Question for Valeriem2220

[SherryBerry72]

Can you please explain what your burning sensations feel like? I just saw one of your posts. I have had burning off and on for 10.5 yrs. I am going for my first MRI since 2005 hopefully this week.

All my drs think it's anxiety. I had 3 MRIs years back when going through this and they were all normal. My neuro exams are always normal as well.

Thank you!

[valeriem2220]

When the burning first began about 3 years ago I explained it to people as it felt like I had a permanent sunburn on my chest, upper back, arms and face. My computer was in my sunroom at the time which got very cold in the winter so we installed a baseboard heater to aid in heating the room, even when this heater would kick in, which didn't have a lot of air circulation accompanying it, just that little bit of air movement made me hurt terribly. Clothing that rubbed on my skin lightly hurt terribly. If the clothing was snug against my skin and didn't move it was fine.

Last summer when a friends baby tried to reach for my glasses and just gently rubbed his hand down my face from just below my eye to my chin I was brought to tears because that gentle rub made my face literally feel like it was on fire.

I have also sometimes described it as a very painful razor burn.

I hope I helped with your question some. I really do have a hard time describing the burn.

[SherryBerry72]

Thanks....

Thanks. I have read lots of stories about sensation when someone touches your or your clothes rub against you. I can't say that anything that touches me bring me is painful enough to bring me to tears.

Years ago I remember my clothes bothering me. It was like my skin was hypersensitive and I could "feel" things that I never thought about feeling (a cuff on my shirt, the collar, etc).

The burning on my face is hard to explain. It's like a bad sunburn/steam burn/I've been slapped sensation. When I wake up, it's not there. It kicks in once I get to work and has been lasting most of the day...until bed time.

I was fine for 3 mts and it started back up the very day my best friend of 25 yrs and I had a falling out. We were planning a benefit for a friend...and long story short...she flipped out on some things and we haven't talked since. The very day that happened, my skin started burning again. This is always triggered by some stressful event and once it starts, I obsess over it and Google it trying to find a REASON.

Do you deal w/ this daily Valerie? Are there meds that you take that keep it in check?

[valeriem2220]

Yes when I get stressed my skin is on fire and it spreads to my eyes and I have actually left work because of the burning into my eyes.
My old boss brought this out in me every night at work. I switched to a different crew with a different boss simply because I knew the boss I had was making me so stressed out that I was feeling worse as a result of that stress and had a very hard time even going into work because of it. It was very easy to call in because I wasn't feeling well when working for her.
My new boss is wonderful and I have felt much better because of her and have been far happier at work.

My neuro has me on Lyrica for the pain. It does work very well for me. I do still have the burning sensation at all times but it is not as intense since I started the Lyrica.

The burning started approx 5 years ago and just on my arms and was constant. I don't think it ever went away I just got used to it so I didn't think about it until something set it off and made it burn even more.

It just finally spread to the other areas I mentioned last summer. I do live with this every single day and have gotten used to the fact that this is just the way I am going to feel. When I shop for clothes it has become habit to really think about my purchases and if it will wisp over my skin and cause me pain or hit areas and cause it.

The burning is more intense in the extreme heat or extreme cold also.

and yes I agree that it feels like my skin is hypersensitive. I feel every little thing that touches me especially if it hurts.

Just talking about this has made me more conscious of the burning and my chest and face are on fire right now. ...lol

[Annesse]

Hi valeriem2220~Based on what you are describing, this sounds like it could be allodynia.
http://www.knowyourpain.net/NervePain.aspx
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/20...-allodynia.htm

This is from Wiki under allodynia.

"The mechanism responsible for sensitization of the central nervous system at the level of the spinal cord is different from the one in the thalamus. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its receptor are the molecules that seem to be responsible for the sensitization of neurons in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord. Macrophages and lymphocytes infiltrate the spinal cord, for example, because of injury, and release TNF-alpha and other pro-inflammatory molecules.[17] TNF-alpha then binds to the TNF receptors expressed on nociceptors, activating the MAPK/NF-kappa B pathways. This leads to the production of more TNF-alpha, its release, and binding to the receptors on the cells that released it (autocrine signalling).[13] This mechanism also explains the perpetuation of sensitization and thus allodynia."

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is elevated in MS.
According to an article in Molecular Psychiatry, “TNF has long beenimplicated in the immunopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), whichis an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervoussystem. In MS the magnitude of the elevation of TNF in cerebrospinal fluidmirrors the severity of the disease,” (Finsen, 2002).

[SherryBerry72]

Oh gosh!

I am sorry Valerie!!

Mine started mild on my arms in 2002....6 mts after 9/11 which I think caused me PTSD. I saw so many drs for 3.5 yrs after that - including an MS specialist twice. Had MRIs, etc...

Between 2002 and 2005, I was a mess. Went into a deep depression due to the pains (I was hurting all over). Zoloft got rid of all of the weird stuff. I was back to normal in less than two weeks. That is what made me finally believe the doctors that it was stress/anxiety/depression.

I saw a therapist for the 2nd time today. I am going to work real hard on my issues. Rather the burning is medically induced or mentally induced....I've got to get my mind in order. I obsess over this stuff and can't get anything done!

Has your dr. ever said that the burning IS from MS? Or has he ever suspected another actual cause?

[Annesse]

Hi Sherry~The sensations you are describing are commonly found in MS. B posted a response to your questions yesterday, but I quess the post got lost. In fact, your description of "being slapped" is just how others with MS describe the pain. It is connected to inflammation of the trigeminal nerve (TN). TN is common in MS. For instance, according to the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, TN is probably the most widely recognized neurogenic pain syndrome in MS. Here is a link to a discussion about this.

http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic9533.html

[SherryBerry72]

MRI denied...

I received an email from the neuro office this morning that my MRI was denied - "probably due to past negative MRIs" is what the email stated. The nurse stated that if I'm having problems still, after treating my anxiety, that we can try again for the MRI. I am not being treated for anxiety. I just started seeing a therapist, but have not (and will not) take anything until I see a psych. I have read some horror stories recently. But, I'm not AGAINST taking anything by any means.

My last MRI was in 2005 (for the same symptoms I'm having now) and it was normal. 3 MRIs years prior to that one (that were all normal).

Maybe this IS my answer. I need to quit worrying about MS and find a way to manage my anxiety.