[malba414]

Hi!

I'm not sure what my problem is, and I'm hoping someone here can help.

I hope that someone will read my long history and maybe know of a similar story and the diagnosis.

In 2004 (age 18) I had a very minor fender bender, but I was sitting sideways and had some swelling around my upper spine (don't know the exact terminology, but the doctor gave me a neck brace I didn't want to wear. Nobody else in the car was injured.

Later in 2004 (age 19) I went back to the orthopaedic with numbness/tingling in my toes. He said I had Morton's Neuroma's in both feet from years and years of ballet and pointe shoes.

The foot pain continued off and on for the next few years when driving, walking, elliptical, and forget running! All this time I was a very decent/healthy weight.

In 2007 (age 22) I noticed the same pain in my hands/fingers when driving long distances daily. The burning pain/numbness happened when holding the wheel, the phone, writing, holding a dog leash, and sleeping. I went to an orthopaedic who said it was CTS, but the only test he did was pushing my wrist back- and that did not create the pain like it should have. He gave me a wrist brace and told me to sleep with it on, but when I did I would wake up screaming because my hand was in so much pain. I decided the problem must have been in my elbow instead of my wrist, and the heavy brace was making me lock my elbow in a weird position overnight.

From 2007-2009 I gained about 40 lbs and was nearly obese. I attributed this to antidepressants I took for anxiety between 2007 and 2009. The pain continued, and a doctor tested me for thyroid problems but all results came up normal. I have since lost 21 lbs, and the numbness/tingling still continues in waves.

In 2009 and 2010 I went to a new doctor who finally believed there was a connection between my feet and hand problems. She ordered a nerve conduction study on my feet. These came back "normal". She also ordered a broad blood test which came back normal. (I did see that my vitamin B12 was smack dab in the middle of the normal range)

I returned to the "helpful doctor" who then said she had no idea and I should have seen a neurologist from the beginning. Now after paying for the study and this doctor, I am broke and slightly jaded by her sudden change in interest/help.

Based on all these normal results, what could be wrong with me?

Should I see a neurologist or a rheumatologist?

Other problems that I have not really brought up to the doctors:
overall irregularity- most of my life has been constipation, but lately I've noticed periods of "loose"... sorry for the details.

itching fingertips


If you read all of this, thank you for your help! I just want to know what to do. I'm tired of following doctors blindly only for them to only half-invest themselves into my problems. I live in the country, so it will be hard to find the right doctor/specialist and I want to do my best to choose wisely...

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

What was the B12 result? Some reference ranges go very low and are outdated.

One thing you can try is going gluten free-- removing all wheat, rye, and barley from your diet. This intolerance causes alot of PN type symptoms.

When you did ballet, did you diet alot? To keep the ballet "look"?

If so you could be low in essential fats, that work for the maintenance of nerves and repair. This would be flax oil and fish oil.

I am unaware of wrist supports for carpal tunnel being "heavy". Mine are quite light and work well for me. WalMart even has a nice light one esp. for women!
I bought one of these last summer... it is very nice:
http://www.amazon.com/Wellgate-Women.../dp/B000GHG3RG

I'd also watch your salt intake, and keep it low. And avoid MSG from foods ...this can help tremendously.

That is for starters. Don't need alot of $$ to try these beginning interventions.

[daniella]

Hi. Well I know for me when my condition started I first went to the orthopedic and foot/ankle doc,then physiatrist and then when my pain was increasing after tests by them I was sent to the neurologist. My 1st emg/nc did not show but my 2nd showed PN. I also have RSD and I am wondering if that could be a possiblity. Have you read over there? I encourage you to see a neurologist. Have you had any mris?The doc who did some tests what kind was she? Could you ask her to run more tests for auto immune if you don't want to switch? I have seen both rheumatologist and neurologists but my neurologists ran a lot of the tests the rheumatologist did in terms of looking for auto immune. Have you had an other health conditions in the past? I wish I had more answers for you but make sure to mention everything you feel to your docs and don't let them rush you. This is your health and you deserve the time.