Traveling nerve inflamation?

[wysiwyg]

I've had a problem before that I thought had gone away but it might be back.

Originally I had a spot on my right foot at the base of the big toe that kept cracking and bleeding. After a while it healed but the area was slightly deadened or numb; like when you sleep on your arm and cut off circulation. Eventually the sensation started to spread over the top of my foot and reached my ankle. The area on the top of my foot and ankle would be extremely sensitive and the slightest brush would send a tingle down to my big toe. I noticed that Ibuprofen helped since I occasionally take the 800MG Motrin for my back. I went to a podiatrist and he gave me shots of Sclerosin (sp) along the nerve and this made the sensitivity "retreat" to about half way between the ankle and big toe.

A few weeks later the same problem started occurring on the bottom of my left foot in the area between the two smallest toes. This was much more annoying as I received a jolt on every step. One Sclerosin injection to that foot took care of it.

After a few weeks I had similar problems off and on in my right knee (having to be careful when kneeling or getting into bed to avoid a jolt of pain), and both the left and right elbows along the ulnar nerve.

One day I woke up and the ulnar nerve along my left arm was extremely sensitive with the slightest brush or sudden movement sending a tingle up my arm and hand into my "pinkey" on the outer edge. As an added surprise the finger tips on both hands were tingling the left slightly worse than the right. This got worse over the next couple of days with the pads on my finger tips on both hands being very sensitive like minorly sunburned skin would be. I made an appointment with a "Neurologist" who was so impressive the insurance company dropped her. Naturally, the problem stopped when I made it to my appointment. The day after my appointment it started coming back and got gradually worse over the next two weeks with my fingertips all turning red and slightly swelling. The problem started to abate when the skin peeled off of my fingertips with the left hand being ahead of the right in getting better as it was in getting worse.

After my fingers returned to normal the rest of the problems stopped with even the first problem area, on the top of my right foot, going back to mostly normal albeit a tiny bit sensitive.

This was a year ago and now the problem might be back.

About 3 weeks ago my back started to hurt on the left side lumbar area when I stood up or lay down. This is the opposite of problems I've had in the past with my back and in a different side. I figured something popped out of place and would eventually subside as these problems usually do if I take it easy. Then my left hand started going numb with the problem on the radial side this time; i.e. down my thumb and forefinger. Moving my wrist didn't cause any pain but stretching my arm, such as when reaching for something, would cause significant pain down my index finger and thumb.

The back problem subsided but now the top portion of my thumb on my left hand is numb / tingles. It basically feels like it does right after you hit it with a hammer and before the pain sets in. The inner edge of the thumb is the most sensitive and only above the knuckle. My left arm feels a bit "tight" if I reach, more so if I reach backwards. If I just flex my wrist it doesn't cause problems unless I also straighten out my elbow and also raise my arm.

Any ideas? Any suggestions on what to ask a neurologist for or what kind of Neurologist to go to? I hate to spend lots of money, with an 1100 deductible, on another doctor who will say something helpful like "it must have been some sort of virus".

[Dr_prakesh]

I understand your frustration.

Do you have the transcript regarding what exactly was found on neurological examination.

Have you had an EMG?

[wysiwyg]

Hi Dr. Prakesh,

Thank you for the reply.

Unfortunately the neurologist didn't even make an acceptable transcript. The insurance company almost made me pay for the procedure since there wasn't one sent to them. Once they did get it it must not have been impressive since they dropped the person I went to. Apparently, I was also overcharged. This "neurologist" was recommended to me by the staff at the podiatrist I originally went to after it was obvious that it wasn't just a foot problem

I had an EMG when I went but there was no testing of my feet and hands even though I asked about it. She said everything tested exceptionally well on the conductivity test except for my left ulnar nerve which measured a slight resistance. When I asked about my knee she insisted it was the joint and wasn't open to other possibilities. The areas with the biggest problems, my hands and feet, weren't examined.

Where's Dr. House when you need him.

Actually, at the time I thought perhaps the problem was caused by the strict low carbohydrate diet I was on. It definitely wasn't gout. I doubt the diet was the reason though. I'm not on any special diet at the moment.

Are EMGs suitable for measuring nerve conductivity in the extremities?

Thank you again.

[Dr_prakesh]

Well from what you are saying it is as if you have not been examined by a neurologist, so this needs to be done.

An EMG (NCV) is good at measuring the activity of the large nerves in the limbs (actually the extremities are easier to measure than the parts of the limb nearer the body).

Can you get the actual results?