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Old 12-11-2016, 08:50 PM
heb1212 heb1212 is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 107
10 yr Member
heb1212 heb1212 is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 107
10 yr Member
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Originally Posted by JoannaP79 View Post
Hi all, things have become so desperate that I don't want to carry on anymore. I have a small son so I will keep on but I just cannot cope with not knowing or understanding what is happening and the rate of progression. The exceptional sfn pain is one thing, and it's severe from head to toe, face, spine, legs, feet, lips, nose, everywhere. But, what has progressed terribly and taken this to a level of terror are problems with muscle energy and being able to move parts of my body. My body is tiny having shrunken significantly despite eating a lot. Muscle mass has basically disappeared everywhere, most prominently legs, hips, thighs and upper arms. What's happened on top of the shrivelling body size is a pain and fatigue like no other deep within all my muscles to the extent that I cannot move sometimes over the last week. I can move but the mental strength I often have to muster to move my body, put one leg in front of another and raise my arms during a flare of this new progressing issue is terrifying. MRI and nerve conduction are showing nothing beyond Sfn so I'm only officially diagnosed with sfn. (Also have ankylosing spondylitis). My neuro accepts my explanation of full body symptoms but any explanation or diagnosis beyond the Sfn is limited. Sfn pain is now at a point where every part of me feels like hell. Paraesthesia in every part of my entire body without exception is possibly worse than pain and drives me to insanity. Even the nerves within my teeth and nasal passage are agonising me. I've had abnormal heart rhythms through the roof this week whilst the other symptoms have ramped up.
The neuro can't feel what I feel so won't take me beyond what we have already tried - two loads of ivig and 5 day steroid infusion. He won't try cellcept as he is worried about making me more sick. (With all this nerve and rheumatic stuff happening I am already systemically sick, feeling unwell and ill to the core of my body. I see his point. But, I feel like this is going to kill me or paralyse me from the neck down in a short space of time and I can't stop trying everything I can. I have a small son who needs me. I am his primary carer on my own and I cannot bear just sitting here becoming increasingly disabled whilst he watches.
Whatever I have is really serious and I just want to keep trying everything. Please, if anyone has any suggestions as to what the hell to pursue next I would really value your input.
The last letter from a Neuromuscular specialist said that MRI and nerve conduction are clear! So I'm kind of feeling on my own now. He suggested muscle biopsy but felt the likelihood of showing anything was small. I feel instinctively within my gut that my time is running out. Please, I am desperate for some advice as to what route to pursue next
JoannaP79 - My heart aches for you because I know what you're going through. I could have written this post. I have extreme nerve pain, burning and paresthesia every place you have described, including my face, nose and teeth. Most recently I've experienced severe pain shooting down both my arms and through the carpal tunnel area into my hands and fingers. I too am terrified that I'm moving from just horrific pain to becoming paralyzed. I don't know if the pain is what is incapacitating me or if there's now a truly neuromuscular manifestation of some sort and that my condition is progressing. It's so horrendous that last weekend I just sat rocking and whimpering. I barely hang in there, just like you. My strength is found in my children's faces. Also, like you, there's very little in the way of a true diagnosis, except post-viral central sensitization. I say in my head daily that I can't believe anyone has to live like this. I have very little in the way of advice except to find medications that can at least take the edge off the pain. I live in a state where medical marijuana has been approved, and I intend on seeking this out next. It's very easy to drift into a very dark place having to cope every day. I force myself to stay busy the best I can - working, taking care of my children, maintaining my house, visiting with friends here and there, though my standard in every area of life has been greatly diminished. I struggle with resentment and grief, especially in that this is invisible to anyone around me. So I'll end this where I started - that's my heart aches for you. Consider this a hug
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JoannaP79 (12-12-2016), Littlepaw (12-12-2016)