Nerve problem Please Help
 

Please read carefully; I would appreciate your help

It has been almost 2 years and I am not even getting closer to a diagnostic and thing getting worse. About 2 years ago, I have been feeling some pin and needle sensations in my legs. Before that, I used to feel some sensitivity in my legs, but I did not pay attention. Anyway, about 2 years ago, I started feeling some sensation in my legs, mostly my left leg. First I went to my primary care doctor and she did some blood test for me and she recommended that I stopped taking all vitamins, although I did not take a lot of vitamins. All my blood test came normal. Then the symptom became worsen. I went to see a neurologist, he did some test and he told me my nerves work fine. Then I saw a rheumatologist, she referred me to see another neurologist, which I did and got a nerve conduction test. They did not find anything wrong with my nerve. Then after I saw a neuropathy specialist, he told me that I don’t have neuropathy, he suggested that it is probably my thyroid and another Japanese name type disease which I forgot . I went and got those blood tests and all of them came to normal. He suggested I should see a chiropractor. After I saw a chiropractor and get some neck adjustment, my symptom became worse.

I think what I have may be a never compression. Anyway, it makes my skin very sensitive. The left part of my body is more sensitive, especially my left nerve. I feel nerve pulsing in my forehead (skin). This is the way it used to be before I got the neck adjustment, when I worked out and lift a lot of weights, I felt that my nerve is pulsing in my forehead the left part and my left leg. Whenever I felt those things, I would feel some pin and needle sensations. I mean someone puts needle on me. I usually did not feel it all the times. Especially the nerve pulsing. Right now I feel it more; I think that happens after the neck adjustment.

Since I used to lift weight, I thought that I may have lifted something in my head or neck. I don’t suffer headache. Anyway, they did an xray of my neck and it shows sight of arthritis. My rheumatologist recommended the xray. She told me that shouldn’t cause that symptom. I went to see an orthopedist, he told me I may have a pinched nerve in my neck and recommend an mri. After reviewing the mri, he recommended spine therapy for me. After 2 sessions I felt worse then I stopped. When my rheumatologist looked at the mri, she told me that, that should not cause the sensation. I have seen more than 20 doctors/specialists already without getting any closer.


Here are the symptoms I have
• Needle sensation all over my body (anywhere in my skin, but not all the time)
• Skin sensitivity (left part of my body and left leg more sensitive)
• Needle sensation on my fingertips
• Needle sensation on my toetips
• Feel sometime someone put a needle under my feet (both foots)
• Some scrolling sometime on my left thigh
• Nerve pulsing of my left forehead
• Needle sensitive can happen anywhere of my body, but it does not happen all the time
• Symptom worsen when I workout and lift weight
• When I do a lot of cardio like 1 hour or more treadmill I feel more sensation in my thighs, especially the left one
• Shooting pain in my fingertips, toetips and under my feet

I will appreciate your help

I think it is a nerve problem, but one of my neurologists told me it is anxiety. I don’t feel any anxiety. While I took some vitamin to help a little bit, but I have tried gabapentin, lyrica, amitriptyline, just for a short period of time. I don’t want to take those things, since they don’t solve the underlined problem.

Your suggestion will be appreciated

I can't say without your tests results if your thyroid has anything to do with your symptoms. But if you can please post the following test results:

Free T3 =
Free T4 =
TSH =
TPOab =
Cortisol =
Vit. D =

Dr's hardly ever test the thyroid correctly, it's possible it is the thryoid and you did not get a correct diagnosis. My guess is they didnt do the tests listed above and without them you can not rule out thyroid.

Does Gabapentin or pain meds make your symptoms better?

Joann

I am going to take the list you suggested above to my doctor. I don't know much about the medical terms, but I will talk to my doctor about that.

Gabapentin did not work for me, the amitriptyline seems to work a little bit, but I don't want to start taking a lot of meds, since I don't have a diagnostic yet

I will try to get those data tomorrow and will let you know

Also get a serum B12 and MMA test with the Vit D.

B12 should be over 400... if the doctor says "normal" do not accept that. US normals are very low. The new cut off is 400, US units.

Same with Vit D... get the numerical result.

Low B12 is very common today. It can result in nerve damage, neurological symptoms and pain.

Low Vit D also increases pain in some people. Low D leads to more frequent infections, and the use of antibiotics, some of which CAUSE nerve damage! Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox, and some others.

