Hi there, I’m new to this forum and this is my first post. Unfortunately it’s going to be a lengthy one.
I’m 18 years old, and lets just say I’ve not had the best luck in life (a lot of family problems), and I‘ve grown up to expect the worst. A few days before Christmas 2012, I started getting severe pins and needles in my hands and feet (this lasted for days). I also began feeling dizzy, and started having severe panic attacks. I was seriously convinced that something was wrong (I felt like I was going to have a stroke), so I went to see the doctor. The first doctor (not the doctor my family usually sees) told me it was hyper-ventilation (rapid breathing), and there was nothing to worry about. This calmed me down for a few days, until the same symptoms returned, I then went back to the doctors. This time I saw a second doctor (again, not my usual family doctor), and I was prescribed Propranolol (an anxiety drug), and was referred to a therapist for health anxiety.
After I began taking the Propranolol, the pins and needles, dizziness and panic attacks stopped. However, I began to experience body-wide aches and pains (what I describe as a dull/achy ‘nerve pain’) and some fasciculation’s. I did the stupid thing and Googled these symptoms, and stumbled upon Multiple Sclerosis and Motor “you know what” Disease (I noticed you guys love to censor the term). As you can imagine this sent me into panic mode again, and the twitching spread like wildfire.
I have been experiencing this weird body-wide nerve pain and twitching since around mid January 2013. When I say body-wide I mean my face, ears, neck, back, stomach, shoulders, biceps, forearms, hands, fingers, thighs, calves, ankles, feet and toes. The only place I haven’t twitched is my tongue (although I’ve probably jinxed myself now). I also get ‘buzzing’ sensations in my feet. What made things worse, is my Grandmother (who is also a fellow hypochondriac) happened to mention that someone in my family died of M*D aged 23! Now I do love my Gran, but sometimes she doesn’t know when to ‘keep quiet’.
It turns out that this unfortunate person was my fathers cousins son, so there is basically no genetic link between us, and neither of my parents have been diagnosed with any deadly neurological diseases as of yet (my Grandmother also deals out a lot of misinformation). A few days ago (Monday the 25th of March), I finally got to see my family doctor, and told her my worry of M*D. This lady is an experienced doctor (she noticed a hole in my little brothers heart when he was born, that none of the hospital doctors did), so she knows what she is looking for. She basically told me it was all stress, she even tested the strength in my hands, and felt my calf muscles (I thought they looked smaller), and told me that everything was fine (that I had good muscle tone). She told me that M*D does not present itself with widespread muscle twitching, and the odds of me having it at 18 are in the millions. I even mentioned BFS, and she agreed. I was told to stop Googling symptoms and go to the gym to alleviate the aches and pains. I was honestly hoping to get referred to a neurologist (I know that sounds weird), because I really want an EMG test to completely put my mind at ease, but she disagreed.
I have NO muscle weakness whatsoever, I can still lift weights and hop on one foot, etc. But for the last week my legs have been hurting like hell. I have constant pain in my feet and behind my right knee, and my calves cramp up when I walk to work. I’m worried sick because my legs have been twitching non stop for the last few weeks. I can still walk ok, no loss of balance. But this morning when I woke up I noticed my stomach twitching, and I COULD NOT feel the twitches.
Guys I’ll be honest, I thought that seeing my actual family doctor would make me feel better, but it didn’t. The cramps in my legs and not being able to feel the twitching in my stomach has made me feel so upset. I’m just mentally drained now. I’m due to see my doctor in a months time. I just hope I don’t start dropping things or falling over before then. If I’m still experiencing painful legs, I’m asking to see a neurologist.
Any reassurance would be grateful. Does anyone else with BFS experience body-wide twitching and nerve pain? Painful legs and cramping calves? Can you see your stomach twitching but not feel the twitching? Many thanks - David.