Been suffering w/dx of Psoratic Arteritis thought to be the Anklosing Spondylitis after putting up with Inflamatory Bowel disease or Chrons and aches and pains for years. Recently, I started researching Enbrel and the side effects because my Rhemy wanted me to try it after trying Humira and Sulfasaliazine before that. Upon looking up the side effects on the web, I relized that I have many of the symptoms of MS...and have had them for years. I just thought I was "wired" differently since my mother has suffered from many of the goofy things that I put up with. Once i realized I have many of the syptoms, I went back to my G.P. with a list of the things that bug me such as: heat...kills me can't work outside in temps above 70...even get hot in the house when moving around...numbness in my hands when I wake up..numbness in my legs when on feet too much..legs are the worst, they feel like boa constrictors wrapped around my calves all the time..they never losen up..run a low fever just about all the time..shooting pains throuout life..jumping muscles thruout life..twitches, trouble peeing, weakness in hands which results in shaking when forcing them to do something tedious, etc. G.P. decided to get an MRI of my brain, lower back and cervical area. I went and picked up the results yesterday and this is what the MRI Brain W and W/O Contrast

There are five small T2 hyperintense fooci scattered within the left periventricular white matter. These are variable size ranging from a couple of millimeters up to approxiamately 4.5 mm. There is also a thin rim of periventricular T2 increased signal at the posteerior aspect of the lateral ventricle on the left. There is a single 9.8 mm oval-shape T2 hyperintense focus within the posterior aspect of the right periventricular white matter. The findings certainly could be related to multiple sclerosis though other demyelinating etiologies including vascultits, chronic ischemic microangiopathy as well as infectious etiology such as Lyme's disease cannot be totally excluded. Clinical correlation is necessary.


My MRI for my lower back states that:

At L4-L5 there is a broad-based disc bulge producing mild flattening of the thecal sac but no significant spinal or neural foraminal stenosis.

At L5-S1 there is a broad-based disc bulge which produces contact with both the bilateral S1 nerve roots and produces moderate bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

Impression: Broad-based disc bulge at L5-S1 producing contact with the bilateral nerve roots and moderate neural foraminal stenosis. This appears to be slightly increased from the prior exam. No other significant changes. (my previous MRI was in 6/2009)

The cervical spine MRI appeared normal.

I called but haven't heard from my G.P. today, I have an appt for next week.
I called my Rhemy's office since I finally recieved approval from the insurance company yesterday to take Enbrel, and left a message in regards to the fact that I don't think I should start Enbrel until we can figure out the MS issue and recieved no response yet.

Some of the concerns that I have are: are the lesions above similar to what other MS patients have? Does anyone here have Anklosing Spondylitis and MS? BTW, I may also have Sjogren's as well...dry dry nose and mouth, low grade fever, told to check out the Sjogren's foundation website by Rhuemy.

The reason I never pursued MS is because I thought you had to have eye issues with MS, which I have never had eye issues related to MS or Sjogrens.


Sorry to be so long, but the battle I have fought is much longer, been laid off since Jan 2010, not long after I had the tarsal tunnel release that was supposed to eliminate the pain I have. I sometimes think my employer laid me off to be rid of my health issues...

Thank you for bearing with me, Poormommy