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FaithS · 02-03-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Des47

Hi, I am new to the site and I just hope someone can give me some advice.

I am female, 47 was diagnosis initially 7 yrs ago with probable MS. I was refered to a Professor of neurology who confirmed that I clinically presented with MS and my neurologist was recommended to commence me on IV cortisone.

I have been on interferons for the past 4 yrs and had to still have IV cortisone for 5 days every 3 or 4 months. I lost my career, my life, my health and much more.

I had to change my neuro as my neuro got ill. This neuro now disputes my diagnosis. He says he cannot see the Dawsons fingers they make mention of on my scan. At first he told me he thought that I had spastic paralytic condition but then he changed my diagnosis to adult onset spina bifida. The excruciating pain in my legs and feet are due to peripheral neuropathy.

He cannot explain the fatigue. He cannot explain my jerking, he cannot explain my dropped foot, he cannot explain my memory problems.
I want to believe I don't have MS but I just don't know.

Any help would be appreciated
Des

You sound a lot like me. I had symptoms, beginning at age 39; was dx w/ likely having CNS Lupus. At age 41, my dx was changed to MS.

When I was 46, after being on Betaseron for 5 yrs, without success, I switched from a neuro to an MS Specialist. She wondered why my dx was changed from Lupus to MS; said my symptoms more closely resembled Lupus. However, upon re-testing, the tests did look more like MS. She switched me to Copaxone, which has been successful for me, thus far.

I agree; I would seek another opinion, since the 2 opinions you have differ. I'd recommend an MS Specialist. If you haven't tried Copaxone, it works differently in the brain than the interferons. Interferons work best for some; Copaxone better for others. Would suggest requesting a switch, since the one you are on is not working. (That may be another reason your current neuro thinks you may not have MS; because the MS med you are on is not working.)

Have you had an LP? Those may offer more conclusive evidence of MS than an MRI. Not a fun procedure, but, worth it, if you can get an accurate dx.

Those would be my 3 suggestions:
- 3rd opinion, preferably from a specialist
- request an LP
- if MS looks like likely dx, request switch to Copaxone to see if it works better than A, B or R.

~ Faith