<p>Actually, I’m not really expecting any particular medical advice, but rather, sort of a thread where I can glean some advice as some posts on other threads have seemed rather thoughtful and beneficial… and today… I’m in a mood (or pain) enough to share my dilemma. (Tomorrow I might regret sharing, but hopefully I’m still anonymous enough on this forum.)</p>
<p>In short, I’m looking for ideas - not really a democracy where “most votes win” but thoughts to sift through.</p>
<p>The rest is going to be long to try to put enough information forward to base things on. If looking for “quick,” skip it.</p>
<p>One important (maybe) detail to this is I have a benign brain tumor that was discovered last Oct. I’m told it is NOT related to the rest, but sometimes I wonder. It was treated with radiation from Jan - Mar and hasn’t significantly changed since then according to the last MRI (early June). Radiation is not supposed to be related to this other stuff either.</p>
<p>This “other” issue is weird. Last July I started feeling tingling/numbness in my hands occasionally and merely thought the carpal tunnel I have (and have had since youngest was born 18 years ago) was starting to get worse.</p>
<p>Sometime later I figured out it really wasn’t related to the carpal itself. The carpal affects my thumbs and a finger or two first, then spreads out to the rest of the hand. It only happens when my hands are above my heart as with driving or reading a newspaper. To get rid of it, I merely lower my hand(s), move it, and wait a short period. No biggie.</p>
<p>But this new stuff hits the pinky and ring fingers first (both hands) and goes away almost as soon as I move them. It comes on (now) whenever I’m still and is starting to come on occasionally when I’m moving, but usually it’s when I’m still (standing, sitting, or lying down). It happens all the time then - no exceptions.</p>
<p>In Dec of last year, I noticed the same thing happening with my feet - starting to get tingly/numb when sitting - and starting with my little toe + one next to it just as with my hands.</p>
<p>I also noticed it happens far more quickly when I’m sitting in any chair with my head resting on the back of the chair. If I stay that way, everything gets numb (never torso though), then I can get cold chills, then I used to fall asleep. Lately I’ve really been pushing that part of it and have been able to keep myself awake if I try, but I still sometimes get tired - very tired - any time of day.</p>
<p>Since the brain tumor was found in Oct, I assumed it was all related. I had mentioned it to the doctors…</p>
<p>But when I later mentioned them again during weekly checkups during radiation, I was told that no, these weren’t part of it. I could have had it checked in to, but I thought I’d deal with one thing at a time.</p>
<p>Since then, at nights, it’s pretty awful since I don’t move enough in my sleep. My arms to my elbows and sometimes higher are always painful when I wake up. My legs to my knees are the same way. It’s part of why I can’t sleep in - ever - it’s too painful to try to sleep again after I wake up. The stuff goes away with movement, but returns again almost immediately. RLS was suggested, but it really doesn’t seem to fit any other part of it, so I’m doubtful.</p>
<p>No cause for this was found on the June MRI, but that was done on a good day unfortunately (I’m not sure it mattered).</p>
<p>But up until now I could still DO everything I wanted to do. There was no pain involved (aside from nights) or muscle issues, so I figured I’d just live with it. After all, everyone gets something sooner or later. This wasn’t that bad.</p>
<p>However, within the past couple of months (after radiation), the back of my head will sometimes hurt (becoming far more often than before). It’s kind of like the math pi symbol coming down either side (or both) on corners if the neck were square and/or across the top at the base of the skull. Occasionally it feels like a golf ball instead. No sort of neck/head movement affects it in a better/worse sort of way, but getting out and walking can sometimes make it feel better - other times not. It’s not always there. It varies. It can be morning or night or anytime in between and it’s getting worse (I think).</p>
<p>Then… there are new muscle deals (last 3 - 4 weeks maybe). On some days I can’t get a quart of anything out of the fridge without pain. Today I can’t even eat an apple or brush my teeth without feeling it. I can do it - just I feel it in a painful sort of way. My youngest son who took Anatomy I and II last year tells me the muscles involved are extensor muscles (hearsay from him). Those are the ONLY muscles involved and it can be in the right arm (most common, but I’m right handed), left arm, or both - or on really good days - neither. Those days give me hope, but then that hope is dashed the next day.</p>
<p>Yesterday it wasn’t extensor muscles, but deltoid muscles (similar hearsay). Yesterday is the only day those were “hit.” On a couple of days I’ve been sitting and feeling a real burning feeling in my biceps, but no pain when actually using them. That’s gone now - forever? Who knows.</p>
<p>Using the muscles will make them worse for the day - seems to have no effect on whether the next day is good or not. Not using them can help a little in that it doesn’t make things worse, but it also doesn’t get things done around the house.</p>
<p>I have no idea if these latest things are linked or not. I guess I’m in the “waiting to see what happens” mode.</p>
<p>There are issues from the radiation that are hanging on some - fluid building up near the left ear that builds then releases and repeats, but it doesn’t seem to coordinate with any of the rest. I also often hear my heartbeat, but again, that’s supposed to be fluid related. These are supposed to go away in 2 - 6 months, and again, I’m told it’s not linked when I specifically asked, but I still wonder.</p>
<p>Continued in next post - too long for one - hey, I warned you it would be LONG!</p>
