bugs crawling on me or not

[Mark N]

Of course it isn't really bugs but my nerves reacting that way. I tell myself that there is no bug but for the life of me I can't help but look for one or swat at it. How many here deal with this common side effect from nerve damage? It is amazing to me that it is so real and life like despite that there is nothing there except in my nerves and brain. It shows that once our brain gets the idea of something it becomes real and causes real reactions. Makes you understand mental illness a bit better because it is easier to see how things can seem real to a person that doesn't really exist. Enough ruminating about the relationship between our nerves and our brains.

[Burr]

I sure feel the same things. Muscle twitches, fluttering, etc. It sometimes goes into a burning feeling or the start of a muscle cramp. It's more that just annoying is'nt it.

[alex44]

Mark - I wish I had an answer for you. All I can do is wish you good luck, try not to dwell on it. and possibly ,could it be the side effect of a med that could be changed?
I will pray for you
Blessings
Alex44

[newcervie]

Mark,

Has your doctor tested your liver functions and bile acid levels recently? The reason I saw this is I have a gallbladder problem that started out as intense itching. To me, it feels like bugs crawling on me. My liver and bile acid levels are normal but the itching is a classic sign of gallbladder/liver problems. From my understanding, the itching arises because the nerves are reacting to the toxins building up in the skin.

[Mark N]

Burr, yes it does lead into stronger reactions some times but fortunately for me it just feels like crawling bugs most of the time.

Alex, don't worry I see this as a humorous thing. Just one of those odd parts of life and that doesn't cause any additional problems for me. It just feels strange and I catch myself reaching down to brush the "bug" off me.

Newcervie, I get liver function test every six months and my liver is doing fine so far. My crawling bug feeling is limited to the lower parts of my legs so I am sure it is a nerve deal. I am concerned about my liver due to my medication so I keep up with the blood work every six months. Thanks for the info about how liver problems can cause this as I hadn't heard it before. For me this is just one of those quirky things in life that feels a little odd.

Thanks for the responses as it is nice to learn things about our situations whether they apply directly to me or not.

[Lazarus]

I have these bug crawling sensations every few months on my scalp! When it first happened some 20 years ago I was convinced I had head lice. Not the case and I learned that MS had even more side issues than I had realized.

The spot on my leg that felt like it was on fire and the crawling bug feelings on my head turned out to be frequent visitors. The good news is that, as years passed, these nerve problems occurred for weeks every few months and not all the time.

Oh well, I have gotten used to it. Sort of~~~~~~

[Mark N]

Lazarus, Oh well, I have gotten used to it. Sort of~~~~~~ Often there isn't much more we can do other than get used to it. I know in my case it isn't something serious and just one of those weird things that go along with nerve damage.

[Kira]

Mark, that sounds really frustrating and annoying. I wouldn't be surprised if it is related to the nerve issues. But I wanted to share about a silly thing that recently happened with me. This spring, I kept thinking that I felt something itching on my skin, or maybe like a bug or even just a stray hair or something that needed to be brushed aside. But, I never could see anything there, so I decided that I was just nuts and that maybe it was a med-related thing or a nerve-related thing. Well, it turns out that they were ACTUALLY bugs. They were "carpet beetles" which are relatively harmless other than that they can do damage to certain textiles that come from animal fibers (wool, fur, etc). They seem to have come in through my patio door because I first noticed one inside right when they were crawling all over this bush by my patio door. Over the next few days, they seem to have taken a liking to my couch. I saw 3-4 adult beetles around the couch and decided to spend some time googling these bugs. Turns out that, although they are harmless, you really do need to find the source and clean it up. Fine... it was the couch... now it has been vaccuummed very very thoroughly on the INSIDE. But the problem is that the larvae have these really itchy hairs and those hairs get all in the couch. So even if the bugs are gone and you have vaccuumed, there may be some of those little hairs around to make you itch every time you touch certain areas of the couch.

