February 17th Neuro follow up

I had my six month follow up with my neurologist yesterday...it was a pretty uneventful followup as most things are pretty much status quo from before, but I did have to talk to him about some new issues that have popped up since the last time I saw him.
I mentioned to him the fact that I've been having ringing in my ears for a long, long time but it didn't start until after TM hit. This was something that has been there for a long time but I had forgotten to tell my doc about before.
He said that it is fairly common in this type of situation...which I guess on one hand, was relieving to know, but then on the other hand, he didn't offer any solutions to help get rid of it. He basically said that since I have the ringing, it is something that comes with the territory...
So, this ringing is something that I've obviously lives with for the last couple of years but if I could get rid of it, I would love that. I think maybe I'm going to start researching on my own, ways to get rid of this and maybe eventually follow up with my family doc if I don't have any success.

The next thing has been the goofy sensations on the bottom of my feet...like my socks are all bunched up under my feet and between my toes. Again, my doc says that it is common to have these sensations. Unfortunately there isn't much he can do about it.

Then there is the cold left foot and leg. It's almost always cold and I've taken to wearing thermal socks to try and help keep my feet warm. That has helped some but not completely.
Doc attributes this to the fact that my internal thermostat is out of whack...and it is worse now in the winter time with the cold weather...
I can use a heating pad to help warm it up and just hope that when the spring and summer come, that the issue goes away. But then of course it will probably come back next winter...

Lastly, there is the bad leg cramps that I've been having...for about the last 4 months now. They come out of nowhere and there is no rhyme or reason as to which leg cramps up...one time it will be one leg, and the next time it will be the other leg. The cramps are so painful that they bring me to tears and they take a good five minutes or more to get them to go away...
I thought maybe at first that I needed to stretch more, so I've started stretching my legs, but that hasn't helped the situation.
Doc gave me three possibilities here...One is that possibly since I quit taking Zanaflex for the spasms, this is causing the cramping now. Then he said that possibly my electrolites and potassium were low...and this one I know for a fact isn't the case, because I drink a 32oz. PowerAde drink every day...and I have almost ever since the beginning of when TM hit...The last option is that the MS Contin that I'm on for pain could be causing the cramps, as muscle cramping is a side effect of opiods.
So, I'm going to keep track of these cramps..as it is, they only come around about every 2 - 3 weeks...and if things get worse then I may just have to consider changing my pain meds...
Who knows...We'll see.

So, it's been two years and nine months now...and new things are still popping up. Unbelievable..!!

Let's finish this post off with a bit of music...
Something from the great Leon Russell...a cover he did of the old Danny O'Keefe song, Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues...
Leon does this song justice...but that goes without saying..


Till Next Time......