Numbness, Prickly Sensations, Twitching Worries

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ListoR

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I posted a while ago with a question about numbness in the foot - I have numbness in my heel with prickly sensations in my foot and lower leg. I get them in the other leg as well but not nearly as much. I had replies saying that people did get this but that it goes away. It hasn't! I've had it for about 2 months. I'm worried about MS now! The more I worry, the worse my twitching gets! I told the neuro about it but he ignored it. It can't be right. It's worse when I walk a long way or sit for a long time - especially on a hard chair. I can feel it now - my right lower leg feels strange - it's hard to describe. It's not painful, just a peculiar, tight feeling. I'm hoping it's a BFS thing - or a back problem. I never thought I'd hear myself say I'd like a back problem! I'm 5' 3" and have never had a bad back in my 52 years. I can cope with the twitching - after 7 months I've realised that it's unlikely to be what I feared. This new symptom has started me off again! Back to sleeping tablets! Anybody had this type of thing investigated?
 
My friend has this sensation in her hands and feet - they told her it was due to her scoliosis/spine damage from an accident years ago. Nerve entrapment as a result. She didn't have this when she was exercising and stretching so figures that is what she needs to do more of. Her's is worse in in the morning and evening when she is less active so she attributes it to poor circulation. Do you relate to that?
 
Thanks for yor replies. Both of these posts suggest that it's not related to BFS - that's interesting! Since I've had this twitching I think everything I feel is related. My GP told me that I'd be super concious of every pain and twinge and he's right! One thing confuses me though - if it was related to my back, wouldn't I get pain in my back?
 
Not necessarily. Misalignment in the upper thoracic can cause numbness in the hand and fingers. When I had ruptured discs I felt it in my side and below the discs that were affected. Sciatica can cause pain throughout the leg.....
 
ListoR - I have exactly what njman described and very similar symptoms to what you're experiencing (mine is on the shin and foot). I don't experience any significant pain - really no pain at all. In speaking with some neurologists and physical therapists, they seemed to view numbness and pain as synonymous. In fact, in the worst of times, I would make sure they understood it was numbness after they would ask about the pain. Then they would again refer to it as pain shortly thereafter. I don't think it was them not listening, but their view of the two as a similar process.
 
i also feel vibrating tingling sensations. funny it is just in the left foot (arch and sole), began two weeks ago, after 5 weeks of overall twitching....
 
Thanks everyone - your posts are reassuring. It's my accelerator foot - I drove about 30 miles today and it was going crazy when I got there! The pins and needles go away eventually but the numbness seems permanent. It never moves - it's a patch about the size of a golf ball on my heel. I don't think I'd worry about it so much if I hadn't got this twitchy thing as well!
 
Hello there,Boy am i glad that I read your post!! I have been coming on this site for a while now but have never posted anything. I have been experiencing "strange" symptoms since March of this year. It all started with a huge amount of twitching, which is what lead me to this site. Lately though, i have had a horrible numb feeling around my knee which becomes worse at night and when i have been sitting for long periods of time. I also have a weird "tight" feeling around my ankle of the same leg. I have been terrified that I have got MS as i have also had bouts of pins and needles. Have had a clear brain MRI but still i am scared to death. Reading your post comforted me in a strange way, just to know that i am not alone!!!
 
Hi,I'm glad that my post reassured you - I think that's what this site is supposed to do, although it sometimes has the opposite effect! I still have a numb heel - ignored by the neurologist and my gp. The gp thinks it's local damage from standing on my feel all day. When you read the posts on this site the symptoms of bfs seem to be varied - pins and needles and numbness being two of them. I have the feelings you describe but have not developed any weakness after 9 months of twitching. We have both been twitching for about the same amount of time and the chances of us having mnd are decreasing all the time. The more I read about mnd the more I realise that we would be in a real mess after 9 months. My husband has a friend who was diagnosed with mnd at about the time we started twitching- he now can't lift his arms to drive. This condition is mainly a pyschological battle, it will never harm us physically but it plays mind games with us. Sometimes I can look at it that way and rationalise it and sometimes it swallows me up! We are certainly not alone - there are hundreds of people on this site, some of which have been experiencing symptoms for years. We won't find a cure on here but we can encourage each other to think positively and beat this thing!
 
ListoR - If you have to drive a lot try getting a soft 3" rubber ball and sit on it in front of your sit bone toward your knee. The pressure releases the tension on the nerve caused by tight muscles. If you move it around I bet you'll find a place where it will take the tension off the nerve and most of the sensation will disappear. Try also stretching your hip muscles & lower back after work - these get tense when driving and standing (esp. if you are not in proper alignment). Look here for stretches: if you don't have some you can use. Good luck.
 
Thank you! I'll try those things! Great to hear practical advice on here rather than doom and gloom! I'm not even sure whether the twitching and the prickling/numbness are related - the prickling is definitely worse when I drive or sit for a long time and soreness in my feet worse whenI stand! Perhaps I should hover! I'm a teacher so I stand all day - can't seem to assert the same amount of authority sitting down! I wonder if a yoga class will help?
 
Yoga has been reported to help several people here - you could search the topic at the forum.....Sure try a yoga class - shop around though as you don't really take the class, you take the teacher. I've found some good teachers working out of adult education and community centers which are usually not expensive. For people like us: find a teacher that focuses on proper alignment and offers some meditation to calm your nerves. I find it to be beneficial and once you can progress out of the beginning levels it is also a good way to trim up and strengthen. The best part being that you can also do it at home so can get away with a weekly class for instruction (if you have the discipline to practice by yourself).
 
I have had the same numbness and tingling in my heels,bottom of the feet,shins,calves,etc.It has gotten better in the past 8 months. I do have a small tear at L5-S1,although all the doctors I've seen say it's most likely NOT the cause of all my weird symptoms.I attribute my self-dignosed BFS to high stress and an injury to the piriformis and gluteal muscles from exercise. I couldn't sit at ALL without cushions of some type.With time, physical therapy,massage, and alternate exercise and stretching I have improved vastly.I also make sure I am taking my multi vitamins and minerals with extra B complex(good for nerves),fish oil,glucosamine,calcium(also essential for nerve transmission) etc.
 
Hi there,I have slight tingles (pretty consistent but also easy to ignore) in my left foot; mostly around the toes. I've had it for at least a year, about as long as I've had the general all over little twitches. Since I don't have any persistent back trouble I've been assuming it's just another BFS symptom; although sometimes I do wake up with soreness right in the small of my back, usually after I've slept in too late, so I guess it's possible it's a back problem. It's also possible it's related to my broken left ankle - which is what seems to have started off my BFS. Speaking of which, has anyone else developed this as the result of an injury? I've heard of it being brought on by an illness but my catalyst really seem to be my broken leg a year and a half ago.But in short - yes, since all of this has been going on for over a year it can't really be a degenerative neurological thing for either one of us or we'd have degenerated alot more by now. At least that's what I tell myself when the fear starts to eat me alive...Hope this is helpful,Mrswhatsit
 

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