Hi
Haven't asked anything here for awhile, but have been having a new sensation all over.

I feel like I have bugs (insects) walking on me. I brush it off like there really is one, say on my arm, and the sensation comes back. I have to look to make sure there really isn't one there. This can happen all over my body. So far its just annoying, hasn't gotten worse. Is this a new version of PN for me? What do I do, who do I see if it does get worse? Neuro? Ortho? PM?

Thanks,
Barb

This is a very typical PN symptom, along with electric zaps, jabs, stabs, buzzing, etc.
It is usually controlled by the correct dosage of neurontin, or lyrica, or some of the many other PN drugs. Check with your doc on your dosage level.

I have this on my left lower leg in two places. I don't get it
very often, but sometimes it feels like an ant on me.

There are drugs that can make this sensation worse.

It is called formication.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formication

I think it is common with PN .

In severe forms it can be
very distressing...and it is usually then attributed to drugs.

This is a list of drugs that have had this side effect attributed:
http://patientsville.com/symptoms/formication.htm

Thank You Both!!!
At least I know I'm not going crazy with this. Stabbing and buzzing have appeared too, but I thought the buzzing was tinitus.
Barb

that's how my pn started. It doesn't happen often at all anymore. I think the same meds that are used for the chronic pain of pn are used for this, if it is bad enough that you need to medicate it away; and I know that can sure happen.

As far as I know Tinnitus is name for the sounds/ringing/hissing that people get in the ears.

The "buzzing" of PN is more like a slow voltage electrical sensation running along nerve fibers.

For example, we had a terrible windstorm this winter, and it woke me up in the middle of the night. We live in an Oak forest with alot of very old trees (over 100 yrs old). I am constantly
worried we will be crushed...and we do spend a enormous amount of money on tree work --you'd be amazed.

Well the branches were falling like mad...the finger sized ones and hitting the roof...Well, I didn't take this well, and when I tried to get back to sleep...both of my legs were buzzing like mad... like electricity zooming down them. It is a very unsettling feeling. I have never found a remedy for it either, and it does go away. So I try to invoke my self hypnosis. But I don't have the buzzing, unless I am VERY upset.
A big angry fit will do it too, but those are rare for me too.

As a side note, I'm in the East Coast corridor that's being hit by the snowstorm today.
I knew this weather front was moving in on Fri eve, & all day Saturday, cause of buzzing, squeezing, and zaps on my feet & legs - especially yesterday.
Now that we're in the middle of it, all of that has gone back to 'normal', today. (I'm at a 2 level, right now)
Go figure............

Bob -

The same thing happened to me. I am in ATL and the two days before we actually got the snow where tough. It snowed yesterday and I felt fine, minimal pain...

Leslie

Aussiemom, i too suffer from the buggy symptom, it is only on my legs and very occasional, but i do have it, it is surely a PN symptom.

I take lyrica, 150 mg a day, and that is enough for me to control my pn, most times.

It takes 600mgs of Lyrica & 400 mgs of Tramadol per day,
for my PN pain & Sx- to whittle down to a manageable level.