If you use statins to lower cholesterol, they may be causing nerve damage and pain, and other symptoms.

We have more information at the PN forum:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html
The regular forum is for conversation and the Subforum above is
an informational resource. Please visit and read up...some homework
is needed, since some doctors often do not know how do deal with neuropathic pain.

I was reading the following page

***

there are a lot of symptoms there that I feel

does a thyroid problem sometime gives neck problem?

try to edit the link above by removing the space

so true !!!

more than a year ago, they checked my b12 and they told me that it was high

I take a lot of b vitamins, so I don't think it is b

I will look at the link you suggested

Mary Shomon on About.com is a great resource:

http://thyroid.about.com/bio/Mary-Shomon-350.htm

I usually keep all my test data in my record. While looking to my records last night, I couldn't find the following data from my test. I know I did a thyroid test last year

Free T3 =
Free T4 =
TSH =
TPOab =
Cortisol =
Vit. D =

I am going to the doctor office this morning to get those data; if not, I will ask them to do another test.

I have been doing some reading about thyroid last night and it looks like I feel most of the symptoms that can be caused by a thyroid problem. For this reason, I went and order the following vitamin

www . swansonvitamins . com/SW1358/ItemDetail

www . swansonvitamins . com/SWU513/ItemDetail

additional feedback will be fine

I will post more info when I comeback from the doctor office

I would NOT order any vitamins until you know what your issue is. You really need to have a good idea of the problem before using any supplements.

From the doctor office, this is what I get from

Free T3 =
Free T4 =
TSH =
TPOab =
Cortisol =
Vit. D =

I have order another test

test date: 4/18/2011

THYROGLOBULIN
=================
Result: 5 Unit ng/mL
Flag: blank
Range: <56

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES
====================
Result: <20 IU/mL
Flag: blank
Range: <41

T3 UPTAKE
============
Result: 34.8 %
Flag: blank
Range: 23.4-42.7

Test Date: 10/18/2010

TSH 2ND GENERATION
==================
Result: 1.85 uIU/mL
Flag: blank
Range: 0.34-4.82

also on 10/18/2010 I have the following test

Iron result 57 ug/dL flag blank range 35-150
TIBC result 306 ug/dL flag blnk range 250-450
Iron saturation result 19 % flag L range 20-50

glucose 86

also on 7/28/11 glucose test read 83

I have 3 flag on 7/28/11 on CBC with auto diff

WBC Count result 3.6 k/uL flag L range 4.5-11.5
MCH result 26 pg flag L range 27-31
ABS neut result 1.3 K/uL flag L range 1.4-6.5

will appreciate your input and post new test when I get it done

thank you for your comment

by the time they come, I should get my latest test result

Well, i cant say for sure because they didnt run the Free T3 & Free T4, however the low TSh to me indicates that your thyroid is probably working okay.. my guess is your Free T3 and Free T4 will come in right on the line.

Free T3 above 3, Free T4 above 1.0 is healthy levels.

You need Ferritin in addition to the other iron tests to for sure make an iron judgement. Ferritin needs to be above 70.

At this point you might want to ask for a refferal to a RA, mine was very helpful and able to test for everything under the sun for me, lyme disease, lupus etc..

Shoot....

I will talk to the doctor again, I went there today and still couldn't convince him to run another test. They told me that there is no need for another test.

a while ago (7 years ago) I saw another and he told me I show sign of anemia from my test because of low iron. When I saw him again I will ask for Ferritin test. The doctor says that the tsh doesn't fluctuate that much. I don't know the relationship between the tsh and the free t3 and free t4. I will definitely ask again for another test.

A while ago when I talk to another doctor about taken iron supplements, he told me don't do that. I went to a vitamin store and one guy showed me a syrup and he told me that was very good for anemia. May be I should check that again.

I do have the black molasses at home; maybe I should start taking it. Do you know something better than black molasses for anemia. The one I have only has 20% iron per tsp. The reason I stop taking it, because I take magnesium powder in the morning, it looks like when I take a tsp with magnesium powder it game me diarrhea. I will stop taking the magnesium in the morning and take the black molasses instead.

Your comment welcome

Is the re a difference between RA and rheumatologists. Last time I talked to my rheumatologists, she recommended me to see a spine surgeon and neurologist.

I have done some research about mayo clinic. There is one in Scottsdale, when I call them to try to make an appointment, they told me that I need to have a diagnostic first in order to see a neurologist. That does not make sense to me. Right now I try to get a diagnostic.

