Neuropathy

[bduritsch]

Hey everyone,

This is my first time using a website like this. But I feel
that I should get my information out there so that I can
try and get some help with a diagnosis. I have had many
things happen to me as far as symptoms go, but here goes...

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. 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 peripheral neuropathy but he wasn't sure if the mono
caused it or not.

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. 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,
as well as blood tests. Everything came back normal. The next thing
they want me to do is go and see a Neurologist.

Can anyone PLEASE give me some sort of direction for a diagnosis for
this? I really really want to know what's happened to me. I need some
sort of treatment. Will things get worse or stay the same? I just want to
know. Right now I have all the same symptoms I mentioned. Mainly
the burning/tingling feeling in parts of my body such as my feet and back,
as well as the trouble walking (not always, it comes and goes) and the
numbness I described earlier. What should be the next step? An MRI
of my spine? Please let me know what could be going on.

Is there any way to rule out any life-threatening diseases?
Things like Parkinson's or the condition that Stephen Hawking
has? What about auto-immune disorders and things like that?
I also heard that a ruptured disc or lesions in the spinal cord
can cause similar things to this as well.

Thanks!

[dbonilla]

I just read your post and my heart goes out to you. Wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed with diabetes last December and now have very painful neuropathy. The burning, tingling, stabbing pains, sunburned feeling, sensation of tightness around my ankles etc. It's horrible. Don't give up. There is a reason for your symptoms. Do go to a neurologist and keep persisting in your questions. Your are your greatest advocate. Your are in my prayers for a correct diagnosis and healing. God bless.

dbonilla

[myburningfeet]

You are so young to have such medical problems and I wish I had the knowledge to help you! Did you go to your neurologist? Have you had lab tests? A neurologist can figure out what your next step is. Write down all your questions in a booklet and go in prepared to get answers. Take a friend or relative to take notes too. Often times you leave a Drs office not remembering a thing he said. I have peripheral neuropathy and take Lyrica to keep it at bay. You don't mention taking any medications for your neuropathy. Good luck in finding the right diagnosis and treatment.