Neuropathy & stiffness?
 

Back in September I woke up and lost sensation to my lower body, arms felt weak. There was also heaviness in my neck. My balance was also affected. There was severe dizziness as well that persisted for about 3 weeks. It always affected both sides equally. After the numbness began to subside, I began dealing with body wide jerking (wrist, legs, whole side of body). Similar to myoclonus jerks. Currently, about 5 months later, the major symptoms have subsided and I'm now dealing with numbness in my hands (feels like wearing a glove) and stiffness in my fingers. Occasionally the numbness even goes up my entire arm.. both sides. My fingers will lock up for a couple seconds and then release quite often. This is affecting my writing and typing. My hands just feel off.

Also have tingling in fingertips and toes that is pretty consistent. Toes were cramping at one point.

I have seen my primary care doctor (who suspected MS) which was a whole anxiety inducing experience until I had the MRI done ruling that out. I finally got in with the neurologist last week and I have an EMG/NCV scheduled in a month. I realize anxiety is a contributor to making the symptoms worse, but I feel like it's not the cause. My symptoms severity seem to vary day by day. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.

Welscome PatAttack. :Wave-Hello:

The stiffness in my life is from Arthritis and we can all end up with some in our lives be it early in life or later. Rub the areas that are stiff, keep moving them, and not a bad idea to rub some arnica creams in the areas of stiffness, and I like Topricin cream for a lot of this pain and stiffness. I use many others but seem to find Topricin homeopathic works good.

Hi PataTTack

Welcome to the community :).

It sounds that the doctors you have seen have done a good job in checking out various possible causes of your neuropathy. I hope this continues; there may not be a single cause of it.

Best wishes.

Have the MRI investigations included--
 

--any imaging for compressive issues in the spine, particularly in the cervical area?

There are many potential locations/causes of the symptoms you describe, but you definitely want to take a look at spinal/nerve root possibilities.

OP: For the Neuropathy issues also, I believe my years of taking Grape Seed Extract have helped me a lot and also a friend who has a long history of PN, one she got to taking G.S.E. she improved, and no more of the drugs she took for a lot of years. And I've also talked about Inosine here which helped me so much from the burn/tingle issues I ended up with from joint replacement.

You mention MS, and my sister had her first symptoms in her very early 20's and then she went into remission for a lot of years, the doctors early on were not sure when she had her first signs. I believe there are two types of MS. Vit D is critical and especially for those with MS and I truly believe reducing sugars majorally. I went thru her journey with her.

The stiffness as I said could be arthritis as I know it is for me.

Keep on working with your drs, sometimes it takes time, persistence and luck. Things don't always show up definitively on testing, imaging or blood work, it takes many follow ups and a Dr that really wants to help....
If they stop being helpful ask for a referral or seek second opinions on your own..

Make a concise list of all your symptoms can be helpful..
Start with the main issues and work down to less bothersome.. Give a copy to each Dr so they can have it available in your records..

It may be a combination and not 1 condition alone..
Explore some of our forum topic sticky threads that you might think related..

Thank you everyone for all of the replies. I guess arthritis is possible, but at the age of 28 it seems a bit unlikely? I shall also look into the grape seed extract.

My neurologist said the ANA blood test was positive, but that it's likely to be a false positive. All other blood tests looked fine. Based on my medical history they suspect idiopathic neuropathy. When I was younger I had bad stinging/electric type pains in my hands that eventually went away in time. I believe they're basing it off the notes from the primary care provider in the past. I'm wondering if maybe my body got exposed to something and caused this to flare up again. I was pretty much symptom free for years.

I guess at this point if it is neuropathy, does that necessarily mean damaged nerves or just irritated nerves? The emg/ncv I'm having done on my hands and feet will be able to rule out damage correct? My symptoms just seem atypical. Not really any pain (maybe a little in the joints in my hands), just stiff, partially numb, uncoordinated hands.. that always gets worse with caffeine oddly enough.

At 28 not unlikely. I had my first arthritis issue in lower back at 18. And it advances with years of wear and tear, so we must do all we can to do "light" exercise, I did a lot damage dancing for years but had a good time, now I pay but no regrets when I think of it all.

I've done a lot of bodywork, D.O., Chiro and bodyworkers of many types.

[QUOTE=PatAttack;1291975]Thank you everyone for all of the replies. I guess arthritis is possible, but at the age of 28 it seems a bit unlikely? I shall also look into the grape seed extract.

Pat--I have the same fingers condition that you described in February, and my condition is getting worse. Have you found the cause or relief?