[brohar]

I think i'm in the right place... and it looks like there is an abudance of information and support here for newbies like myself. I'm struggling to understand what is going on with me bouncing around from dr to dr and hope the people on this forum could give me some insight.

My Details:
31, Male, athletic and in decient shape. Suffering for 2 months now.

Onset of symptoms:
Started after 5 days of extreme workouts and competitive volleyball.

Symptoms (first week)
-Tingling right hand
-Heart Palpitations at night
-Anxiety
-Muscle Twitching

After a week of rest symptoms subsided and I attempted to play volleyball.
Following Symptoms:
-Electrical shocking sensation in right foot/calf (much worse when sitting)
-Right leg numb and tingling when sitting
-Tingling Right hand

Tests Performed:
EMG / NC (clear)
Neck MRI (Clear)
Lumbar MRI (Clear)
Basic Blood Test (Clear)

After 1 month of rest I had 3 days symptom free around the holidays. After 4 hour drive, loading/unloading wedding shower boxes symptoms returned.

Its now a month since then and i have been doing some low impact swimming, stretching and walking.

My current symptoms are:
- Pins and Needles, Burning in both feet (worse when sitting, best when walking)
- Electrical sensation in right foot has only happened a couple times in last two weeks.
- Hand feels fine, but shows signs of Carpal Tunnel
- Occasional very painful right upper leg (hot tub seems to bring this on several hours after use)
- Muscle twitching comes and goes

Neurologist #1 seemed to think i was crazy
Neurologist #2 seems to think it nerve damage that will heal. Prescribed Gabby.
Sports Ortho Dr was thinking some nerve entrapment/irritation like Tarsal Tunnel but why would I have pain in both feet and my upper right leg. Also I feel fine when walking worse when sitting. Unfortunately I sit all day at work.

If anyone has any advice pleasae let me know. I'm getting married in several months to a wonderful woman and this is making it hard to concentrate on much of anything.

[januarybabe]

I find that sitting is the worst for me. My tingling pain started in my abdomen. It since moved to arms and legs.

I am a homemaker. I have my laptop on table where I can stand to use it. I also have a music stand I use to read. Can you do some of your job standing with some adaptations?

I am on Gabapentin, also. It does help me a lot.

[nide44]

If it is PN and not Fibro or some other malady, extensive testing to rule out many things are necessary.
There is no smoking gun test to say "Aha-PN!".
See:
www.lizajane.org
for tests for PN to eliminate one-by-one. 99% will be 'normal' or 'OK'.
It will be a cumulative, subjective, diagnosis.

[daniella]

Hi welcome though sorry about your pain. A few questions in the past years anything that you may have not thought of as weird but now looking back could of been a symptom? Like for myself I had very tight calves a year before I was dx and in horrible pain. I have RSD and PN.Also were you sick in the past,drugs or drinking issues? You may want to read on RSD. I have my RSD not from an injury or accident and though less common to develop it like that it can happen. At first I did think I was injured because I was active pre all this. You stated you had basic bloodwork but what about extensive for auto immune conditions or other things like B levels?Before I got my dx I was also suggest Tarsal Tunnel and they even talked about doing that surgery. I am so glad I did not cause it would of made things even worse then the current and even if you have TTS it is one of the last things you want to do. Are you on any meds? I hope you get some answers and relief.

[brohar]

Originally Posted by daniella

Hi welcome though sorry about your pain. A few questions in the past years anything that you may have not thought of as weird but now looking back could of been a symptom? Like for myself I had very tight calves a year before I was dx and in horrible pain. I have RSD and PN.Also were you sick in the past,drugs or drinking issues? You may want to read on RSD. I have my RSD not from an injury or accident and though less common to develop it like that it can happen. At first I did think I was injured because I was active pre all this. You stated you had basic bloodwork but what about extensive for auto immune conditions or other things like B levels?Before I got my dx I was also suggest Tarsal Tunnel and they even talked about doing that surgery. I am so glad I did not cause it would of made things even worse then the current and even if you have TTS it is one of the last things you want to do. Are you on any meds? I hope you get some answers and relief.

In the past couple years I havent had many maladies. No colds or flu. I did have some stiffness in my legs but i was playing ALOT of volleyball and it didnt seem unusual or painful. I fractured my pinky in the summer, and fell on my back last year barely missing my spine (landed a couple inches to the right, middle of the back). I have had some muscle twitching in the past year but i attributed it to so much activity.

I need to check the blood work again, I do believe they checked one B level and 3 other things, i'd like to get a more comprehensive test but doctor doesnt think it is needed yet...

