Symptoms for about 2 weeks now - what to do?
 

Hello,

After a lot of stress getting a proper test done for my balance and vision complaints (they determined unilateral vestibular hypofunction, no diagnosis), my right face became a bit numb without it being visible. Has not gone ever since, but remained stable.

After a few days both my feet started to buzz heavily while at rest. Changed into pain within the heel and sole (the arch). A day or two later, the pain also settled into my hamstrings. Seems to be somewhat stable now, with some pains changing positions in knees, shins and ankles. Feels like nerve pain.

During the night I also experience increased hearthrate when I roll over in bed. Don't know if this is due blood pressure issues, or because of vestibular issues. I do not experience any anxiety or dizzy feeling, just pulse pumping to 140 or something, several turns per night.

My fingers and hand also feel weird since March. I expected this due to extensive smartphone usage, but perhaps the numbness and pain is something else...

I think I have peripheral neuropathy, especially since my vestibular nerve has proven issues as well.

Anyhow, my GP does not want to do a thing, and is letting me wait for an appointment for neurologist in the end of July, which I had already planned since May because of the, by then unknown, vestibular issues. About my cardiac issues he says it might pass over time and is no reason to worry about!

Could anyone give me advice on how to seek proper care for my situation? I feel like I should push for testing and try to get a diagnosis to see if this all can put to a halt.. I feel like it is progressing rather fast at the moment.

Thanks, Hugo

Feel free to respond :)
If anyone has healthcare experience for getting a proper diagnosis, I would love to hear which trajectory I should pursuit!

Can you get an appointment with a neurologist? Have you had any blood tests? It took most of us here a pretty long time to get a diagnosis and even with the diagnosis of PN, there are many of us with no found cause. IF you search around on this website, there are some threads with blood tests you can ask for. I think the most simple cause is B-12 deficiency.

Neuro in July
 

If you have an appt in July, I don't think you could ask for better. Six month wait is not uncommon. Probably first test would be nerve conduction study. If you aren't familiar, imagine accupuncture needles attatched to small wires and your muscle "output" is converted to audible tones. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

Welcome hydropillow. :Wave-Hello:

You're set up to do what you need to do in having the neurologist appointment. My experience has been that the GP may do some initial testing to rule out the obvious, but will then yield completely to the neuro. As Ken said, waiting until the end of July isn't bad. I waited six months to get in.

My heart does a lot of weird things. If I roll on my right side, I often get in an irregular rhythm. I try to stay off my right side. In February of 2014, I wore a holter monitor for 24 hours because I was having palpitations. The monitor picked up 1300 irregular beats in 24 hours, and several other odd things, but nothing dangerous. The cause was hormonal, and now I'm just back to normal oddness.

I tell you all this because I've learned my heart is just weird, and I have lots of oddities. It hasn't killed me yet.

If it scares you and you'd like reassurance, you could get a cardiac work-up.

Hi all and thanks for your responses! :)

I will look into the bloodtesting, the GP didnt want to perform any because it wouldnt be useful. (teeheee!!) Guess he has absolutely no clue what he's dealing with. But I'm grateful that he listened to my complaints today and allowed me to see a neuro on much shorter notice (next week). I will see a specialist in the area of herniated discs, and might get an instant MRI - its kind of a routinated facility for quick checkups, not sure if I'm at the right place but they might be able to put me in the right direction.

I guess the diagnostic Ken is mentioning is the one which is the most specific and concluding, in combination with a bloodtest. O well, I will have to surrender to the knowledge of these neuros, just started reading up on this topic...

Thank you Janie for soothing my mind about the heart issues. I will sleep better tonight :)

I'm kind of impatient with the waiting times for diagnostics... Symptoms progress too fast to sit at ease, and some websites claim 'urgent diagnosis' on acute onsets. Perhaps I'm just being anxious, but I feel like I should be on top of it to minimize any ongoing damage (if any) and perhaps stop the progression.

Exciting times... By the way; alcohol seems to dull out the pain in my feet and hamstrings a bit, but is it wise to drink a few? ( 1-2 beers) I'm not taking any medicine as of yet, so looking for some relief :)

Hi, I'm pretty new here, and am only here as I was searching for support for femoral nerve damage which I know I got from hip replacement surgery...the issue is my whole right thigh and down the side where IT band runs...so I know this nerve damage issue is from surgery. And I'm also thinking, nerve damage from about any surgery can happen.

I see so much nerve issues and wonder IF everyone knows why they end up with this.

I know medications can cause so many side effects to the body. I know about diabetic nerve issues and I've read about alcoholism and nerve damage.

Do you have any ideas WHY you have this.

Speaking of alcohol and my father drank all his life, but I can never recall any nerve issue with my dad. Just wondering.

I work with some B vitamins and some other nerve supps and "I think" I'm feeling less tingling on my thigh, but still very numb going on 5 yrs....these nerves may never be restored and I'm learning to live with what I have.

Hi Hugo,

Sorry you are going through this, but it seems that your Drs are passing you along for the correct testing/treatment to come at the earliest opportunity. Of course, this will hinge on whether you get a good Neuro, or an ignorant/arrogant one. Be forwarned, they are out there in droves.

Regarding having a few beers, alcohol is a known neurotoxin which has been shown to damage the Peripheral Nerves. It may relax you, but do you want to risk further damage?

Keep us all informed as to your progress as you continue your journey.

Dave.