This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi all,
This is my first post here. I'm having trouble sleeping tonight sleep due to pain and anxiety, so I figured I'd post here to vent. Maybe it will help.

I'm a fairly typical guy in my mid-30s. I have a desk job and sit all day in front of a computer. I've had generalized anxiety since I was a kid. Not any serious health problems but many minor ones over the years.

A few weeks ago I noticed some pins and needles in my legs while laying in bed. I didn't think much of it then. It came and went for a few nights. For a few days it disappeared. Then a week and a half ago, I flew cross-country and back to visit some family. I'm always concerned about sitting too long on an airplane, and what circulatory problems it could cause if you don't stretch your legs. The night after I returned home from my trip, the pins and needles in my legs returned, again only at night. They also started to feel a little numb, also. I wondered if the problem was aggravated by the plane ride.

A couple nights later I again have numbness in my legs and now my left arm. Having generalized anxiety and having occasional health anxiety, this sends me into a panic. I call for an ambulance thinking I'm having a stroke or a heart attack (I now know thanks to the paramedics what common symptoms of a heart attack actually are). The paramedics checked my vitals and my heart. Both were fine. They asked if I wanted to go to the emergency room, but I declined. I figured it was just anxiety and went back to bed. I went to see a doctor the next day, a week ago from today (thank goodness for fast premium healthcare). The doctor thought it might be a herniated disc and gave me stretching exercises to do, to help alleviate my symptoms.

Now, just recently a couple nights ago, I started having what I know as peripheral neuropathy in both legs and arms. It was a combination of numbness, pins and needles, and burning. Some cramping pain in random places, also. I immediately scheduled another appointment with the doctor, which I had today. The past couple nights I had pretty severe burning pain and numbness in my legs, and somewhat in my arms as well. It's been keeping me awake at night. It also triggers my anxiety which stresses me more and probably doesn't help my body calm down. I've also had a dull aching pain in my lower back, around my tailbone.

Tomorrow morning I go to have blood drawn for multiple tests, and I should be sleeping, but I'm awake because I'm so scared and anxious. I'm just frightened at the sudden onset of the pain in my legs. I think I'm more scared that I don't know what it is yet. If it's MS, I guess it'll take time but I'll come to accept and deal with it. I just don't want to end up with paralyzed limbs! I'm a grown man, but I'll admit I had a good cry today because I was so upset. This whole thing just has me rattled, and my anxiety has been through the roof. I've been in good physical shape for years and I lift weights regularly. I would hate to not be able to work out anymore, or as much, because it helps lower my anxiety. My personality is very introverted and I don't have any close friends or an SO to rely on for support. I guess that's why I wanted to post here. I just feel so alone and scared.

In addition to the blood tests, the doc ordered x-rays of my C- and L-spine, to rule out a herniated disc. I want to have an MRI done, but my doctor wants to wait until the first tests come back. Also I should mention some of the possible symptoms of MS I already live with, due to inner ear damage from labrynthitis several years ago. I'm dizzy, clumsy, and have nystagmus due to my inner ear problems. I already deal with balance issues almost every day.

I'm sorry if this post sounds disjointed or rambling. I'm trying to get across my current situation and my feelings about it, and my head is so fuzzy with anxiety right now.

dizzyguy wrote:Now, just recently a couple nights ago, I started having what I know as peripheral neuropathy in both legs and arms. It was a combination of numbness, pins and needles, and burning. Some cramping pain in random places, also. I immediately scheduled another appointment with the doctor, which I had today. The past couple nights I had pretty severe burning pain and numbness in my legs, and somewhat in my arms as well. It's been keeping me awake at night. It also triggers my anxiety which stresses me more and probably doesn't help my body calm down. I've also had a dull aching pain in my lower back, around my tailbone.

