I feel I shouldn't be in the MS forum anymore....but
I can get info about all my sx in here, which are the same/similar.

I saw my 2nd opinion neuro yesterday.
He read out all my tests - bloods, mri's, etc and said, "well they're all clear, except for the disc protrusion at C5-6"
So he looks at my spine, says I have mild-moderate scoliosis (it's in the spine MRI report) the feels my neck as I'm laying face down.
It was tender on the left side (most of my sx are on the left).

He took my blood pressure, reflex tested my arm and legs with the hammer thing and that's it.

Sits down and says I have 'cervical facet joint dysfunction' and anxiety and it can be cured with seeing a spinal physio!!
So I'm pretty excited here, but still, a bit sceptical:

My 1st neuro dismissed the disc protrusion issue, as the MRI report said all the roots exit freely, and a lot of people have this minor indentation.
Also, the 2nd neuro couldn't explain why I get effected in the heat. (I don't know' he said.)
I have regular chiropractic adjustments - have had them every 2 months for the last 6 years. I've been going weekly since Sept this year.
I have no C5-6 neck pain at all.

he told me to walk 30mins a day - this is after I'd been telling him walking is difficult!
I just looked at him in disbelief, and couldn't feel I could argue with him.

He also said we'd have to check my calcium levels as he couldn't see it in the blood work.
I got home and checked mine - it had been done before.
He also said my Epstein Barr was negative - but I knew it said 'detected' on my report!
(small things, but showing he wasn't thorough)

My friend who came with me asked the neuro what can be done about the heat intolerance, as he's seen me go downhill quickly due to heat. Neuro replied with a laugh, "stay cool"...... !!!!

So I left feeling not listened to, reports not thoroughly checked and fobbed off.

Does anyone know about the joint dysfunction thing?

You already know - time for a new Neuro!!!

PS - I have MS and joints hurt sometimes. In summer I stay cool in my pool. (rhyming advice)

Thanks Kicker.

I saw the physio yesterday- he asked, "so you have a sore neck?"...
"ah no, i don't actually!" I said....

He said the joint dysfunction theory is NOT causing my problems.
Don't think I'll see that neuro again.

He came up with a theory though for my lower right arm tingling/numbness which is a 'sick' ulna nerve from a bee-sting I had when the sx started back in march.
BUT when I asked about the other leg/arm/left side sx he said he didn't know, but the leg stiffness/heavy /trouble walking i get after sometimes 20-40mins is muscle tiredness and me not being fit.....hmmmm. Some days I can walk way more than that without trouble.
And the neuralgia is stress....

Okay, here's the thing about spines. What shows up on the MRI, you may not have pain at the site, but sx all over heck. Or it may not show on the MRI, and cause you all sorts of trouble. But also, spine things are like neuro things; if you have one, odds are you have or will have more.


Do the PT and see if it helps. I was skeptic too, but it did help. And you CAN have sx the the docs and textbooks do NOT list or address as oming from any spine thing, neuro disorder, etc. People with ms are told all the time there is no pain. Yeah, right. And I am told I can't have heat/cold intollerance - I say whuddevah!



Usually my neck is sore, but not always. But even when NOT, I can have sx in my hands that are exactly like ms - tingling, electrical zaps, numbness, dropping things etc.

There may be something else going on with you as well, but since yo know you have some kind of spine issue, don't ignore it. Take care of your spine and find what makes it feel healthier. For me, not getting too cold, sleeping comfy, not straining or doing too heavy work - all this helps. A little moving around, I can tell what is good moving and what is bad.

Yoga for beginners is good. I take calcium/vit D supplements, magnesium and try to get some sunlight. Fish oil helps keep me from feeling too cold in the winter. Swimming is good like our poet Kicker says.

It's a full time job just taking care of me, lol.

You will find little coping tricks along the way too. It sounds silly maybe - it did to me, when I started. But now, you are so NOT taking my fish oil, lol.



Good luck.

thanks BGB.

I am skeptical I know. I just feel shuffled around from Dr to Dr and none of them agree on anything, or they just don't know.

I will do the PT - he said if I don't improve in 3-4 visits, then he can't help me.
I've been taking Vit D, fish oil, magnesium, Women's Multi and a B Complex and even a 'brain cognisense' mix from my naturopath and now she's got me on some herbs for each specific sx.

yes, I need to do some swimming too.
I walked lots yesterday - albeit around a big car yard for 20mins and then a big shopping centre for an hour. Thats is a LOT for me and today I'm paying for it!
I over did it, so should remember my limits.

Just a question though -
My 1st neuro said she like to do another brain MRI in January. (that will be 8 months after the first MRI).
And in the next sentence she said was happy for me to see another neuro because 'she doesn't know everything'..(quite honest I thought).
So the 2nd neuro said I don't need another MRI because he thinks my probs re caused by the neck joint thing, which the physio says it's not.
If the PT doesn't help, should I seek that MRI from 1st neuro, or seek it from a 3rd neuro?!

Well i am definately a MSer..no doubt about it, but my last MRI showed Degenerative Joint and Degenerative Disc Disease... So I can totally get where you are coming from.

Now, it was explained to me that this means I have arthritis in my spine and it is causing "Mild disc bulging..." the MRI report goes on to state that the nerve paths look fine...

My neuro says, well, not a whole lot we can do about that one, she is more concerned with trying to stop new lesions from growing. I started off last year with 11 small ones and now have over 30 and some of them are HUGE.

My Chiro on the other hand... (can't say enough good things about him) explains to me that there isn't exactly a lot of room for error in your spinal cord and even "mild" bulging will cause damage. He also explained that the nerves coming out of those areas lead all over your body so it is not uncommon to have pain in areas where there is no joint dysfunction. I particulary love this guy bc my old chiro would not touch me after looking at my MRIs a few months ago. In fact this is the fifth chiro I consulted and only the fist one who wanted the challenge of my spine.

I would definately follow up with the MRI with neuro number one. It won't hurt to take another look and see what is going on. In the mean time, you can still consult another opinion. But having a second set of scans may help the new doctor to get a better look too. That is my opinion.

Good luck!

I totally get how you feel!

I felt like a hot potato, from one doc to another, nobody seemed to care to figure it out, none of them agreed what the prob was, what prob was causing which sx! UGH!

No wonder I was confused!

I am glad YOU are proactive with your own health - if you don't look out for you, who will?

It can't hurt to try the PT. If it doesn't help, at least you know, right?

If neuro #1 wants to do the MRI - and you want to do it - then let her order it because the next neuro may not want you to have it. If you don't agree with this physio, find another, ditto for neuro #2.

There are doctors all over, so don't stick yourself with any you do not like, who seem to be going the wrong way, okay?

For some people, one or two doctors is all it takes, and they have an answer and treatment, and they are happy. for some of us, it takes a lot more docs.

Montel went to several. Mystery Diagnosis, some of those shows the people go to a dozen docs. I hate starting over too, but that's how it goes.

I hear you on over doing it. I HATE shopping, and do as much as possible online. Wish I could get groceries online!!!