I have a list of ailments like so many of you. This last year has been a rapid decline in my health.
Some may know that I have been on high dose prednisone for almost 4 months and possibly another 3 months more.

The biggest change in the past 2 weeks is that my left hand is numb 24/7 from the ring finger to pinkie and is quickly spreading down the outer side of the entire hand, and in the last few days it is moving down to my wrist.
(I could feel my fingers go numb periodically for awhile now but is moving quickly lately).

My feet are becoming numb and the left side of my jaw is now having intermittent times of numbness, not constant yet, but it just started.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone. I am beginning to get quite anxious since things seem to be progressing at a fast pace lately and my appointment at Mayo is not for another 6 weeks.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all,

Judy

((((((Judy)))))),

The numbness in the outer two fingers and the outside of your hand sounds like the C8 dermatome. Could be a problem with disc compression in your back just at the beginning of the thoracic area.

It could be thoracic outlet syndrome (http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/thoracic_outlet/. There's a whole forum here for that http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

The feet and the jaw numbness indicate something else going on though. What are they thinking -- MS?? I have numb feet and hands with MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance) which may or may not be a precursor to multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer.

Why are you taking so much prednisone??

Judy, I know how hard it is to wait (when you KNOW something is not right). I went through all that waiting for the diagnosis of the MGUS -- only to get diagnosed with something that has the words 'unknown significance' in its name

The thing is, Judy. Whatever *IT* is. You have it now. You'll have it in six weeks (unless it goes away -- which is what I'm praying for). The difference between now and six weeks is that you'll have a name for *IT* (MAYBE).

What you need to do:

This is based on my own history. And remembering how many incompetent, insensitive doctors I had to deal with during that period. I also have to get a blood test every 6 months that will tell me whether or not I have moved closer to the multiple myeloma diagnosis. Waiting for those test results every six months used to be horrendous. Now it's not. I don't even bother calling for the results anymore. I get them on my next visit.

Well .. what you need to do. Define what you are so afraid of so that you can talk about it with your doctors and with your family and friends.

Make a plan for how you are going to start NOW with taking better care of your SELF. Better nutrition. Better rest. Better relaxation techniques. What can you add to your life NOW that will make your life in six weeks BETTER??

BIG HUGS. Talk about and write about what's bothering you -- it makes the time go faster. There's tons of us who have way too much experience waiting for either diagnoses or waiting for test results -- we can help you through this.

Barb

Barb,
it is so strange that you mentioned the things you did. I am on the prednisone for what was originally diagnosed as a left eye orbital pseudo tumor. After starting at 65 mgs of prednisone ( I am a petite person, or at least I WAS, LOL) in Sept, I am now down to 22mg,

I was seeing a neuro ophthalmologist and after 2 months, she said that she had never seen a case like mine. She said that I had so many medical issues that I needed to be seen at Mayo. She is one of many specialists that have directed me somewhere else.

I am just 50 and have osteoporosis with bone density of a 70 year old. You probably know what pred does to the bones. Someone hugged me a short while ago and I cracked the cartilage in my sternum and a rib. (unfortunately it was not a passion hug, drats)

Three weeks ago I picked up a fairly heavy bag to put out for garbage day and my lower back has been unbelievably painful since.

I went for my regular appt with my doc today. She gave me orders for a lumbar spine x-ray plus the pain meds that give me some relief. She has been my doc for 25 years and she questioned me about using so much pain med. I take 500 mg vicodin and never exceeded my three a day, only because I was so afraid of not getting a refill. The med gives me about 2 hours of tolerable pain. I think when she saw me today, she knew this was no game playing.

I have:
graves (even thou I had a thyroidectomy at 39 yrs)
hyster three months after thyroidectomy, still 39 (talk about a hormonal nightmare, lol)
myasthenia gravis (positive and negative test results)
RLS and PLM
sleep apnea
severe osteoporosis (secondary also)
orbital pseudo tumor
double vision/ chronic blethritis and eye inflammation
rapidly increasing neuropathy of hand, jaw and feet
chronic low potassium
chronic high cholesterol
had hyperparathyroidism ( haven't had time to deal with that lately)
mild atrophied of right kidney
Barrett's esophagus
Nutcracker esophagus (spasming, too much pressure)
several types of ulcers, come and go, duodenitis never goes away
way too many dental problems since I am a tooth fanatic
wounds do not heal easily of late
degenerative shoulder (2 surgeries)
osteoarthritis of knees (2 surgeries also)

Geez, that is all I can think of now, but since I have been on this site, I have realized that my problems pale in comparison to others. I just want to be diagnosed after about 5-6 yrs of decline.
But my heart goes out to all on the neurotalk. I think it is the best thing that has happened to me.

I have been off of work for a month, live alone and need all of you more than you can imagine.

Great big hugs to you and I hope the info I gave can help you or anyone to enlighten me.

Thank you so much for your insight. Those affected do know more than the doctors at times. With a site like this there is bound to be someone who actually feels what we feel and can diagnosis, or at less help he docs.