Any input about mayo clinic?

Sorry to hear this, my advise. Find a New Dr.

I have had a issue that no one could figure out, and I just kept going in circles. Finally I switched dr's they started running new test and I did a lot of research and "we" found the issue.

My Motto in life is Never Give Up.

Good Luck to you

Rich

Thank you for you advice

this is what I will do

MRI Result
 

This is the report of my new MRI below. Sometime I feel a little pain in the upper left of my neck. I don't now much about the MRI term, my rheumatologists told me that should not cause the sensation, but she suggest I see a spine surgeon
==========================

CLINICAL HISTORY: Cervicalgia.

TECHNIQUE: Non-enhanced imaging acquisition utilizing Hitachi Airis II scanner

IMAGING ACQUISITIONS: Sagitall and axial T1 weighted images and axial
T1 weighted images, sagittal T2 fast spin echo images, and coronal T2 images including axial magnified transfer contrast images are obtained.

FINDINGS: The cervicomedullary junction is normal. The cervical spinal cord is normal.

C2-C3 is normal with some disk degeneration. Mild disk dehydration is noted at C3-C4, C4-C5 demonstrates slight uncinate process hypertrophy without significant impingement. C5-C6 demonstrates slight uncinate process hypertrophy. C6-C7 shows a mild disk buldge that is slightly eccentric towards the right, with mild pressure upon the thecal sac.

IMPRESSION
C6-C7: Mild disk budge, slightly eccentric towards the right

Your MRI indicates you have problems with your neck. In my experience the neurologist have been no help what-so-ever (with this MRI they will see you now). However, the spine Dr. has been very helpful.

Don’t let any Dr. tell you you can’t be treated or tested !

You can buy your own lab test online at:
http://blog.healthcheckusa.com/other...yroid-madness/

You can also learn more about the tests required and other lab testing organizations on this site:
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com...ended-labwork/

I’m sorry it took awhile to get back to you.
Feel free to email me at any time directly at:
floatfeather@hotmail.com

The only thing you need for low iron is “Amnio Acid Chelated Iron” 29mg. Don’t buy into all those people trying to sell you things because they know your in pain.

Do you take Vitamin D3? (5,00IU/day)

Low ferritin also causes symptoms like fibromyalgia. Ferritin becomes low long before your iron blood labs go low, it’s a measure of iron stored in the blood.

missvickie
 

Just two weeks ago i was diagnoised with chiari malformation of the brain.My systems started years ago but on Feb 4th they never went away and on the 12th i was transfered to osu medical center in columbus,ohio.My surgery will be right away.Chiari is where the brain stem is hanging down and pushing on carebral tonsills and spinal cord. My symptoms is a headache described like someone doing brain surgery and not putting u out.Also pulsating pain in the brain during a bowel movement to where u almost pass out. The pulsating in my brain makes me hit the floor and roll around for about an hour wishing someone would shoot the top of my head off.The only thing that even soothed the pain a little was liquid oxycodone.Afterthe worst attacks the top of my head and face would be numb,very sick to my stomach.Very week urinating every half hour. Please check with your neuro dr about this.

Thank you for the reply; my rheumatologis told me I need to see a spine surgeon. I am in the process to do that now. I have contacted laser spine institute, they look at my mri report and told me that may cause the problem. However when I do some search and some review about them, I found a lot of negative feedback online. Do you have any input on laser spine institute? I started taking the an iron syrup and it seems like it starts helping me on the way my skin look. Right now I am taking 100iu vitamin d. Do you think 5000iu vitamin d a day may help? The one I bought says don't take over 1000 a day.

hope to hear from you

While my nerve is pulsing in the left of my forehead (the skin), however when I put my hand and hold the upper left with my hand, it looks like the pulsing stop for the moment. Can the neck problem cause the nerve sensation?

any suggestion

It depends on how low your Vit D levels are. I took 10,000 IU for 30 and now I take 5,000 IU per day because I am chronically low. A normal person could safely take 2,000 IU per day forever. You might want to take 5,000 IU for a month and then reduce to 2,000 IU.

remember any amnio acid chelated iron is fine, no need for special iron.

One test I have read for neck pain is to put your hand on your head and see if the pain will go away, if it does it is your neck. However a Dr. would be your best bet.

