For the past month I have been having strange RLS-type symptoms in my right leg AND arm. My leg has a constant 'electrical' feeling that tingles and I feel the urge to stretch and move. My arm however has been achy throughout and tingly in all my fingers and palm. These sensations change the tingling goes from mild to severe as well as the aches. But it never goes away completely. My left side is not affected at all. Could this be MS? A pinched nerve? Something else? I have an appt with a neurologist in 2 months and I have an order for an MRI. However my deductible is $10k!!! I'm trying to avoid unnecessary costs. Any help is appreciated. Thank you Charlotte p.s. This problem began in July of last year but seemed to go away. At that time I had a full blood panel which came back normal.
2015-02-05 11:27:11
I can appreciate your worries regarding your symptoms and the need to best utilize your insurance. It is very difficult to diagnose your case on net but I can summarize the possibilities which you can discuss with your doctor before taking up any tests. If the problems started in July last year and the blood work was normal then peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes thyroid disorders Lyme’s lupus vitamin B12 or B6 deficiency are probably ruled out. Just check the blood work and see if all these were tested for and if not then ask your doctor about these. Since the limbs of only one half of the body are involved nerve compression high up in the cervical region should be ruled out. Poor posture while sleeping sitting on computers or jobs for a long time uneven bed exposure of back to cold air while sleeping can cause a discomfort for a few days. Take a multivitamin plenty of fluids and an OTC analgesic. Apply a local analgesic and apply a heating pad and see if it helps while you wait out the time until your appointment with the neurologist. Also please get your blood pressure checked. Pain/tingling/numbness etc in the limbs of one half of the body can also be due to fibromyalgia chronic fatigue syndrome severe anemia ankylosing spondylitis osteoarthritic changes of the vertebrae calcium deficiency low Vit D parathyroid gland problem or electrolyte disturbance. Since the symptoms disappeared in between possibility of an electrolyte disturbance calcium or vitamin deficiency hormonal disturbance (thyroid parathyroid gland and may be even hormones like estrogen progesterone etc if you are in menopausal age group or have polycystic ovary) should be looked into. It can also be due to nerve compression as the symptoms would improve if your work schedule and posture was correct. Yes multiple sclerosis could also be a possibility. So it is important to first get a MRI of the head and neck region. You can then discuss this MRI and all these possibilities with the neurologist. Also if possible meanwhile discuss these possibilities with your GP/PCP. A detailed medical history and clinical examination by your GP may be able to rule out some of these possibilities. You may need further tests to rule out some of these possibilities.
2015-02-05 11:27:42
