Numbness, tingling, pain in arm

[hsmaldo]

So....I've been having numbness, tingling and pain in my right arm for the last 3-4 weeks. At first I just chalked it up to a possible volleyball injury, but I've not played in the past 2 weeks and it really hasn't gotten any better with the rest.

I've been hesitant to call my neurologist, in fact, didn't really connect the two here until after I got back from my vacation a few days ago. But it seems to be getting worse and to the point where it's past annoying and becoming almost painful at times.

It is certainly made worse by certain positions, when I move my neck or arm a certain way, the reaction is almost immediate with the shooting pain, numbness and tingling from my shoulder/upper outside arm, down to my fingers (the middle fingers, not pinky finger)

I put a call into my neuro and the PA said either he or she would call me back today. But in the meantime, I'm wondering if this sounds familiar to those with Paresthesia or if it is "simply" a pinched nerve.

Hannah

[MarkLavelle]

But in the meantime, I'm wondering if this sounds familiar to those with Paresthesia or if it is "simply" a pinched nerve.

Sounds more like a pinched nerve, to me, and nothing simple about it (herniated discs, in my case). If it were me, I'd see my physiatrist and expect to be doing some physical therapy.

My MS is 95% paresthesia (24/7), and it was my physiatrist who sent me to a neuro when he couldn't find a 'mechanical' reason for it.

Good luck!

I had the same exact thing happen to me several years ago while I was on vacation--I was sure it was an MS attack, and we cut our vacation short. I learned my lesson not to blame everything on MS, because it turned out to be a herniated cervical disk. The fact that yours is "positional" makes me suspect that's the cause of yours as well.

Get it checked out ASAP. I had PT and mine resolved completely, but I've had to be careful to prevent a recurrence.

[hsmaldo]

Thank you!

Thank you Mark and Betsi for your responses. I really do feel like it's a pinched nerve as well since it IS positional.

It made me nervous though, because if there WERE lesions causing it, that would bump me from CIS to clinically diagnosed MS....which I really don't want--that's why I was hoping for "simply" a pinched nerve!

Thankfully my neuro is being aggressive and ordered a C-spine MRI, which I got on Monday, but insurance would only cover the MRI without contrast. So I guess depending on what they see, I may or may not have to go in for another with contrast.

I'll update when I get the results of the MRI. Thanks again for your responses, it's really helped set me at ease!

[MSW1963]

Many of my sensory sx's, including paresthesia type pain, numbness and paralysis are body position and activity induced, particularly sx's involving exercise activities involving my arms. I wouldn't totally exclude MS as a source of your sx.

There is a bit of sx overlap trying to distinguish what is physical injury and what is MS. Best of luck with your MRI results.

[hsmaldo]

MSW--thank you. I called my dr's office this morning to get the results and they should be calling me back today with the results.

I can see how the sx of both could be activity/positional induced. Just crossing my fingers until I get word from the dr!

[hsmaldo]

not a pinched nerve

The c-spine MRI showed signs of demyelinization. I'm crushed.

But now the neuro is sending me for the c-spine WITH contrast as well as another brain MRI with and without contrast (I just had one in April which was clear) as well as the blood test for neuromyelitis otpica-NMO/devic's disease.

I'm really freaking out now.

Hannah, I'm so sorry--I know this is not what you wanted to hear. I don't know how old you are . . . maybe it would help you to know that I was dx'd at 32, I have MANY spinal lesions, but I had two decades of healthy remission. At 63, I have gone downhill a bit in the last 2 years--years when I had other health problems and multiple surgeries. But I do not use any mobility aids or have what others would consider "significant" problems.

Hopefully you will do well on the new treatments, nothing was available at the time I was diagnosed or I would probably be doing even better now. Good luck.

[hsmaldo]

Betsi

Thank you for your response. I'm in my mid-30's. It does help to know your story and it does give me hope!

I'm doing better today emotionally, than last week, it sure is a rollercoaster though!

Waiting to get authorization from the insurance for the follow up c-spine. Hopefully I'll hear back today and can get it set up ASAP!

I guess I just have to hang on and keep on keepin on!

[hsmaldo]

small update

I got in yesterday to get the MRI's and I'm waiting on those results now.

My arm seems to be feeling better...slowly but surely, but it still bothers me occasionally--just not constantly now.

The NMO blood test came back negative. I know there's a 30% false negative rate, but at this point and until there is really strong evidence otherwise, I'll take the negative as a true negative!!

I'm doing better emotionally too, though now I have a cold and feel kind of lousy! People with chronic illnesses should be exempt from getting acute illnesses!!

[hsmaldo]

just checking in...

Still dealing with the numbness and pins and needles in my arm.

My neuro finally told me that he'd like me to get a second opinion from an MS Specialist. I set up an appointment with one and will see him next Tuesday.

I did start physical therapy last month in the off chance that it's a pinched nerve. Whether it's helped because it's a pinched nerve or because the lesion is healing--I don't know. But I can see some improvement in my range of motion and strength. I'm also able to do more things (sleep on my side) that before were just near impossible. It's not as constant as it was before, but it's still noticeable and present.

The update on the MRIs were this: The first cspine said huge lesion and they tested me for the NMO as I stated in my earlier posts. The cspine with contrast said no lesion at all. They then brought me back for rescan/additional scans without contrast and they're not sure what they saw with those. My neuro said maybe Transverse myelitis--but I was under the impression that affected BOTH sides--mine is only in one arm.

I basically just stopped worrying about it after setting up the appt for the 2nd opinion. My neuro called yesterday to see if I had seen the other dr yet and just to follow up. I was pretty impressed with that--even if I didn't have anything to report to him!

I'm sure I'll get back on here and update after my appt with the MS Specialist. Wish me luck!

[aspen]

Thinking of you ...

as you ride this crazy coaster ...

I hope you get some clear results from the MS SPecialist, one way or another.

[hsmaldo]

Thank you Aspen!

[hsmaldo]

Very late update

So the MS specialist said that I have MS. Said that with the CIS and the evidence of Dawsons fingers on the MRI that he can diagnose it.

The c-spine lesion has gone from huge--causing concern for NMO and transverse myelitis to not even being detected.

I was in physical therapy for the arm and that seemed to help. I stopped therapy at the beginning of November, but there was still some pain, numbness/tingling with certain activities.

Had an unrelated surgery in late November where I did a LOT of resting and not much of anything else and it has completely cleared up. No pain, numbness/tingling with ANY of the activity/positions that used to bring it on.

So, long story short, they never really gave me an answer as to what was causing it, but it's gone now, thank goodness!

sorry it took so long to update...I think I did on a different thread--just not this one!