does anyone experience numbness w/fibro
 

I was diagnosed w/fibro 12yrs ago. In March my left hand the first 2 fingers are numb, and my knuckles burn like fire, like I have been scalded. This has been continous pain, however I went to neurologists today to be checked for neuropathy and he said he thinks it is the fibro, so I was just wondering if anyone else has these symptoms or is he just blaming it all on fibro ? I had an EMG done and it came back normal. He wants to take me off my cymbalta and start me on savella...Im just not sure ???

Your symptoms are classic carpal tunnel. I'd get a new doctor.

Fibro is a condition of pain perception in the brain. It is like minor pain is amplified to higher levels. I have never heard of numbness.

I had carpal tunnel really severely when I was pregnant. It resolved 80% after delivery of my son. But my EMG showed 80% loss of function. Another thing that causes carpal tunnel is hypothyroidism.

I think it is not fair or accurate to blame everything on one diagnosis. People can have multiple problems.

Have you tried putting ice on your wrist? If there is swelling there it will go down, and your fingers may feel better the next day.

I'd also check you B12 levels in the blood. And if below 400-500 I'd take a supplement. Also get the Vit D tested. This is new information and many people with neuro problems are showing up on these boards with very low levels of Vit D.

I'd suggest you visit our Vitamin forum and click on the saved links in the stickies at the top of the page. Alot of useful information there.

I have already seen a hand specialists and been checked for carpal tunnel..I do not have that. I have also been tested for vit deficiences. When I touch or rub my hand it is numb and feels like electrical shocks along w/my left foot on the side of the little toes. I have been to neuro-surgeon, who referred me to neurologists and they are referring to rheum. This has been going on for almost a year now. Thanks for your comment and have a Happy and Blessed New Year !!!

When you hear a doctor say,, it might be part of this or part of that,, BEWARE,, Since having a DX of sjygrons and fibro,, every symptom is part of SS or Fibro,, in there minds,, if you feel its not right, it probably isnt,, your the one in misery,, always remember that,, they are not the ones suffereing,, push them to look further or get a new neuro,, you wouldnt go back to a mechanic if he cant fix your car right would you?

I also have numbness with fibro. But I also have arthritis.

Donna

i was diagnosed with fibro in '95 but have had it much longer. i also have numbness and tingling in my feet and hands and sometimes in my limbs as well. I have it on both sides, and it comes and goes. I have arthritis also(osteo). The neurologists don't know why I have the "neuropathy" they checked for MS lesions several years back and found nothing. some family docs have said its the fibro. Who knows? They just don't knwo enough about this stuff yet. I also have seizures that they haven't found a cause. i have had them since I was 12. I think at this time (or really several years ago) they(neurologists) decided they were non epileptic seizures. They only showed up on one EEG in my life and that was when I was 13. I have been on and off seizure meds since I was 12. I do currently take neurontin and cymbalta and I feel they both help with the neuropathy pain.

Sara

Hello Sara....

Since you have been taking antiseizure drugs for a long time, I'd suggest you get a Vit D test and see if you are low in this.
Most antiseizure drugs deplete Vit D and calcium.

I'd also get tested for B12 since you have the neuropathy symptoms. (get your results and they should be 400 or above--do not accept "normal" from your doctor as many doctors think normal can be in the 200's etc--using antequated lab ranges).

Fixing these two things if you are low, may really help your comfort levels.

Here is a new medical video explaining the critical importance of Vit D today, based on new research (your doctor may be behind the times on this)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ-qekFoi-o

This website has good information also for you to read:
http://www.grassrootshealth.net/

I have other threads on the Peripheral Neuropathy forum and Vitamin forum that may help you.

Hi Mrs.D,

I did just get my vit. D levels checked among many other things and they are low(17). The doc wants me to take 5000mgs. of Vit. D a day and said it will take a long time to get the levels up. I am also low in ferritin (9) I do have RLS and have been low with my ferritin since they first checked it back in '99. I was taking iron supplements for many years but was only aqble to ge the ferritin levels up to 20. Of course they say that is the beginning of "normal" but I know for RLs the desired level is 50. I have been off iron for a few years. So, back on it I guess. I need to get to the health food store to get a good brand of ferrous gluconate. But, he only wants me to take one a day as my hemoglobin etc. are normal. I was taking mirapex for the RLS for years but have been able to get off of it by taking magnesium supplements.
I also do have vit. B12 sublingual supplements to take as I also have trigeminal neuropathy that I got after a herpes outbreak on my mouth a few years back. I had a different doc then and she was more into natural methods and using supplements. so, I do go by what she said for the B12. But, i'm not sure if I have ever been tested for it. I was tested for my cortisol levels and adrenal function with this other doc a few years back and that was also found to be quite low. I was put on oral hydrocortisone for abut 6 months but she didn't want me on it for any longer than that. I feel it did help but, I have such "adrenal fatigue" that isn't being addressed by my currant doc who is very traditional. I am in the process of moving though so will be looking for a new doc and will hopefully find one that understands all of this. Not easy to find. I have a very bad case of FMS, and in the past few years have been taking narcotics for the pain which in my case really does help. I went for years with nothing more than ibuprofen or tylenol and would literally be writhing in pain. It was FMS stuff and arthritis as well as peripheral neuropathy with the burning and stabbing pains in my extremities. It was horrible. The fatigue is also very extreme and has been since the diagnosis although I have had a couple of semi-remission states where I was more functional. Stress is the worst culprit for my flaring and it doesn't matter if it is good stress or bad stress. I usually spend about 5 hours average in bed during the day but sometimes much more.

I will look at the vit. forum and will look at your links as well. thanks for the help!

Sara