I was wondering if anyone here might know the answer to my query.

I have symptoms of wandering numbness all over my body. It can last for as little as 15 mins or as long as an hour or two. It began while I was taking the SSRI celexa, and although I stopped this drug a couple of weeks ago, the symptoms remain. I also have pain in a few classic fibromyalgia places (neck, shoulder, lower back, chest) that can be quite bad or barely there.

My sister has CFS and suspected FMS.

I am seeing a doctor today and hopefully get a referral to a neurologist, but I have heard how vague Drs can be about things like this.

Does this sound like possible FMS? My fear is that it's MS.

Maia, I also suffer from numbness and tingling, both in my lower and upper limbs. When mixed with the symptoms of MS, I thought perhaps it could be MS, too, since I have a sis with it, and was sent for a brain MRI. The diagnosis was that "there was nothing up there", and I was relieved. But, I know what you mean about being scared. I have no insurance and it cost me nearly $1,500.00 to find out, but worth it to me! Doc figures perhaps it might be a herniated disc, but has said nothing more than that. I know of no way to help with the numbness and tingling. Does anyone?

Hi there,

You say 'when mixed with the symptoms of MS'... what other symptoms do you have?

How long have you been having the numbness and tingling and how long does each episode last for?

Someone recently wrote to me on another list who said she has FMS and her friend has MS. She said the symptoms were really similar, but the MS comes in bursts that leave her friend temporarily incapacitated, whereas she has her FMS symptoms every single day.

As for the numbness and tingling - I have heard of good results with taking a very strong anti-oxidant (with grape seed extract). I am going to try that as soon as I can afford it. :-)

All the best,

Maia

With fibromyalgia numbness is common. When muscles spasm they sometimes press on a nerve to the extent the nerve becomes "dead". Release the associated muscle spasm/spasms and the feeling should come back.

Welcome, I have numbness to varing extents daily. The good news is when I had my mamograhm and then had to go back and do it again, boy, Hallaluha! First time no pain no nothing. Well, it's good to look at the lighter and possitive side of this; when ever possible. It's like seeing a Blue moon. Take care, Kim

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Maia,

My symptoms are various. I have pain in all (count 'em, all!) of the trigger points. Pain radiating up my arms and legs (shooting pain), I also have dull pain as if someone is taking something and pressing it down on my muscles, headaches, memory loss, lack of coordination, dizziness, and sometimes my sentence structure is pitiful. I have had episodes of pain climbing from the left side of my neck, up the neck to my jaw, up the jaw to my ear, from my ear to my head and then off my head up into the wild blue yonder. The numbness and tingling may or may not be associated with pain and swelling. I can't pinpoint what causes mine. It happens when I have exhausted myself or sit and type for long periods (I have a desk job), or it happens for no apparent reason. Sometimes it can last for a couple of minutes, but it can go on and on for much longer periods of time. I meant to tell you in my last post that I took Celexa for a couple of months, but it did nothing for me. Right now, my meds are 50 mg. of Elavil at night. I am supposed to be on Arthrotec, 75 mg. 2x daily, but after the doc gave me samples from his office twice, I called to check the price for the prescription. It costs $100.00 per month, and I made the decision last week to go off of it, because I didn't want to call the doctor's office again and ask for charity, and can't afford to pay any more bills right now. I haven't been able to tell much of an improvement on the Arthrotec, so that's why I stopped it. Of course, I go back next month for a check-up and my doctor's going to kill me, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Thank God that Thanksgiving is nearly over and there were no major outbursts at the family dinner that will be shown on Springer...I have been working non-stop the past two days, and my tingling, numb and swollen hands, feet and legs need a rest. Take care...

Hi Elaine. I was reading your post to Maia, and the part about the price of meds and being unable to afford them really struck home. My doc has given me lots of samples, and if he didn't I couldn't take alot of my meds. My husband is out of a job and we can't afford COBRA. Plus, the plan we were on wasn't that good on med costs. He is on several meds and I'm on alot, and neither one of us has been able to afford our scrips for a while now. My father in law is on Hospice, and the social worker has helped us fill out some forms to get our meds through the Patient Medication Assistance Program. I had signed my father in law up for a program that I found over the internet that gave him free meds. The drug companies send your meds to your doc's office and you pick them up from there..free! If you would like, I think I can find that site again and I'll let you know how to get there. I think this PMAP that we're trying to get is basically the some thing. Let me know... Linda

Linda, Thanks a lot for your post. Trust me, I have checked everything over and over again. Problem is I make too much money to be considered for any assistance through the good ol' U S of A or State, and while I have found some plans that might be almost considerable, I still put my health on the back burner as far as prescriptions and insurance are concerned. I'm holdin' out for the boss to pay up, and I believe that is scheduled for the 12th of never!

Elaine, sorry to say, but I know what you mean about making too much money to get any kind of help. We also are in that situation. Although I haven't worked in 3 yrs. and my husband hasn't worked in about 4 months, we make too much money!!! Actually, it's because he owns some stocks from the company he worked for for 30 yrs. and we own a couple of lots of land. The stocks are going quick as we are needing to sell them in order to pay bills, eat and have Christmas. The land my husband will never give up because it has been in the family for years. It's not even that much, but that makes us unable to receive help. When I applied for disability, I automatically applied for SSI, and we can't get that because we have too much! I know there are people who are in worse shape than we are, but I also know that there are alot of people who are getting assistance and truly don't need it.I know my husband will eventually get another job and I really wouldn't expect help then, but I just don't for the life of me see how "they" figure we don't deserve some help. People like you, who are working their butts off, putting your health issues on the back burner so you can live to pay bills and taxes, and then be told you don't qualify for a helping hand. I can get really wound up on this subject, so I'll quit now. Please try to take care of yourself, because if you don't, no one else will. And if you don't, in a couple of years, you might end up like me.I burned myself out trying to keep working, being a mom, a wife, and everything else people needed me to be. Believe me, it's really not worth it. Be good to yourself before it's too late! Take care!! LindaD