How can I address numbness, muscle spasms, and hot and cold flashes?

I saw you on TV when you were talking about Chronic Fatigue Sydrome and Fybromyalgia. I am having some of these very symptoms especially pain and not being able to sleep. I'm also having numbness on the left side of my body, and my body is suddenly cold and then it gets hot. I'am also experiencing on the left side of my body spasms and they mostly happen when I go to sleep. The regular doctors can't seem to find out what's going with my health. This has been going for 3 years now and my body is in agony and pain. Any suggestion you can offer would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Geneva

Answer

Hi Geneva,

My book From Fatigued to Fantastic will give you a lot of information on how to feel better.

It is not uncommon in fibromyalgia to have alternating hot and cold. This is generally not dangerous and simply a nuisance similar to hot flashes seen during menopause. Numbness can also be seen in fibromyalgia, but if it is the type that you could not even feel that a needle is sharp, that suggests another cause. Tight muscles/spasms are also common in fibromyalgia, and this responds well to the SHINE protocol discussed in the book. You do want to distinguish whether the spasms at bedtime are painful, in which case the SHINE protocol (sleep, hormones, infections, nutrition, and exercise) along with other herbals and medications can be very helpful. Sometimes, measures as simple as soaking in a hot bath to which you added 2 cups of Epsom salts can be helpful measure before going to sleep (rinse off with warm water after the bath). If, the spasms you are discussing simply feel like you're suddenly being dropped from 2 inches above your bed and lasts only a second or two, that is something very different and not dangerous. If this is what is happening, let me know, and I can discuss what is causing that. Do the program in the book, and you'll feel a lot better. In addition, I also do patient consultations by phone, and more information on this can be obtained by e-mailing office@endfatigue.com.

Love and blessings,

Dr. T