Im pretty sure its not TTS since I sometimes have pain high up in the leg and pins/needles in the other foot as well.

RSD sounds pretty bad, I sure hope its not that, so sorry for your pain too. Its so easy to take your health for granted until something like this happens. I read up on RSD and so far do not have any of the symptoms except the pins/needles/light burning/some zapping. Im currently taking Gabapentin for the pain, which helps but not 100%.

Thanks so much for the feedback, I hope we all feel better.
Steve

[rose_thorn98]

I would think possible sciatica, but since the hand was involved that rules out sciatica.

I would definately think about getting tested for autoimmune diseases. Also read up on small fiber neuropathy. Cleveland clinic has a good overview of SFN that tells what kind of testing should be done.

Keep going with testing until you get a diagnosis or you feel satisfied that you have done all you can do and accept its idiopathic.

I still don't have a diagnosis after 6 months of extensive testing. I too had symptoms that came and went in the beginning and then just stayed. I was also an active person. I know what you mean about being distracted from real life due to these type of symptoms. It sucks, but when you get your symptoms treated, you can find more time to be in the moment, instead of in your head worrying about what is wrong with you. In the end, symptom control is the real focus for most of us.

I hope you get your answers. Congratulations on your up coming wedding too!

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk....

I see two clues from your posts so far.... You fell on the right side of your back and your right leg is affected by heat.

So first off... I'd stop any heat/hot tub visits, and ice your back in the lumbar region, for 20 minutes 3 times a day.

Put some ice on your right neck and also your wrist. Heat inflames nerves. Avoid it for a while and see if your issues are injury related.

Some magnesium may help with the muscle twitching etc.
Here is my magnesium thread:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

Also watch your diet and avoid MSG. This can trigger pain receptors. MSG is in alot of processed foods/soups and restaurant foods.

[daniella]

Hi again. Before my DX with RSD and PN part of the hard part of getting the dx was I did not have a lot of the symptoms that go with these conditions. So not always is it concrete. Also through the 4 years it has changed a lot. For ex I used to not have swelling and now I do. Another issue is your age. I can't even tell you how many times I have been told you are too young for this yet it happened. I have had to push for some tests I think because of that. I have learned so much from people here on tests to ask for,meds,etc. I agree about auto immune testing. I am not sure the symptoms of lupus but I know that was brought up at one time for me. As for the heat when my back was impacted I was putting heat on it all the time. I think Mrs D was right it was making things worse in the long run. At the moment I felt it helped but overall I think it stired things up. Of course we are all different. Hope you feel better.

[Jomar]

Since you mention some signs of carpal tunnel and you say you sit a lot at work- computer/desk job?
How's your overall posture - head forward, shoulders rolled or hunched?

Could be one thing or could be 2 things that happen to show up at the same time...

You might read some of our useful sticky threads on the Thoracic outlet syndrome forum- we call it TOS for short - can occur from chronic repetitive injuries. computer, desk, whiplash, sports type hits or falls.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html

Personally if the MDs can't seem to help narrow it down.... locate an expert chiropractor or advance PT person and get a comprehensive evaluation from them. See what they come up with...

[brohar]

I wanted to check back into the thread i started and give a general update and ask some questions. So since my last post not a whole lot has changed although I think ive possibly met some doctors that can help. At this point im pretty sure I have something more than just a trapped nerve or injuy, but i can hope.

A few weeks ago I had several good days of just light tingling, I got excited and tried to shoot basketball by myself for 10 minutes. While doing so, i felt great and my feet didnt hurt while doing so. Well within a couple hours my feet, ankles, legs had random hot sensations, pin/needles, vibrations. Pretty uncomfortable, not screamly painful but enough to really bother me. Also for up to a week after that my feet were more painful, and only calmed down a couple days ago.

So for you other PN suffers is it common that you feel fine when you are on your feet, being active, and it doesnt hurt until after?

Ive had more blood work done by a Rhuemy and a new Neurologist, I'm also supposed to get the dreaded brain MRI to rule out MS. I REALLY hope that is not the case... Lately Ive been looking at this possible DX called Benign fasciculation syndrome. Other than fasciculation its been known to result in nerve pain, exercise intolerance, fatigue, etc. It also often presents itself during times of overexertionand mental stress, both of what i was experiencing when this all started.

I've dropped off the Gabapentin after a month, 900mg a day wasnt doing much except making me spacey. I started Amitrityline, hoping that helps with pain and depression.