After all, they are human, and working with them in surgery shows me first hand what they do and will do for the life of others. They never cease to amaze me.

I have seen many a day when a surgeon is in on one case scheduled for 2 hours and after 8-9 hours, or more comes out and the person is going to make it. They rock,

There is the good and bad, but I have the joy of working with the best.......

Great big hugs and thank you

Judy

((((((Judy)))))),



Have they done a full MRI (or a least an x-ray) of your full spine?? Now that I know about the osteoporosis, you could have something going on in C8.

Know what you mean about "problems". My son says I said send my body back to the manufacturer. I tell him that factory went out of business

It's a good thing our parents and grandparents don't tell us about all this SHIPS, we'd never want to grow up

You know, Judy, it's a good thing (excuse the Martha-ism) that you're going to Mayo. I had the same primary care physician for over 9 years. She was actually the director of the women's health center. Sometimes they get so used to seeing you that that don't really SEE YOU anymore. Sometimes a fresh viewpoint can move 'things' along.

I'm hoping you get GOOD ANSWERS in 6 weeks -- answers to questions that you have but also solutions too. I, personally, feel that when we know what we're dealing with, it's easier to cope with it and easier to come up with a plan. This 'limbo land' thing is for the birds (I don't even think they'd want it).

Writing. Talking. Getting your feelings OUT or at least down somewhere (I like writing when I'm trying to cope with something difficult) helps immensely. We people who have landed here at NeuroTalk moved on from the old BrainTalk. It's a unique kind of support that you get here. I used to hang around the Child Neuro forum a lot on the old forums. We all can cope with a lot when we've got people that HEAR us.

BIG HUGS (gentle ones)

Barb

Barb,

You pretty much summed up a majority of my feelings. I am not afraid of what Mayo has to say.......................just say something. I want to hear " Oh yes, I have seen this before and it is.........

Things happening so rapidly does cause me concern. Up until a month ago I could still work. (Well, sort of, LOL) I used a lot of vacation days because I had many bad days. I have a chronic illness (FMLA) on file so that I do not lose my job and the days don't count against me.

My work has been fantastic and that is one of the greatest of my fears. That I will never be able to work again. I know that many of you are at that point and if that is the case for me then I will need all of you to help me with coping skills. But that is a bridge I will cross when the time comes.

I will let you know what the x-rays show. The order is for the lumbar spine, but if this continues, I will ask for a full spinal MRI.
Thanks for your input, every bit helps and just venting.

Gentle hugs back to you,

Judy

Hi,

My entire half of my left hand is now numb and has moved to my wrist, about where my watch would be.

This has progressed in the last week and seems to be advancing quickly. i had the lumbar x-ray Friday, but I don't know the results and I don't really think that an x-ray is going to show anything unless there is a fracture or disc problem.

My feet are beginning to tingle more often and the left side of my face is still mild and intermittent.

If I put my hand in water hot/cold it intensifies the tingling and it hurts.

Does this sound familiar? Why all of a sudden is it moving so fast.

Any more advise? Should I wait till going to Mayo in January and let them run their tests?

Thanks,

Judy

((((((Judy)))))),



Are you gonna get the MRIs done before you go to Mayo?? If you are, make sure they're doing your head too -- which they should be doing anyway if they're ruling out MS (looking for lesions).

You want to get ESR and C-Reactive Protein blood tests to help rule out infection.

And finally, it's probably a good idea to do nerve and muscle conduction tests on your hands and feet and forearms and forelegs (is that a word??). Also nerve conduction testing on the mental nerve (that's the one for your chin). Have you had any recent dental work done in the same region (on the same side) that you're getting the numbness on your chin??

I'm no doctor. I'm just somebody like you who's been through 'stuff'. Any tests that they do now will still be 'current' for the Mayo work. They'll also probably save some time and testing at the Mayo.

Now, this is just based on my own experience, but, because of the numbness, I wouldn't wait to get that testing done. Mayo can always do MORE if they require more. The nerve conduction tests will show how much of a problem we've got in that area.

I know what you mean about the sensation being all screwed up in your hand. I remember when I couldn't touch anything cold or smooth. The cold was really painful and the smooth was just so radically WEIRD, it freaked me out I thank G-d that I found Effexor XR -- I couldn't open jars or use my cane -- just too painful. I still have the numbness because of the blood condition. But, I don't have the pain. And my strength is back.

I'm praying for success for you too. BIG HUGS.

Barb

I have RA and I too have many of the symptoms that you have described.... have YOU ever been to see Rheumatologist? - he might be able to help.

Barb, yes........... i had an abcess under a front veneer, it had to stay open forever because it won't heal. it still is sensitive to heat, mostly cold and that was at least 7 mths ago.
Every time i see my doc, we are dealing with a new issue, so we never get to concentrate on one.
I will write down what you have said, she probably would appreciate it.
Thank you so much,
hugs to you,
judy

Thank you for your input. At this point in timw and how fast things are moving, i think the docs can use any help they can get. I will research that area because i never have.
Thank you so much,'
Judy