Q: I experience a burning sensation with some itching over my body and legs. It occurs mostly at night when I move from one side to the other and lasts for about two minutes. I will also experience this condition when I have a hot flash day or night. I am not sure if it is related to the skin or nerves. I have eliminated my medications one at a time for ten days with no improvement.
Your help would be most greatly appreciated.
A: You present with an interesting case that has numerous possible answers. A burning sensation in the body can be caused by nerve damage, circulatory problems that impair the flow of blood to the legs, injury, excessively strenuous exercise, diabetes, meralgia paresthetica, multiple sclerosis, hypothyroidism, kidney disorders, peripheral neuropathy, and sciatica. When a person suffers from nerve damage, the brain receives mixed signals from the site. The result is a burning sensation or numbness that may occur without any visible wound or injury.
There are numerous reasons for blood to flow improperly throughout the system. A small blood clot within a vessel of the leg known as DVT (deep vein thrombosis) can cause burning in the affected leg. An exacerbation of DVT symptoms will occur with walking, stair climbing and exercising. PAD (peripheral artery disease) can also result in such symptoms and is more likely to cause symptoms in both legs. A physician may choose to order an EMG, CT, MRI, MR neurography or venous doppler ultrasound and artery tests to assist with the diagnosis.
There are more than 100 types of nerve damage and a physician’s responsibility is to deduce, through the process of elimination, which type or types a patient has or if the condition is from an entirely different disorder. The nervous system regulates breathing, controls muscles, and is involved with every single thing the body does. As such, symptoms will depend on where the problem is and the nerves that are affected. Damage might occur to the nerves of the brain and spinal cord or in the peripheral nerves located throughout the entire body. Autonomic nerve damage can present with lightheadedness, bladder dysfunction, hyperhydrosis and more. Damage to motor nerves may cause twitching, paralysis and weakness. Sensory nerve damage may present with tingling, burning, a numb feeling, and pain. Approximately 50% of all diabetics suffer from a condition known as diabetic neuropathy with the sensory nerves most commonly affected. The result is burning and numbness. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly of vitamins B6 and B12, produce symptoms of nerve damage but one may not have nerve damage or a documented B6 deficiency to benefit from that vitamin if they have peripheral neuropathy.
Once the underlying cause is determined, nutritional deficiencies can be corrected with supplemental vitamins, medications can be changed, sugar levels can be placed under tighter control, and a physician might choose to order prescription drugs to reduce the symptoms. Meditation, biofeedback, physical therapy, and acupuncture might also reduce or alleviate symptoms. The bottom line is that you need to be seen by a health care professional, neurologist, or other specialist so you can determine the reason for your symptoms. You may be worrying needlessly and have a totally unrelated yet minor condition that doesn’t require testing or treatment. So don’t wait. You deserve answers now.
