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Hi Matt
I'm sorry you are suffering from so much anxiety. It can be scary and worrisome when you are not sure what is wrong. However I'm surprised your doctor didn't refer you to someone who specializes in herniated discs. You need to see a specialist--I wish I could remember what they are called. My husband has herniated discs and had many of the symptoms you do. We used to joke that now he knew what MS patients felt!! He had several rounds of cortisone shots in his neck over a period of weeks. He also did physical therapy for many weeks. Eventually it went entirely away. As far as both sides of your body I'm a firm believer that extreme anxiety can actually cause you to have the symptoms all over. I've experienced it myself with something I later found was non existent. Anyhow you need to see someone for the herniated discs and get that treated properly.

Good luck and take care!!

Hi Matt, and welcome.

You have every right to be anxious if you dont feel good and no none can figure it out. There are more than 100 diseases that can mimic MS, so getting a diagnosis can be tricky. Make sure they do a bucket of blood tests to rule out the easy stuff. Vid def, lyme, lupus, and so forth. As they start to rule out what you dont have, they may be able to uncover what you do have.

Hang in there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnxiousMatt (Post 599822)

Yes he said that it is definitely causing the left sided pain...I just dont know why im getting it on both sides?...He prescribed me a tricylic antidepressant called nortriptyline that I am supposed to take in low doses at 10 mg a day for the first week then 20 mg a day for the remainder...He says he prescribes for many of his patients who have disc and spinal problems...He calls it "vitamin N" lol...I havent started taking it yet, because im trying to finish off these antibiotics first...im not big on taking too many drugs at once

I talked to him and he said there is no evidence of MS or anything in the MRIs, but i dont know why im getting pain/numbness/tingling/burning in my both of my legs and arms...also my skin feels super sensitive to the touch over most of my body...He said the stenosis was congenital, so it was unlikely to be causing to many problems

Heck maybe I have something going on in my thoracic and lumbar regions as well?

My 1st MRI (3 yrs before dx) showed lesions but at the time I had no clinical symptoms on exam. Even when I lost my ability to walk normally, I still did not receive a dx of MS. A few months later, I had new symptoms and that is when I received the dx.

The nortriptyline may not only help with the pain but the anxiety you are feeling over your health right now.

Sending you big cyber:hug:'s and hoping you feel better soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dejibo (Post 599927)

Ive had an antibody test for lyme and lupus and they were both negative...what sorts of things should I be tested for that mimic MS?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkrik (Post 599806)

(((Matt))) I am sorry you are having such a rough time.:hug:

This could definitely be from the herniated disc and spinal stenosis. Have you talked to your neuro about all of this? Is he/she thinking your symptoms could be related to this? Spasms, numbnesses, tingling, etc. are common with spinal stenosis and herniated discs. Did the dr. prescribe you anything to help with this? PT, maybe?

It is frustrating to feel miserable and have no answers. Hang in there and know that we are here for you.:hug:

I have some C spine problems too - and some neuros say not causing symptoms, but pain docs are better qualified to tell you if in fact your c spine is the issue.

I have herniations, a bone spur, reversed curve, stenosis, etc. And sx on both sides, mainly the arms.

There are other meds to help, too if that one does not do it, so keep trying. I did a lot of steroid shots which helped.

There are too many diseases/disorders to even go into here that could cause what is going on. And Lyme's tests are notorious for coming back false pos or neg. I had 3 before my doc was convinced I didn't have it, and I never even saw a tick bite, lol.

I was tested for all kinds of other stuff too: epstein bar, guillian barre, had a lumbar puncture, EMG, EEG, EVPs.

Hang in there, Matt. I know it's tough.