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What Causes Burning Pain In The Arms And Legs?
My husband is having burning pain down his arms, legs and sometimes over his sternum and across his left chest and side. A trip to the ER and consultation with his cardiologist has ruled out a cardiac problem. I am researching costochondritis, fibromyalgia, auto immune diseases, neuropathy, etc. His family doctor is going to get a CT Scan and then refer him to a neuroloist . At this point we are stumped.... The burning pain down his legs is usually down both legs and all the way down next to the shin. Arm pain is from the elbow down to the hands. Fingers and toes are not usually affected. It is not usually a needle and pins kind of thing. It is a burning pain that often wakes him up at night. I did not realize there was to be a charge for this message. So please disregard. We will just continue to seek advice from our doctors.
Mon, 25 Jun 2018
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I am Dr Mittal. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
The symptoms of the query are quite suggestive of a radiating pain. I assume the pain would be radiating from the back down to the extremities. Similarly in the chest, the pain would be coming forward from the back.
In this kind of pattern, most likely possibility would be a radiculopathy. If the symptoms are of sudden onset, demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis would be another possibility.
Having said that, you have mentioned that there is burning- this is more suggestive of a peripheral neuropathy, especially small fiber neuropathy.
The possible causes should include vasculitis, and possibly paraneoplastic (especially if you are in the elderly age group- I do not have the age group from your message).
I think your husband needs to be examined in detail by a neurologist first. Thereafter a plan needs to be made for MRI of the spine, nerve conduction studies, and possibly a skin biopsy.
Meanwhile you can meet your doctor for a prescription of pregabalin, that should afford some relief to him.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Mittal
The symptoms of the query are quite suggestive of a radiating pain. I assume the pain would be radiating from the back down to the extremities. Similarly in the chest, the pain would be coming forward from the back.
In this kind of pattern, most likely possibility would be a radiculopathy. If the symptoms are of sudden onset, demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis would be another possibility.
Having said that, you have mentioned that there is burning- this is more suggestive of a peripheral neuropathy, especially small fiber neuropathy.
The possible causes should include vasculitis, and possibly paraneoplastic (especially if you are in the elderly age group- I do not have the age group from your message).
I think your husband needs to be examined in detail by a neurologist first. Thereafter a plan needs to be made for MRI of the spine, nerve conduction studies, and possibly a skin biopsy.
Meanwhile you can meet your doctor for a prescription of pregabalin, that should afford some relief to him.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Mittal
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