[have you been checked for chiari malformation . google it

I will try to increase my intake of vit d. I will buy the softgel, while taking the chewable. I am taking 1000 chewable now. I have not been tested for chiari malformation. when I look at this linke

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold%...i_malformation

I don't feel a lot of symptoms they describe there.

I am still in process of seeing other doctors now

I want to ask this question, does high level of vit d help with neuropathic pain?

Hi jean
 

Just wanted you to know I am following this post. I hope you get the dianosis so you can get to the bottom of your problem. All the suggestions are good, encluding the thyroid tests. I wish you all the best. ginnie

thank you very much

another thing I want to add

when I sit down, I feel the sensation more than when I stand up. I still think it is something in my left nerve. It borders me in the left side more than my right side.

I always feel better when I stand up than sit down.

Hi jean
 

I know it is difficult, especially when you don't understand and know what is wrong. I hope your doctors can find what is happening to you. The stress from this must me awful. Pain is no fun. Hang in there. ginnie

Is taking high level of vitamin d causes any side effect?

Hi Jean
 

A lady very knowledgeable lady named Mrs.D can answer this question. The subject of vitamines has been discussed before with her. I believe she knows what link to send you to for this information. take care, ginnie

Most people are quite low in Vit D it has been found recently in US and other countries. This has lead to screening for it at many
doctor's offices.

The general rule for supplementation is 2000IU Vit D3 for those who have not had testing.

OR

1000IU D3 daily for every 10 pts needed to raise to a target result. This is an average rule, as some people may need more.

D2 from RX version is not very efficient and is no longer recommended by the experts.

Here is a good thread with 2 videos on it explaining in detail:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread92116.html

The only serious consequence of very high supplements, is a possible hypercalcemia (elevated calcium) in the blood. But this is not common and can be prevented by not using high dose calcium supplements when Vit D is given in high dose. Vit D will enhance your absorption of calcium from foods eaten.

Right now I am taking 5000iu soft gel and 1000iu chewable. I can also take 1000iu chewable everyday than take 5000iu soft gel every other day. What do you think?

Did you read my original post from this link

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread165327.html

I still have not gotten a diagnostic yet and I am in the process of seeing other specialist. I still think the problem is in my left nerve and probably in the area of my neck. I have also posted some test result including my mri. Your input suggestion is very welcome.

Without Vit D testing...it is impossible to know what you really need.

Without testing 2000IU D3 is considered safe for most people.

I can't say beyond that.

Condition Update
 

This is an update of my condition

After waiting for a while to get my insurance straight, I finally went to see another spine specialist. He told me even if he runs a lot other tests, he will not find something wrong.

He told me I have a "Somatization Disorder"

After I have done some research about "Somatization Disorder" I am still not convinced.

While I don't surfer headache, but something I feel something in the left pad of my head. As I stated from the original post, I also feel nerve pulsing on the left side of my forehead. So I requested to have a cat scan. Here is going to do some spinal cord nerve injection test to determine if that may be caused by the nerve that travel to my neck. Since I did not have that problem, before I had any neck pain, i usually feel that it is a problem in my neck. I also suffer from tinnitus in the left ear.

So I am still searching and will keep you posted.

I too have these same symptoms. I have chronic neuraphaty b12 every month and 300 gabapenitine twice daily and 600 at bed time helps some. I also have cervical problems and have had a stimulator in since june 2004. helps too. i hope you have found help by now.

I do have a neurology appointment week after next week.

I went to have a cat scan, then I have the following result. I just got it today, the doctor who requested it, will probably give me a call next week.

This is the concern, but I have been reading so fare and do some research, but only one website gives enough information so I can understand.

===============================
There is a smoothly marginated and rounded 2mm size calcification, which by appeared lies deeper to the surface of the cerebral cortex in the right frontal lob.
=====================
Since I always feel the nerve pulsing in the left of my forehead, I wonder if this is located in that area. I couldn't find a good picture that gives some clue.

I will appreciate your input

I will talk to the doctor next week when he gets the result

Hello Jean
 

Hi, I just wanted to say hello and tell you a way to help you read your CT Scan. What I do is google each phrase or sentance, or even the individual words. Once you understand the termonology, you can understand the bigger picture. Also there are folks on NT that can help you with results if you need it. I wish you all the best. ginnie

I got a vitamin d test done 2 weeks ago and the nurse from the doctor call me today and told me that I have a vitamin d deficiency. She told me that the doctor wants me to take 800mg a day. I do have 5000mg and 1000mg at home. I stopped taking them, I am going to start taking them again.