Post Viral Syndrome

[Stef1971]

I was diagnosed with post viral syndrome this February 2009.  I had pneumonia in November which turned into asthmatic bronchitis.  While I was on all the medications, I developed very odd symptoms:
tingling/numbess in hands and feet (sometimes lips and face)
burning and cold sensations throughout my muscles
my body shakes/tremors
weakness and some pain, more weakness in arms and legs - the weakness is better but in the arm that I use (my right arm it is more persistent and intense)
upset stomach
stiff fingers that don't seem to work like they used to
sleeplessness
muscle twitches
muscle soreness
I have been to my doctor so many times and she kept telling me that I was just recovering from the pnuemonia and that I was anxious and the put me on ativan.  I am anxious but it's because of all these unexplained symptoms.  I saw a rheumatologist that said I have fibromyalgia and I'm going for aquatic physical therapy for that.  I saw a neurologist who found nothing neurologically wrong with me and said it's post viral.  All my bloodwork has been normal and every doctor does not think it's anything pathological.  The weakness in my right arm and the shaking/tremors are very unsettling to me as are the stiff fingers that don't work like they used to.  The symptoms do vary from day to day and I have good days and bad days.  When will this all go away?  Are there any treatments for post viral syndrome?
Stefanie


This discussion is related to post viral neuro syndrome.

[Stef1971]

My rheumatologist put me on a muscle relaxer because my muscles are so tight, but it doesn't seem to help.  They said it should help me sleep at night, but it doesn't.  The rheumatologist says I have fibromyalgia.  The neurologist (and also my eye doctor) say that it is post viral.  My primary care doctor hadn't even heard of post viral and I think she thinks I'm nuts and just anxious because I got so sick after the pneumonia.  She put me on Ativan and thinks I need to look into a long term med for anxiety.  I wish she could understand that the whole reason why I have anxiety is because I have a whole bunch of odd symptoms that come and go from day to day, hour to hour.  I'm not making up the symptoms and I would be ever so happy if they would just go away.  My neuro said that there is no time frame on when the post viral will be gone and that I need to try to get rid of as much stress in my life as I can.  The rheumatologist has me going to aquatic physical therapy twice a week.  I guess it helps.  I also have alot of tremors with this, my hands, arms and legs shake alot when I do any kind of controlled motions or even with just a little exertion.  If I am at all nervous or excited about anything, the shaking it intensified.  I just watched my son's basketball game and it was so exciting and I ended up shaking so much that I had to take an ativan just to calm down, it's like my nervous system is in overdrive and I have no control.

[kl42]

i had something very similar. it will go away it takes a lot of time. only thing i would suggest. get adjusted by a chiroprator. on a regular basis it frees up your nervous system helps it to heal. alot of the weird symtoms numbness, tinglinmg. ect. will go away quicker. good luck. Kevin

[Stef1971]

Thanks so much.  It's so reassuring to know that there are other people out there that understand what you are going through.  How long did it take for you to feel better?  Stefanie

[Hope75]

Yes, I've been where you are.  I have improved to a point where I can go a couple of months and feel pretty normal, then it comes back.  2.5 yrs of this.  It is bearable and yes, you will get anxiety when your body doesn't work correctly and I don't think any of the docs have any answers about post-viral syndrome, so they are projecting their anxiety onto you (b/c they don't know either).  Sorry docs, but it happens more often than not in these "no abnormal test results" situations.  So, keep your chin up and just know you are not alone.  There are other weak legged, twitchy, tingly, burny people out here with no answers.  Johns Hopkins gave me the "post-viral" syndrome diagnosis and I don't even recall being ill.  I did get several MRIs though to help rule out MS, etc.  I have been pretty lucky with the docs I've had and still don't have definitive answers or diagnosis.  Right now, I am following up on a positive screen for the Lyme Disease bacteria.  Cover all your bases and the comment about a good physiotherapist is a good idea.  

[Stef1971]

Thanks for the encouragement and support.  When I start to panic over my "odd" symptoms that my primary care doctor says don't add up to anything, this website and everybody's comments make me feel so much better.  I hope that you continue to feel better and have more times when you feel better than not.

[Nancy91]

This may or not be sound the same but has me thinking. Six month ago I had a Flu Shot and a cold.  Then extreem hip muscle burnning. Then muscles in back were stiff and then I pulled my back out. The skin around my right hip was electrical and stinging.
I was in bed for 2 weeks with muscle relaxers for pain.  My top right thigh felt like it had
stiches and stinging. I have cramps in my piriformis muscle.  I seem to be getting better but still have some cramping and stinging.  One moment fine the next in pain.  I am over wait but I felt totaly fine before the Flue Shot.