Reply To: Neck tingling/Dizziness

JTC,

It almost sounds like you have some Fibromyalgia symptoms in addition to a mild GBS. This combination is not unheard of and diagnosis can be more difficult when both are present.

Have you had any testing (nerve conduction study, elevated CSF protein test, etc) for GBS to help confirm it? How are your reflexes? According to recent research, less than 5% of GBS patients retained all reflexes during the illness. The presence of intact reflexes should suggest an alternative diagnosis other than GBS.

I had Miller-Fisher that seems to affect the face and surrounding areas. I had blurred vision, difficulty speaking, swallowing problems, neck weakness, tingling and numbness on my face. I also had some lightheadedness, but that may have had to do with other aspects of my particular GBS/CIDP. Treatment of MFS is similar to treatment of GBS/CIDP: Plasmapheresis, IVIG, and Prednisone seem to be most prescribed.

My wife has had a severe case of Fibromyalgia for many years and she has gone from specialist to specialist. Fibromyalgia symptoms usually include fatigue and a burning sensation in the muscles, often in the neck and shoulders. Sometimes shooting or throbbing pain is present. Physical therapy is more likely to provide benefit for Fibromyalgia, fairly quickly when compared to GBS. Prescriptions of Gabapentin and Savella are often prescribed to treat Fibromyalgia.

Whether you have anything other than a mild case of GBS is up to your doctor’s to determine. If it is a mild GBS, you might find Alpha Lipoic Acid helpful. Although there is no definitive medical research on its usefulness yet, some have reported beneficial results from taking it. Search the forums here for more info about it.

Hope you get better quickly.