Burning/Stinging sensation that moves around
 

Hi,

I am a 22 year old male experiencing constant nerve pain. It all started around 2012 when I felt a stinging sensation across my ulnar nerve in both arms near my elbow from doing overhead pressing movements in the gym.

At first my arms would burn and sting just around my elbow joint but the wierd thing was that when one arm would hurt the other was totally fine. I had an x ray and mri done of my neck, all came out fine. I was referred to rheumy and neurologist who ran several blood tests and they all came back ok.

In 2014 I felt better with onlt slight burning in my arm. I resumed lifting again and the pain got less and less and I hardly noticed it anymore.

But in Jan 2015 I woke up with a slightly stiff neck and my neck would sting when i tilt head back. My neck still feels a bit stiff but the stinging when i tilt back is not there no more. I just feel a dull ache when I do it now.

However, now the burning/ stinging pain i used to have in my arms has spread to my upper back and shoulders. If one area hurts the other feel fine. I am depressed because of this and mt GP has prescribed me amitriplyne. I started taking a multi vit and after the first few days noticed a warm sensation (not painful) in my thighs so I stopped taking it.

Welcome fatalerror786. :Wave-Hello:

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At 22 I don't think you are worn out yet so I am not suprised the MRI shows good. You might have to really consider your excersize regimin. The joke is the guy tells the doc"it hurts when I do this" and the doc says,"don't do that". You may have to find a really good warm-up and stretch routine and document the results of before symptoms and after you make changes. Many folks cannot stay with free-weights and have to maintain tone with swimming, etc.

Are you applying HEAT to your areas? If so stop.... Heat stimulates nerves. You can use moderate warmth, for short periods of time, but do not use hot tubs, or stand in showers with hot water or use heating pads.

Since you exercise, are you using B complex to provide the necessary extra B6 the muscles need? Magnesium, in epsom salt soaks in lukewarm water? Or oral magnesium in forms other than oxide? This website explains how to get magnesium from smart food choices:

http://www.slowmag.com/

I dont get how I could be fine literally one and a half month ago and suddenly the nerve symptoms spread to my upper back and neck. I started applying heat, il stop that!

I ordered benfotiamine and alpha lipoic a good b complex, b12 5000mcg and magnesium chelate.

Does my condition sound like small fibre neuro? I cant sit for a minute without the annoying burning, stinging, aching or itching pain.

The medicine my doc prescribed is giving me dry mouth and intensifying the burning in my arms so im stopping that

Woah why are you ordering those vitamins, you dont have deficiency do you? your stiff neck could be irrtation from doing weights, possibly a pinched nerve in your spin causing the stiff neck and pins and needle sensations.

Id rather take the vitamins over the amitrypline my gp prescribed.

My gp also referred for an mri of my neck and t spine. I dont get how it could be from a disc. The pain moves around from my shoulders to my neck to my hand to my lats to my shoulder blade. How mant herniations could i have lol.

After reading your post, I would suggest also checking the

Spinal Disorders & Back Pain Forum

and the members on TOS below may have some ideas for you as well.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Forum

Spinal injuries, like herniation disks, or disk injuries can cause symptoms like yours, and weightlifting improperly can irritate or damage the nerves.

Ok just an update. I was pretty sure that its TOS but the warm thigh sensations and crawling in my feet was bit worrying but physio said its just my nervous system has gone sensitive.

My MRI and blood tests came back all fine except positive ANA. I had this before but rheumy blood tests all came back negative. The gp tests now positive so I have been referred back to rheum.

Im just wondering, those of you with SFN or other autoimmine diseases do you feel any burning sensations when doing nerve glide/ tension tests? I feel as if somethings tugging on my nerves when I do these tests which is why I still believe I have nerve compression.

We have quite a few posters who arrive here following strains
from over zealous exercise or weight lifting.

There are many nerves in the tendons and fascia of the soft tissue of the body. When the tendons are strained or pulled too far, or the fascia is compressed then there can be pain sensations.
The old adage that sprains are far worse and hurt more and take longer to heal than a simple broken bone, are accurate.

Many signals of pain are a warning sign from the body that whatever you are doing, is not good, and should be modified or stopped. This includes dietary habits, as well as activities, or exposure to toxins.

The elevated ANA is a problem and may be inflaming areas that you are not aware of.

You are the best vehicle for healing. You will have to heal yourself...a doctor won't do that for you. Stop doing what bothers you and rest. Clean up your diet, do mild exercise, like walking for a while. See what happens. It seems that when you return to the more strenuous types of activity, you then get relapses.

I backed off lifting completely and am now only doing rehab exercises for TOS.

With regards to the nerve tension test, can you produce burning with these?

Because of the positive ANA im just feeling down and thinking my rehab efforts are worthless and the problems systemic.

Rehab can be a slow and frustrating process but it's worth it - hang in there. Keep in mind there may be setbacks due to additional injury, flares, illness etc. I find keeping a log of my physio workouts helps because if I have a setback when I manage to get back into physio I then have a new goal to work towards - ie: my pre-relapse level.

At present I'm unable to do any physio and it doesn't take long to notice the loss of strength, flexibility and balance so that's an incentive to keep going back.Hope you find something that works for you.

Sorry I don't have any info burning with nerve tension tests. I've only had nerve conduction studies done and they hurt like hell when they were doing them even though they assured me they wouldn't!

The thing is I dont have any weakness, just the burning and ant crawling sensations. The nerve tension tests are simple, you can just youtube them. My ulnar,radialand median nerve all have burning when i do these tests.

You may want to do a Tinel's sign on your carpal tunnel and ankle. See if you get tingling there...that would show compression issues.

Have you considered a chiropractor?