found it?

[mellowtigger]

The MRI neck scan seems to have aggravated the symptoms.  That's probably good, since it could mean that we've found the source of my problem.

During the MRI scan, I felt heat in my spine in each area as it was being scanned.  All day long, I had similar phantom heat/tingling in my spine.  I bought some Nyquil that evening to dull my sensations and put me to sleep.  It worked.

About 5am, I woke to a muscle cramp in my right calf.  I haven't been able to return to sleep because of the recurring muscle twitches in my right ankle, right shoulder, left forearm, and left knee.  I still briefly feel moments of phantom heat/tingling in different parts of my spine (anywhere along the whole length of it).  I can't walk normally yet either, because the sore muscle of my right calf (from the earlier cramp) won't flex enough to let my trailing foot stay flat on the floor during a pace.  I hobbled to the bathroom already, but that calf still threatens to cramp up again whenever I use it.

The business card for my doctor did not include an email address.  I guess I'll be calling the clinic to leave a phone message for him after they open later today.  I suppose this discovery counts as good news.

Comments

[bearbarry.livejournal.com]

The cramping may be a result of your having to remain very still in the MRI. You may have been more anxious about it than you realized at the time which caused your muscles to become very tense to the point of spasm. You didn't notice it until the built up lactic acid caused you to cramp once your muscles tried to relax.

[mellowtigger]

I was tense for this one, yes. I was instructed to avoid even swallowing, so I just pushed my tongue up against the roof of my mouth and waited out the scans. I found when it came time to swallow again that my whole jaw had slowly tensed up. I'm not sure that translates to cramping in my calf, but yes the experience was more tense for this MRI than the previous one.

[bearbarry.livejournal.com]

The lack of movement in your legs can cause blood to pool there and reduce circulation. Lactic acid builds up as your muscles go anaerobic to continue to produce energy. Have you ever worked very hard and had a muscle get a cramp after you stopped? It's basically the same physiological response.

[mellowtigger]

The aggravated symptoms lasted only a day or two. Back to "normal" now. I haven't had cramps after bicycling or gardening, no. Thinking about it more, though, I did the previous day stand for about 2 hours during a presentation at work. Maybe that could account for the late night cramp? Seems much-delayed but possible, I suppose.