I’m a 23 year old male, leading a fairly healthy lifestyle with taking no medication other than an albuterol inhaler for my asthma (I also have allergies, but not to any medications.) Anyway, about five years ago I found out that I had a disorder known as "peripheral neuropathy" affecting my entire body in the form of sensory nerves. Basically, my skin felt as if it lost a layer of sensation. Almost like wearing thin gloves over my skin. I could still feel things like temperature and pressure and touch however. I had burning/tingling sensations in different parts of my body, and my back always felt hotter than the rest of my body. A type of numbness or lack of sensation is everywhere. At that same time I also found out that recently to having that symptom, a blood test came back showing that I had caught mononucleosis as well. I went to a neurologist about this condition and he did some tests on me and found that I did in fact have a mild peripheral neuropathy, but he wasn’t sure if the mono caused it or not. I’ve had it ever since.
Fast forward five years and over the past few days things have suddenly gotten worse and I don’t know if it’s related. Over a month ago I had what’s called "sudden hearing loss" in both my ears which caused me to lose a little bit of hearing, but not much. Enough to produce noises in my ears called "tinnitus". This condition is still present in me at the moment. I had just woke up one day with a ringing in my ears and fullness/pressure in them. I went to see an ENT doctor and he said it might be caused by a virus so he prescribed some steroids for my inner ear and vitamins. The steroids ended up getting rid of the fullness/pressure but not the noises.
Aside from that, a few days ago I was just going about my life when I noticed that my face felt different. It felt like it had novacaine in it, or perhaps the feeling of being asleep like when you sit on your hand or something. That’s the only way I can describe it. It was on both sides of my face and all over. Pretty soon I noticed that this new type of neuropathy or whatever is all over my body for the most part. I’m not sure if it has to do with muscles or skin. But the muscles do feel tender. Now a few days ago I noticed that I’m having a bit trouble walking on my right leg, in particular it feels weak for some reason. My feet feel like they are turning into liquid, like an intense burning sensation. My muscles still feel strong and everything though and my motor skils are fine. Naturally, I was pretty freaked out, so I checked myself into the Emergency Room and they performed things on me such as a CT Scan, and MRI of my brain, MRI of both parts of the spinal cord, as well as blood tests. Everything came back normal. I am currently going to a new Neurologist, but he is convinced that I have some sort of chemical imbalance with the brain.
Is there anything that could be causing this peripheral nerve problem I’m having? Any kind of inflammation of skin tissue or something? What about degenerative diseases? I just want to know what could be the cause of this.
Its disappointing that no one has responded to your posting. Has your neurologist ruled out Multiple Sclerosis? I assumed you had MS Simply because you on on this forum. I have had some of the symptoms you describe such as the burning sensations, loss of hearing temporarily and also had a loss of feeling in my face and also weakness in the limbs. They have not been there all of the time but they have come and gone over the years. I have MS. If I were you, I think I would be seeking a second opinion. Do not be afraid to question the doctors and to seek a second opinion. if that little voice in your head is talking to you then listen to it. If you feel like you are not getting the answers you need then it may be in your interestes to have some of those tests done again through a different doctor.
Its only a suggestion. I hope your health improves and all the very best.
Agree with Gingerdebeers reply. I was diagnosed with MS 14 years ago at 24 yrs. "Peripheral Neuropathy" is a form of demyelination – so I too have had many of the symptoms over the years which you have described. The whole episode/s you have described must be causing you considerable stress not knowing what is going on. Initially for me diagnosis was hard and not forth coming. In retrospect here is a couple of areas which may help which I have learnt through 14 years experience.
1) Keep a specific diary as to your symptoms and episodes - write everything down in the order in which it happens, everything from moods to specific feelings. Note everything – if the relapse lasts 3 months write about it every day. Write down everything. You may not think important but a Neuro who sees many with Neurological conditions will pick up what is going on. I found when I used to go to my Neuro I would forget certain things or would tell him about it not in the order unto which it happened. Doctors like to write everything down – this will save heaps of time and he/she will see a complete picture as to the episode. A diary tells them everything. Example: If I felt pain – the Neuro understood when I said my pain was 6 out of a scale of 10 on a particular day – so write it all down and be as descriptive as possible. In 12 years time when you see him/her they will read it all back to you .
2) If your diagnosis is not forthcoming – or you are not receiving medication to make life easier - Search out the leading Neurologist from the particular field of illness and get a second opinion. Long and the short of it – you need definitive answers – you are only 23 yrs old with heaps of life left to enjoy. I was not getting the answers I needed early in my diagnosis so I researched and asked around and found the leading MS Neurologist in my part of the world - he was fully booked for 4 months - I wrote to him and he agreed to see me within 2 days. 2 weeks after seeing him, he confirmed my MS through various tests and I was put on Medication (Betaseron) which slowed the progression and I was at long last able to get on with my life. Through my diary of relapses he honed in instantly on what was going on & I felt at long last someone knew what I was talking about.
Hope all this makes sense. Whatever happens you don’t* need the STRESS – you have a whole life ahead of you. Get some answers - go see some other Neurologists – you should not be
Young Male with Neurological Condition - Multiple sclerosis forum - General
