Shooting Pain In Legs And Arms

For the last year I have had some unusual health issues. Going back to the beginning I had a MRSA infection in my upper left leg. It started with what i thought was an ingrown hair, and within a few days I was in the hospital having a piece of my upper thigh removed and IV antibiotic therapy. The wound was left open so it would heal from the bottom up. I tell this story because this is when my problems seemed to begin.

Shortly after this I developed numbness in my left hand, and shooting pains in all 4 limbs. They are the type of pain that takes your breath away for a second, and then is gone. I also had a very dizzy feeling and my head was very foggy. I felt drunk is the only way I can describe it. I was treated with therapy for vertigo, but the dizziness did not go away until months later. I also started with a therapist for anxiety to help with the foggy feeling. Both symptoms are better, but seem to come back just out of the blue.

I had an EMG, and MRI and consulted with a neurologist. The MRI showed areas from C1 through C3 that were narrowed and looked to be causing the problems. No areas of concern in the brain. i was sent to a neurosurgeon. He agreed from the MRI that i should have surgery, but wanted to do a myelogram to get a little more information. Once he had the results of the myelogram he changed his mind and did not feel that surgery was warranted yet.

The pain in my arms and legs continue to worsen, I am extremely weak in my arms, and my legs are weak about half the time. I get an extreme pain, at least a 9 on a 1-10 scale in my left leg. The pain is usually either a few inches below or above the knee. It will come on very sudden ad I am not able to even think until it goes away. It can last for up to 15 minutes at a very high level, to the point where it brings tears, but then it is gone. No pain at all. I have had it last for several days where it is probably a 5 most of the time, shoots up to a 7 or 8 for a few minutes and continue to cycle like that. Just when i think i can't take it anymore, it just stops. No pain at all.

Now all of a sudden a few months ago I start to have problems urinating. It hurts to start and surges while going, then continues to run after I think i am done. I am wearing pads on a full time basis. the doctors treated me with Cipro for 4 weeks to get rid of a prostate infection but I continue to have the same problems. the urologist is sending me for physical therapy because he thinks my muscles are not working properly.

I am having trouble sleeping because of the groin pain and arm pain. My arms are so weak i am barely able to type for more that a minute or two. I am so discouraged because I was so healthy before the MRSA thing, and now I do not have a single day without pain. I feel like there must be a way to tie everything together, but no one seems to be willing to grab hold and help. I was told by the neurologist that although nothing showed up on the MRI I may still eventually get a diagnosis of MS. Which is kinda like saying yeah your motor is shot but just keep driving it until it breaks. It might hurt, but that's the way it goes.

I am at the end of my rope. I am a very outgoing fun loving guy. I have been in sales all my life and am successful at it. I need to travel quite a bit. But now I just want to stay home and change my diaper and find any way i can to cope with the pain. I do not like to take medications, especially for pain, but feel like it is coming to the point where I will have to.

Any ideas, anybody?? Where should I go from here?? I am struggling with going to doctors because I think they all think I am nuts. Help!