Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Buzzing away in Limbo Land

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Buzzing away in Limbo Land

    Hello!

    I have not been diagnosed with MS but wanted to share my story and see if anyone else has a similar one. I am kind of at my wit's end!

    (I am a 38 yr old female)

    It all started in July 2013. I noticed a tingling in my back that felt like a tickle that has since turned into a nearly constant buzzing. I also had tingling in my hands and feet. I was so tired. More tired than I could remember being and my life was not particularly stressful at the time! Around the same time, I had pretty bad pain in what felt like the inside of my right rib cage. It would come and go and it was very painful; like a tight, almost crampy pain. I had no insurance at the time and went to urgent care, thinking I had appendicitis or something. Doc did ultrasound, was worried about gallstones. No gallstones. I did have a couple stones in my kidney so he thought maybe there was one passing through my ureter and told me to just drink fluids and it would pass on its own (if that's what it was). One day, the rib pain was just gone, just like that. I had not passed a stone. The buzzing/vibrating (feels like a cell phone vibrating under the skin on my back) continued.

    In December, the jerking started. My right leg would jerk out and it felt like someone was holding on to my hips and shaking them. A couple months later, i was getting the strange sensation of wet paper towels being wrapped around the bottom of my legs. The buzzing in my back continued.

    I finally had insurance and saw a (ridiculous) GP (who insisted on calling me 'mommy'. I have no children) who did bloodwork (mostly normal) and told me to see a neurologist "if I felt like it". I felt like it. Eventually, I got an appt in April 2014. He listened to me and ordered a brain and cervical spine MRI. The insurance company would only approve the brain MRI. The brain MRI was clear, no lesions, and the neurologist said "you prob don't have MS, probably just a pinched nerve". I went to physical therapy and a chiropractor. No real change. Still buzzing away and the rib cage pain came back.

    I have also acquired new symptoms since April. The muscles in my left leg started twitching, all day long, for ten days straight. Also, shooting pains down my arms and legs and pain in my knees, fingers, ankles. At night, I feel like I need to stretch my legs, I do and then they seize up in painful cramps. Still dealing with bouts of extreme fatigue and the jerking came back for a few weeks. And, of course, the buzzing and vibrating is ceaseless and is driving me bananas.

    I went to see a new GP to get another birth control prescription and explained my symptoms to her. She ordered more blood tests ( I get results of those next week).

    Does anyone think I am being ridiculous for thinking I really do need a spinal MRI, since the majority of my buzzing begins in my back? Has anyone out there been diagnosed with MS with ONLY lesions on their spine? Does anyone else have the constant annoying buzzing in their back? Do these symptoms sound like MS to any of you?

    I appreciate you taking the time to read this! I swear I am not a negative hypochondriac. My fiancé and I are so sick of not finding any answers about my weirdo health problems! Thank you again!

    #2
    Not weird

    I also get myoclonic jerks and cramps in my legs. The neuropathy (mosty tinging, burning, numbness and pain in my feet) is disabling. I get the "buzzing" in my left leg every so often and it is definitely weird. It does feel like your cell phone is buzzing in your pocket. I always have to do a double-take before I realize me cell phone isn't even in my pocket! I don't get that very often though.

    Be prepared though. MS is a difficult diagnosis to make (it is based mostly on scan findings and LP results). I have been to 2 specialists and have probably had 5 MRIs, brain, C and T-spiine, and probably 50 tubes of blood drawn*over 4 years for all kinds of tests. My MRI is abnormal but was not felt to be consistent w/ MS w/ either specialist. First LP showed high IgG but no oligoconal bands. Repeat LP last week positive for IgG AND O-bands now.

    But do be prepared, if you see an MS specialist they will rule-out anything possible before they call it MS unless your case is very obvious. I have even had a stomach biopsy to ruleout celiac disease, biopsy on my lower lip to ruleout Sjogren's disease....bloodwork to ruleout infections (Lyme, syphilis, HIV, HTLV-1, etc), paraneoplastic panel, autoimmune diseases...crazy stuff. Good luck to you!

    Comment


      #3
      MRI

      It would definitely not hurt to have an MRI of the spine and request referral to a decent neurologist. My GP doesn't even bring up the subject of the neurological issues, of which there are many.

      Comment


        #4
        Thanks

        Thank you for your reply!

        I have an appt this afternoon to go over new lab results from (another round) of bloodwork. I am so frustrated and sick of feeling badly but it's comforting to know others are out there who have experienced the same frustrations. I'm sorry you had to go through so much to get a diagnosis and hope you are feeling better now!!

        I have had a rough week. More jerking and twitching and shooting pains in my arm, toes and ankle. Then on Monday, my wrist hurt so badly out of the blue (felt like a sprain but I had done nothing to it), I couldn't turn the steering wheel with my left arm, and by the end of the night I was in tears from the shooting pains in my wrist and fingers. As of right now, less than two days later, the pain is almost entirely gone. Has this ever happened to you?

        Again, thank you for your reply. It is much appreciated!
        Have a wonderful day!

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Chilagal View Post
          Hello!

          I noticed a tingling in my back that felt like a tickle that has since turned into a nearly constant buzzing. I also had tingling in my hands and feet. I was so tired. More tired than I could remember being and my life was not particularly stressful at the time!
          I am so glad someone else is feeling buzzing. It seems a ridiculous description for something that takes place beneath the skin.

          But that is exactly what I felt twice on my right temple. Not a muscle spasm, I have plenty of those. A real buzzing.

          I am so sorry you are experiencing the jerking, Chilagal. And no diagnosis... It sucks!

          I wish Insurance companies would let the doctors do their jobs and all the tests they need.

          Comment

          Working...
          X