Burning all over...

[TexasDenice72]

BEen told it's anxiety/depression - which I have.

But I'm worried about MS!

Symptoms started in 2002 after a very stressful time in my life. Burning sensations on arms (both) and entire face - like I've been steamed by hot steamy water, or a sunburn.

Had 1 c-spine and 2 brain MRIs between 2002 and 2005. Saw an MS specialist twice. Last MRI was ordered by him. Completely clear - no concerns he said. Symptoms waxed and waned w/ Zoloft. Originally Zoloft wiped them out for a few months - so I believed it when they said it was anxiety.

I've felt GREAT for 4 yrs, and now the SAME symptoms are back. Burning and just sore to touch, all over my body.

I've read that purely sensory symptoms that come and go and cover most of my ENTIRE body, are probably not MS - as MS does not usually present this way.

Just need some peace of mind - any suggestions?

[Wonderfulworld]

Hi TexasDenice
yes your sources are correct. When I've had burning, tingling, itching symptoms they tend to be on my right hand side only - this is the side that is most affected by MS.
Hope that helps.

[jimmylegs]

if you have anxiety and pain i'm suspecting magnesium involvement.

maybe see if you can get a test. the normal range for serum magnesium is 0.70-1.10 mmol/L but research has found people with levels less than 0.90 mmol/L should supplement.

ms patients tend to be low in magnesium.

when life is stressful, the body's level of magnesium excretion increases.

when you have less magnesium, you are likely to feel more anxious, so it can turn into a nasty feedback loop.

on that note - i told a friend who was having trouble getting pregnant, to take zinc. just to help with any potential menstrual pain, i threw in a magnesium recommendation too (muscle relaxation).

she came back to me later and asked if there was anything in what i had told her to take, that would help her relax. i said 'the magnesium, for sure!' i did not know that she had been suffering serious anxiety to the point of losing hair.

low magnesium can definitely cause neuropathic pain. adding magnesium can act as a NMDA blocker and reduce pain.

ha i found an old news article on the subject:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/story/2002092 ... ium020923/

[TexasDenice72]

Wow! That's incredible. I will definitely get some magnesium and give it a shot! If I find this helps me w/ all of these shenanigans my body is up to....I will come hug you personally!!! I've been a HOT MESS!

Why do doctors not test for these simple things when a patient comes in complaining of these things?

I pray this helps!

I will keep you posted!!!

Denice

[TexasDenice72]

By the way....my iron was 10.8 on last week's blood work I had done. I'm always low.

[jimmylegs]

ouch what units for iron??? in the units i use, i try to keep mine above 100!!!

why are you always low? iron anemia can lead to burning pain too.

try to keep your hemoglobin at least 13 too..
mayo clinic:
"A low hemoglobin count is generally defined as less than 13.5 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter (135 grams per liter) of blood for men and less than 12 grams per deciliter (120 grams per liter) for women."

also, what's your protein intake like generally?

i certainly hope you get some relief!

and as for why doctors don't run the tests, it's probably because our health care systems are actually disease management systems. if you want to be proactive you might want to go to a nutritionist.

in canada, in ontario at least, that means you have to pay for the appointment and any testing. by and large, health care is only covered here once a patient is already sick.

for example OHIP (ontario health insurance plan) recently cut coverage for vitamin d3 testing UNLESS you already have bone disease such as rickets etc.

so patients can be at well documented risk for immune system implicated diseases such as cancer, MS, etc etc etc, due to sub-optimal vitamin d3 status, but as of 2010 in ontario, you have to pay to find out about it.

again, hope you feel better soon. here are links to healthy magnesium- and iron-dense foods

Mg: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... nt&dbid=75
Fe: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... nt&dbid=70

also magnesium oxide is not a very soluble/absorbable form. citrate is a little better and the most absorbable form is magnesium glycinate (sometimes you see magnesium bisglycinate).

hope that helps!

ps epsom salts baths are typically magnesium salts too so you can try those and use according to package directions (don't overdo it!)

good luck

[Kate925]

A woman I know with MS has told me that the main effect of her MS is burning all over. She wears prescription pain patches every day.

I have had one spot of burning.

[lovebug]

Can you tell us more about these `prescription pain patches`. I have not heard of this before. I have painful nerve pain in my hands to arms 24-7!!! Nothing helps so far............

[TexasDenice72]

Another thing I have that is driving me MAD....is the heat literally feels exaggerated w/ me. I'm in Texas, first of all, and it's been horribly hot here. But normally I can handle it. Lately, when I walk outside it "feels" more intense on my skin. And...the most bizarre of it all is hot water REALLY stings bad. I mean....I've always been one who can run their hands under HOT water for a long time w/o it really being a problem. Now....it is WAY more intensely HOT to me the very second it starts getting hot. Does this make sense? I can't handle the hot water on my skin or the heat outside on my skin. It's all my skin! IT's MIND BOGGLING!