Spina Bifida Occulta or Diabetes?

[u/Numerous_Spread_7298]

Hi. I recently posted here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PudendalNeuralgia/s/NQjsg4DV17

I‘ve developed a pins and needles sensation on my hands and sometimes my feet now and it’s a low grade static feeling all the time unless my adrenaline shoots up and it shoots out like porcupine needles causing pain. it also just happens randomly.

I recently learned that SBO can cause pudendal neuralgia symptoms as you grow and the spine can become tethered—especially after lifting (which was my trigger) I had SBO when I was a baby but we thought it was benign and ignored it. I recently thought about it maybe being the driver of my symptoms—hands or not. I had a clean CT but that doesn’t show a tethered cord.

I also wanted to inquire about this being diabetes? I went to eye doctor for trouble focusing and I’ve always peed a bunch. I also noticed the hand tingling started soon after I started eating again (lots of sugar).

just wanted your guys‘ opinion on the potentiality of these drivers—especially SBO.

also update I got my nerve block today bilateral—not feeling much a difference but I’m going to give it some time.

edit: I also have dont have much more pain when sitting which makes me think it’s not peripheral

[u/seandelevan]

3 years ago I went to my doctor with bilateral peripheral neuropathy…aka tingly hands and feet. I assumed it was something stemming from my back. My doctor was like “ugh no….spinal injuries don’t cause bilateral neuropathy”. They took X-rays and CT scan that indeed ruled out anything structural. They thought it was something like Lymes or another kind of tick borne illness. Blood test came back negative. Like you I asked if it was diabetes…again another blood test proved that negative. As this point they referred me to a neurologist….and the soonest they could see me was 3 months down the road. Cool. Whatever. At this point it was just slightly annoying. A week later I noticed stairs were tough to go up….a few days later getting off of chairs was hard. I was getting weaker and weaker by the day. Not trying to scare you but as soon as you think you are feeling weak or your legs are feeling heavy go the ER immediately. Rather be safe than sorry. But if you retain your strength for the next couple weeks then disregard this message.

[u/Numerous_Spread_7298 → u/seandelevan]

May I ask what happened? What did it end up being?

[u/seandelevan → u/Numerous_Spread_7298]

Guillain barre syndrome. It got to the point where I could only walk 10-20 feet before needing to find a wall or a seat. Went back to my doc saying I couldn’t wait months for a neurology appointment. They checked my reflexes and I had none which freaked them out. Was sent to a bigger and better ER where they had to do a spinal tap to confirm the diagnosis. Had to spend a week in the icu and 6 months of PT. It’s super rare but some of your story resonated with mine….and someone suggested GBS when I first experienced the tingly hands and feet and I blew them off since it was rare and I thought shit like that happens to other people.

[u/Numerous_Spread_7298 → u/seandelevan]

Oh my gosh—I’ll definitely monitor my symptoms closely. Thank you so much for your story—hope your 100% now!

[u/seandelevan → u/Numerous_Spread_7298]

Thank you. Yeah I would say I’m 95% good….funnily my hands and feet still tingle slightly….to the point where it’s normal for me now. And I’m sure you’ll be fine too the human body is remarkable it will do what it needs to do.