!  My skin does not feel right at all.  I've had an MRI of the spine...all clear.  Tested for Lyme Disease and a slew of other things including ana and markers I guess they'd look for in Lupus.  My Rheumitoid panal is not back yet, but no swollen joints.  The only thing my labs indicated was high normal calcium level.  I'm due to get a brain MRI next week.  I have also had muscles seizing up on me.  The neuro exam was perfect...head ct perfect...vitals perfect...Even had the nerve test where they poke needles with electrodes into your muscles...can't remember the name of the test.  That was perfect as well...I'm at the end of my rope.  I've sort of gotten used to the numbness but this is not normal!!  The muscle spasms are now infrequent and the twitches come and go...Does anyone have a clue??? I'm lost!  The neuro says he has high confidence that it is not MS...maybe some low level auto immune thing because of the pregnancy...

[Carol in PA]

xoxoxoxo:
I too had numbness in my feet, and an internal buzzing sensation.
Please look up symptoms for magnesium deficiency and B12 deficiency.

My symptoms were related to Lyme Disease.
The tests for Lyme are not accurate, and miss many people who have it.

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[xoxoxoxo]

Thank you, I will.  I know my glucose tolerence test went fine during the pregnancy...but will ask about rechecking it.   Also, my B12 was fine...thyroid was borderline...don't know about nerve compression...but will ask my doc.  If by chance you can reply...Wouldn't nerve compression be seen on MRI?  Thank you agian.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

It is important to rule out diabetes as a cause of numbness. Did you get a blood sugar test done?
Other possibilities can be B12 deficiency, underactive thyroid and nerve compression. Please discuss these possibilities with your doctor. Do keep us posted!

[xoxoxoxo]

Thank you for taking the time to respond.  I'm so sorry to hear that you have MS.  I know the fear/anxiety that it must cause having little ones in your life.  I know that people with ms go on to have realitively normal lives in spite of it...I know there are many variations and it sounds like you have probably become an expert by now!  One thing I've learned is that if I don't push and research...if I just left it to the doctors, I don't know what kind of testing I would have done...The ER doctor gave me the "anxiety" talk and basically came out and said that the numbness was just my "perception of numbness"...I don't think I'm that powerful to make my whole body go numb...AGGREVATING!  Today you are in my prayers...Thank goodness I serve an amazing God who cares about our struggles...who heals beyond reason and medicine and restores gererously what the enemy tries to take away.  

[hubba617]

you poor thing. i know of all that you said, and then some. it sounds like you have a pretty good and thourough medical team/neuro working with you so have hope and faith in them. if you have any questions or doubt......by ALL means have a second opinion! i actually reccommend it regardless! why is it that your neuro is confident that it is not MS?

i could write forever about the decade-plus of medical issues that i have had to deal/struggle with, many of which were passed off as "uh, we just dont have an explanation...sorry"

soooo it will be a year ago tomorrow, that i was diagnosed with MS. im married and have to little ones 6 and 3. please PLEASE dont take my saying that to scare you or to steer you in that direction. i just can sympathize with you emensely.

please continue to get to the bottom of what is going on with you and please see at least one other neuro. please also know that you can contact me if you would like. let me know how things are going too.