Or, it could be other "real" bugs... this is just my story. For what it's worth, I seem to be winning this bug war, although a new couch would still be nice for other reasons (saggy springs, poor support, etc). Other bugs to think about: fleas if you have pets (they'll get you to about the ankles if your home is infested with fleas from pets)... dreaded bedbugs (get professionals' help)... etc. There are so many of them. Personally, I get really annoyed with those little flies that seem to gather around people's office plants. They aren't quite like fruit flies, but they are similarly annoying.

Okay, this was wayyyy too wordy, but just wanted to share that, for me, I ended up with an ACTUAL bug problem even though I tried quite hard to ignore it and tell myself that it was just my meds, my nerves, etc.

[superspychuck]

I get the same sensations, and I always brush off the "bug." But, about three or four times, there really WAS a bug on me, so whenever I get that sensation, I look to see and brush it off (either nothing or the bug). I wasn't 100% sure that this was from my nerve damage. Do you think it is? I don't like it ....it's irritating, but not to the point where I can't deal.

I didn't really realize that other people with nerve damage get this though. I thought it was just me.

[Leeaelle]

Hi ~ I had that sensation too in the beginning. I've found that the meds such as Topamax or Neurontin help to take care of the "crawling bugs." The meds took away all those weird sensations, like water running down your leg, bugs, etc. Are you on either of these meds, or something similar?

I hope your doc can suggest something to help with this -- it would drive you nuts to feel that all the time! Best of luck & God bless. Hugs, Lee

[Mark N]

Kira, I haven't heard of those beetles and I can imagine what a surprise it was for you. We don't have carpets and our couches are leather but I feel this when I am outside too so I know it is nerve damage especially since it is the same area. Thanks for telling me your story as I hadn't heard of that problem. Glad to hear you are winning the bug war.

SSChuck, I posted this wondering how many others dealt with it too. It doesn't cause me any problems really but I wondered how prevalent it was for CPers.

Lee, I am not on either of those meds but it isn't consistent enough to go on either one. Good thing as I take too many meds the way it is. I am glad you were able to take care of your issue with the med.

[Diandra]

hi mark, i get the bug crawling feeling as well but it is very mild. i also get a wormy feeling and far more disturbing is a shocking sensation like a hot needle is being jabbed into my finger joints. it actually does feel like a sharp electric jolt. that one is really embarassing because it used to make me yell out or jump but i have learned to control that. Mark, I think it is truly nerves malfunctioning and is a true sensation, not an imaginary one(if I am understanding you correctly). I hope you don't get it often because it is disturbing. I'm like Chuck, I never look or brush at the "bugs" anymore but sometimes it is a real bug! Take care Mark and everyone.
I have been watching some of the 9/11 memorial shows today and it is so heartwrenching, especially the kids of the victims who are only 10yrs old and never knew their parent. My best to all my friends here on this sad anniversary for America, Diandra

[Mark N]

Diandra, it is sad to see the kids that feel the real impact of that terrible day.

I know the feeling you have with your fingers as I have the same electric shock in my lumbar spine. We have all kinds of odd reactions to our nerve problems that make life interesting. It would be terrible if we only had pain as a result of our nerve problem so these odd feelings just add some spice to our life.

[Headspin]

Hi Mark, I get the 'bugs' sensation toward the end of each of my dosages when my nerves are starting to come back to life. Sometimes it feels like bugs. Sometimes it feels like needles all over the body. I asked my doctor about it, and he confirmed for me that it was just everything coming back. I have one area on my left thigh that is always numb, but that is because my left lower back is one of my main pain areas, and much of what I take goes to that area. So; I know it's all working like it should be.

[Mark N]

Headspin, thanks for the response. I figured mine was the nerves coming back but it does feel weird when it happens. I haven't thought aabout when it happens and maybe it is when I at the end of my dose. I still have numb places and when I get my testerone injections I don't feel them unless the nurse goes outside the numb area. It sure makes getting the shots every week easier.