"Pruritis (itching) may occur as a symptom of MS. It is one of the family of abnormal sensations—such as “pins and needles” and burning, stabbing, or tearing pains—which may be experienced by people with MS. These sensations are known as dysesthesias, and they are neurologic in origin."

http://tr.im/yourpain

I’m a System Engineer, not a Doctor, but since I was diagnosed with MS in 2001, I’ve had much time to research the disease, running a MS Support Group where I answer many questions for newly diagnosed MS Patients all the time since 2002.

From what you are describing, a numbness/pins and needles sensation that is causing you chronic pain, sounds like one of the common initial symptoms of MS.

I would tell your doctor about what has beeing going on, and how long it has been going on for. I know that without the pain you would be able to deal with the pins and needles, of course it would be annoying, but at least you could bear through it. It’s the Chronic Pain that is truly ruining your day to day life right now. I would suggest to ask your doctor for a prescription for an MRI with and without contrast, stating the reason for the MRI is possible MS, this way the Radiologist will know what to look for when examining the results of the MRI.

If you don’t have MS at least you know. If you do, you were able to catch it earlier than some people and you could get started on an MS Therapy Drug right away in order to slow the progression of the disease.

I would also suggest that you ask your Doctor to run a blood test for Lymes disease. Lymes can mimic the symptoms of MS, but sometimes they don’t test for that until they’ve tested for everything else. Lymes is treatable with antibiotics, so finding that early would be good too.

Unless your doctor can come up with something else, I don’t see it being wrong to at least get an MRI and check for MS.

If what you describe is MS, then it’s a result of nerve signals getting screwed up because of the MS. The pain you feel could be classified as Nerve Pain. Many MS Patients take a medication called Neurontin for Nerve Pain.

And for the meantime, you might want to try wearing some knee-high tube socks for the pins and needles and calve pain. Nerve pain with MS can respond to pressure against the skin. Warmth can also help.

If it turns out that it is MS and you would like some more information, have questions, would like to vent or just talk to some other people that understand what you are experiencing, you are more than welcome to come and join our Yahoo MS Support Group. It’s called ms20something, and it’s address is:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ms20something/

I hope it turns out to be some thing different, something simple to take care of. I’ll keep you in my thoughts. When you find out what is going on, come back here and email me and let me know.

I hope this information has been helpful.

Good Luck to you.