Hi, I’ve written on here a couple of times before about my symptoms which started as a small patch of tingling/ pins and needles skin on my left shoulder blade but over the last 13 months has spread throughout my back, down my shoulder and arm and now I have a weak left arm permanently, and sometimes have a numb feeling all down my left arm (like I’ve slept on it) and tingling in all fingers!
I had an MRI to see if there was any spinal cord compression leading to my symptoms. I got the results on Tuesday that there was no compression and therefore I will be referred to a neurologist.
Between my MRI and results, I had to resort to seeing my GP as the pain from the base of my skull down to my left wrist was too much to cope with and the lack of use of my left arm was getting me down. He prescribed me 25mg Amitriptylline every night.
I only started taking it 3 days ago, but I have felt genuinely quite ill in the evenings after taking it. I feel like I’m forcing myself to stay awake when I desperately need sleep. Unfortunately, I have a baby who needs bottles washing and making in the evening ready for the morning, so this isn’t always conducive to an early night. Plus my husband has always been a late to bed, late to rise, kind of guy and we don’t normally head to bed until after 11pm, normally nearer to midnight. I know this can’t continue, but while I need to get on with the household chores, I could really do without feeling quite so rubbish.
In the mornings when I’ve been getting up at 6.30am with my little girl, I’ve felt so rough and still so tired, like I haven’t rested at all throughout all the sleep I’ve had.
Honestly, I’m not sure I can cope with the side effects! I need to be able to function. Of course, it would be very useful to have the function of my left arm too, but I don’t know if they’re going to help me on that one. I shall persevere because we need to see if they make a difference to my pain and numbness.
Thank you for reading.
Natalie