Tomorrow morning I go to have blood drawn for multiple tests, and I should be sleeping, but I'm awake because I'm so scared and anxious. I'm just frightened at the sudden onset of the pain in my legs. I think I'm more scared that I don't know what it is yet. If it's MS, I guess it'll take time but I'll come to accept and deal with it. I just don't want to end up with paralyzed limbs! I'm a grown man, but I'll admit I had a good cry today because I was so upset. This whole thing just has me rattled, and my anxiety has been through the roof. I've been in good physical shape for years and I lift weights regularly. I would hate to not be able to work out anymore, or as much, because it helps lower my anxiety. My personality is very introverted and I don't have any close friends or an SO to rely on for support. I guess that's why I wanted to post here. I just feel so alone and scared.

In addition to the blood tests, the doc ordered x-rays of my C- and L-spine, to rule out a herniated disc. I want to have an MRI done, but my doctor wants to wait until the first tests come back. Also I should mention some of the possible symptoms of MS I already live with, due to inner ear damage from labrynthitis several years ago. I'm dizzy, clumsy, and have nystagmus due to my inner ear problems. I already deal with balance issues almost every day.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, dizzyguy. You have found a community of supportive friends.

You mentioned "peripheral neuropathy" and blood tests – Numbness/tingling in the legs and arms is a common symptom in many conditions. In investigating the cause of peripheral neuropathy, the University of Chicago suggests the following (I hope these have been ordered by your doctor.):

http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchic ... #bloodtest\

Blood tests

Blood tests are commonly employed to check for vitamin deficiencies, toxic elements and evidence of an abnormal immune response.

Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may request certain laboratory tests to identify potentially treatable causes for neuropathy. These include tests for:

Vitamin B12 and folate levels
Thyroid, liver and kidney functions
Vasculitis evaluation
Oral glucose tolerance test
Antibodies to nerve components (e.g., anti-MAG antibody)
Antibodies related to celiac disease
Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C and B

Starting with the first screening in the U of Chicago list, vitamin B12, the initial testing should include 4 tests: (1) a serum B12 test – or the newer, more reliable HoloTc test, if this is available yet in your area, (2) RBC folate test, (3) a homocysteine test, and (4) a methylmalonic acid test. The serum B12 alone is not adequate to discover a B-12 deficiency. Do not take vitamin B supplements before testing, as this will skew the test results. Peripheral neuropathy is the most commonly reported symptom of B 12 deficiency – be sure your doctor thoroughly rules this out.

(By the way, request your own copy of any test results.)

We are here to listen; we hope you will share your journey to diagnosis with us.

Hi,

Lynda is right. You need to be evidence based. Even your anxiety can be a symptom of an underlying problem.

It would not matter what name your problem ends up being given, it will still require you to take charge of understanding it. It could be a deficiency, a virus, a bacterial infection, a physical impediment, a metabolic imbalance or a combination (which is likely).

The blood tests your doctor has ordered are probably pretty standard. He will be looking for signatures of disease or infection, your cholesterol etc. What he needs to look for are real pathogens that can scavenge nutrients such as mycoplasma and chlaymdia or herpes viruses that can slowly influence your metabolism such as EBV. Not every bug shows up easily in standard blood tests. Some bacteria need a poo test to be discovered. Many bugs can mimic MS symptoms.

The cramping, the anxiety, the sense you are having a heart attack are probably related to how neurotransmitters are functioning in your body. There are many pathways so don't over analyse it yet.

I wouldn't pay much attention to the doctors stretching exercises, particularly if you just went home and did them by yourself. Nearly everything we do depends on technique. Go to a Pilates studio and learn how to stretch and exercise properly.

Repetitively lifting weights is not exercise. Its too focussed on big muscles and ignores the small muscles. The whole body needs to be worked. I can't think of any animal that repetitively pumps just one big muscle for survival except birds (or they fall down). Most work the whole body through movement. I'm not against weights but if that's how you exercise then plan for hip and knee surgery in time.

Also, start getting massaged regularly. It will need to be a sport style massage for you to work out what muscles are tight. Then you might progress to a more specific type. With massage, it is not about qualifications, it's about the hands. Either they can or they cant. Shiatsu or Thai style massage are brilliant if you get the real thing.
At this point you are a long way from an MS diagnosis. Be wary of antidepressants as they disguise how you feel. They might be right for you but they might lull you into forgetting to check for causes.
There are plenty of people here who can offer ideas on specific problems so just let us know what you are told and we will try to help.

Regards,