Any ideas as to why I'm experiencing numbness and tingling in my back?

[K_001]

Hi,

My issues have been going on for a year+ with no answers yet.

Short synopsis

I was in a&e for 3 days because of a foot injury. I was doing foot exercises and did it too rough, I had burning and tingling from my foot to my calf.

After sitting on a recliner for 24 hours in a&e my legs turned to stone and I couldn't stand up. The skin on my lower back just above my bum started to feel numb.

Since then I've had numbness all over my body and tingling. In particular I get back pain from time to time (in and around where my SI joint is). The pain will range from mild to feeling like a brick is sitting on my lower back. I. numbness and tingling from my back down to my legs which is continuous. I also sometimes will have bladder issues and have been tested for Caudia eqina - all clear. My pelvic muscles are also weak and will sometimes go into spasm.

I have had 4 MRIs for spine, blood tests for autoimmune conditions and blood tests for vitamin deficiency - all came back clear.

I'm also under the care of a neurologist who ruled out MS. I've seen a rheumatologist who ran blood tests and MRIs which came back clear.

Initially they thought it was something to do with covid, as I had covid the week before this all kicked off. But all bloods came back clear.

I think its now all off a sudden hit me that I could be living the numbness, tingling and back pain, with no answers as to why. Its now mentally really getting to me.

Can anyone suggest where I go to next for answers?

[Anonimoveneziano]

I am sorry to hear about your troubles.. are you under any medication for osteoporosis?

[fraid]

It sounds scary I know, I have similar though no bladder problems. It was thought I had MS, same as my sis, but my M.E symptoms can be similar. But mostly mine comes from my back and Osteopathy kept me going for years but finally had to have back op re prolapsed discs. I finally #d 6 vertebrae. ☹️

If you've tried everything else, sounds like you have,I'd try a good Osteopath as could be trapped nerves which may not show up on scans etc. I would not go to Chiropractor as too rough for me. You may find ice paks or heat will help on lumbars base of spine where sciatic nerve may be irritated. If you get Sciatica down both legs I would def treat that as serious. Good luck. 🤞

[Marymary7]

If they did a B12 blood test get hold of the results. Pernicious Anemia or low B12 can cause such strange symptoms. Sally Pacholok has a great book called Could it be B12. Also there are films and info on YouTube. Good luck.

[Fruitandnutcase]

It does sound as if something somewhere is squashing a nerve when you lie flat however as you have had multiple MRI scans and seen a neurologist etc and nothing has been found it appears to be a bit of a mystery.

Definitely look into B12 as Marymary7 has suggested. Could you be diabetic or anything like that?

Have you seen a physiotherapist? I saw a very good lady recently who gave me two very simple exercises that helped a lot with nerve spasms through my lower back and legs so if you can find someone who specialises in pain relief and spines you might find that could help. Just don’t let anyone push you into doing anything that hurts or that you feel uncomfortable with.

If you overdid it with the foot exercises it sounds like you need to be much more gentle with any exercises you do. I would try to keep moving gently though. I find I have to move regularly and sensibly and that is what has helped my very messy spine most of all.

In Pilates (with a physiotherapist for our teacher) we (a bunch of older ladies with osteoporosis and goodness knows all what sort of problems) are always being told that on a scale of 1-10 we should only be working at about 3.