It took me complaining for 7 years to get a diagnosis, they didn't take it more seriously til I was in tears in the doc office telling them how it has spread from a small spot of numbness to my entire leg and partial foot and now starting in other leg. It's so hard to get docs to do tests.
Physical therapy, which I am studying now in one of my classes, I used to think it was B.S. but now I see how it can be helpful even if we don't know the exact cause, because it can help build muscle to support areas where bones are weaker, and other things they do with heat and cold therapy can cause blood to go to that area of the body to help heal it. I'd do it if I could, but I'm in USA and don't have the money for it, and don't have the energy or ability to stick to any schedule regularly because of severe CFS and Fibro.

Hi all,

As I said, when I see my pain doc he might take this more seriously and order some tests for me in the clinic setting in which he works. there are all types of doctors there and I think I could be tested in that same clinic for a nervous disorder. I certainly aim to make it clear to him that I was extremely unhappy with my own doctor's reaction to my complaints. It seems like she wasn't really listening to me as I told her about the numbness in my legs as well as my arms. I can hardly wait to wake up and have lost the use of my leg one day just as I've lost the use of my arm right now. What can I say, I'm pissed off for sure.

Maybe I missed this in any of your posts or replies, but wondering if you have had any accidents?

I have numbness/tingling in my left arm almost constantly. The first Doc said, oh just fibro. Then I went to a good spine/pain doc who Dx'd with Spondyliosis in the Neck. He hasn't let the issue rest until it's resolved. I see the Neurosurgeon on Monday.

Here's my point. I went to a second Neurologist and stared him in the face and said, "and Yea, when you do the emg and nerve conduction study, can you be specific and not chalk it up to fibro??" I was feeling particularly frustrated and sassy that day and low and behold the Neurosurgeon flagged it for serious functional problems. But, I've had 4 car accidents, so don't freak out.

I really think those tests are as good as the person doing them and a lazy doc will like to lump a lot of things into fibro. I would NOT mess around the tingling/numbness in the legs especially but arms either!! I have been told that can be a serious problem (or not where I am hoping in my case where physical therapy may mediate, in time, the damage I have done to my body). I really feel for you in reading your comments. I have spent the last 3 years on this frustration as well. So BIG HUGS and prayers be with you.

P.S. when I couldn't DO traditional physical therapy, I went to some great aquatic therapists. My low back sciatica is now gone. Even walking in a pool or bicycling or arm movement may help you some.

Have you had any trauma to your neck in the past such as whip lash?

Hi,
I haven't had any accidents at all, knock on wood. I"m really waiting to see my pain doc but that won't happen until early next month so I'll do the physio until then, though I only get 10 sessions with them. I'm in Ontario Canada and our provincial health coverage doesn't cover anything but this place will cover those 10 sessions because I'm on disability and then I'll have to pay. Unfortunately I can't afford anything after that, since being on disability doesn't pay very well as some of you might know. Maybe they can do something for me to get me started on the road to recovery. Right now I don' t do any exercising at all since I have asthma and COPD and now spots on my lungs which we're in the process of investigating and all that makes it hard to do anything very physical. I don't know if that could have any bearing on this but I don't see how it could. If anyone out there thinks it might be related let me know. I don't know if I listed those problems when I told you all what is going on with me but I use spiriva, advair and an emergency inhaler of salbutamol for times when I can't breathe at all. I do see my oncologist next week as well so if there's some kind of connection then I'm sure he'll tell me, or hope he will at least. Sorry I didn't add this problem earlier but I don't see a bearing between not being able to breathe and not being able to use my arm, though that could just be my own lack of information. Hope to talk to you all again soon,
J