Its been a little of 3 months since I have been on the boards. Since that time, I have had about 10 doctors appointments. I had my final and worst neuro appt. I was pretty much told, "we can't figure it out, give us a call if something new and visible happens?" I told the doctor that I knew the appointment was a waste of my time. I have been seeing my rheumy. He found that my vitamin D level was severely low. Out of 100, my vitamin D level was 10. He did some blood work, ordered an xray of my feet, and referred me to a podiatrist. Why my feet? Because they hurt every single day! I wake up in the morning dreading the first step out of bed. It is torture. I have pretty much given up on the high heels I have been wearing comfortably for decades. Now I put on flat "old lady shoes" (as my daughter calls them) and my feet still hurt. If I drive or sit in one place for more than a half hour, my feet burn and ache. The podiatrist was really nice. He told me that my problem doesn't appear mechanical (caused by injury) but systemic. Nonetheless, he is ordering me (a 35 year old) into orthotics and special shoes! URG!!! My husband thinks it is funny. I know he doesn't mean any harm, but I am definitely NOT looking forward to the shoes.
Here is my problem, the chronic foot pain is just another symptom of my body falling apart. Here is up I am now dealing with:
- fatigue
- muscle spasms, twitching, and burning (all over...face (eyes, lips, cheeks), arms, legs, torso, neck, back, hands, feet, fingers and toes...over over)
- my legs are tired and achey all the time
- my left leg tends to drag (not very noticable unless I trip)
- my left leg causes me to limp at times (I get alot of hip pain)
I don't know what this is. Could be MS. Could be a host of things. Right? I am just very afraid that the chronic pain and muscle spasms are being misdiagnosed and suddenly when I am wheelchair bound the docs will say, "Oh, is is MS"
At least the podiatrist didn't dismiss you,hopefully the orthotics and shoes help you feet and there pain.
I'm 41 and wear a AFO and a KAFO and it has helped my walking a great deal and had lessoned alot of my spasms and leg pain until my last relapse and high powered steroids.Now the spasms are back and they can be relentless.
Stretch,stretching the leg muscles is better than any medication.A good stretch is leaning over and hanging downwards and letting your arms dangle down towards the floor.If you have a tendancy to lose your balance make sure someone is there beside ya.Thera-bands help greatly to.
Sorry hear about the defective neuro,so many are caught up with the McDonald Criteria score vs. listening to the patient.
Michelle you have had one heck of a rough road with neurological symptoms and DRs dismissing them.
Its validating that the podiatrist beleives that the feet problems are systemic vs.injury.Thats a plus for you.Hopefully you can get your vitamin D level up.
Don't worry about being 35 and wearing ortho shoes if they releive some of your pain than its well worth it.
Could this be MS ,its possible,this disease manifest itself in its good old way.Maybe no lesions today,but here tomorrow.Hang in there,your rheumy sounds like they know what they are doing.
It is good to hear from you. Sorry to hear about your relapse. I will try the stretching. My spasms have become relentless, too. They have increased from the mild, barely noticeable to violent jerks. I am just going to keep praying and keep going to the appointments. I will also not be vaine about the orthotics. I am sure that walking without pain will make it all worth it.
Hello, Just a quick note about Vitamin D . My doc's also said mine was extremly low. He suggested vitamin D tablets once a day, and solarium visits to help absorb the tablets. Don't know where you live, yr post doesn't say, but here? hmm let me say its freezing cold. Just a final tip from me is thati put 30+ on my face when going in the solarium. Hope this heps a little.
Thanks for your post. My rheumy put me on 50,000 micrograms of D for six weeks, plus 1000 micrograms daily. I find out if my levels have gone up on Wednesday. I'm in Baltimore where it has been pretty hot and sunny for months. I have noticed that over the last year my tolerance for the sun has decreased significantly. Years ago I loved being in the sun. I would take my books outside and read in the sun for hours. Now, the sun almost feels like it is burning me, so I don't do any "sun bathing". But I have been told that even if you are not getting direct sunlight, the sun's rays still get you. I also eat plenty of dairy and dark green veggies (and I take a daily multi-vitamin). Needlesstosay, I was shocked when he told me how low my level was.
I'm glad you are going to try the orthodics,if even releives a little of the pain its well worth it.
If you even sit in a window with the sun rays coming through it will help your vitamin D levels.
Wish you would get some answers soon.
I hope the stretching exercises have helped a liitte.
Well off to the orthodic DR. he needs to pad the leg braces they are rubbing my heels raw.Tried using thick bandaides but I'm allergic to the adhesive.
Orthotic problems addressed and fixed.They revamped the heels by heating them up,pushing them back and padding them.The right full length brace they cut the calf part down some.If i moved the wrong way it would pinch the skin and leave nasty cuts that I can't feel anyways.
Now if they could just oil the joints a bit I'd be a new person.Just developed joint pain,from a med.But I have full intentions of continueing the med 64 days yet(stop smoking aide).I had to make the choice a little pain or smoking?Ya know they say no pain no gain.(24 days smoke free).Its out weighing what one will tolerate to give something up.I couldn't do it on my own.
Plus I needed the weight last attack kicked my butt and for some reason I always lose weight and have a loss of muscle.
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