Hi

firstly the symptoms-

3 years ago - apparent slipped L5 disc causing severe pain for a Month ( not confirmed by MRI ) pain now gone.

Bladder - appears nueorgenic ( urgency )

Bowel sphincter seems weaker ( difficulty controlling gas )

left leg - Sciatica pain - six weeks ago ( pain has gone now ) but has left leg with weakness and atrophy , reduced reflexes.

Right foot - periods of numbness and sciatica pain in right butt.

Erectile dysfunction - started 3 years ago when i had 1st attack of pain.

vibrations in rectal area

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I went to the Emergency room out of inspiration / desperation due to utter despair and was there for 5 hours and was seen by their assessor who then called for the Orthopaedic Consultant.

The bladder problem is not retention. They did a bladder scan which showed empty when my brain is saying full. It is probably linked to the nervous system, ie messages being sent from the brain / spinal cord so I get the constant urge to urinate.

However they found things that the GP'S overlooked, ie, loss of important reflexes on left side leg and wasting of muscle tone in leg ( even I didn’t notice that ). The other symptoms I have are erectile dysfunction ( 3 years ) and some difficulty keeping gas in and some pain and strange vibrations in rectal area.

I have some tingling in both legs and although I can feel the saddle area, the pin tests showed that the right side more sensitive than left. The left leg is weaker and has lost a lot of reflexes and the consultant noticed muscle atrophy which I didn’t realise.

The upshot is that the consultant was concerned but not overy concerned and has ordered an MRI scan which I will hopefull get shortly, followed by consultancy.

The referral ltter has to come from my GP, he wanted to send my for physio but i insisted on specialist appointment. A week after the ER trip, the secretary of my GP has just finished typing a letter of referal to the hospital, a slight delay because she had a day off to do some shopping. This letter has to go to the hospital and then they will write to me with an appointment ( all further delays,) I have been told that MRI scans are 6 weeks behind at the moment.

The consultant said that he wouldn’t get the knives out just yet because he thought that surgery isn’t critical at this point, an option based on MRI findings. Of course, I have assumed it to be a slipped disc but the MRI may or may not clarify whats going on. He things that a disc may have shunted just off -centre against the spinal cord roots at the lower end This can happen but it is unusual to be central shunt. I am concerned about further damage. Bearing in mind this started nearly three years ago and has been left until now / not taken seriously until I went to the emergency room who in their oppinion did not jump up and down.

Tony based in UK

Hi Tony and welcome to NeuroTalk.

Your symptoms certainly sound like some of the symptoms frequently seen in MS.....but MS mimics many other conditions, too. Lots of us here waited a long time before we got our "official MS" diagnosis. It's a process of elimination.

Are you seeing a Neurologist that is an MS specialist? That would be my first suggestion.

I hope you get some answers soon. I know it's frustrating and it sometimes seems like the medical community isn't moving fast enough. Sometimes they aren't.

Hi Tony and welcome!

As I tell tons of folks there are more than 100 diseases that can mimic MS including the brain lesions. its always best to seek out an MS center to start with, as they are experts are ruling things in or out. These things can run the gamit from VitB def to Lupus, Lyme and Sjoghrens. The experts will take your bowl of symptoms and start ruling the easy ones out. Check a blood test for the Vitamin stuff. then lupus/lyme markers, then inflammatory markers...when they boil it down to what it isnt, they will be left with a hand full of what it could bes. Most of what will be left cannot be proven by blood test or other stuff. its simply a "its most likely" style diagnosis.

Its a long process for many to get diagnosed, even with some very clear, very loud symptoms. Please seek an MD that specializes in MS and they can help you get a better grip on the stuff. Keep a journal! record your daily symptoms. Make sure you keep track of whom you have seen and what were their best guesses. If you feel an MD is dismissing you or making you feel like you are whining, fire him! and move on.

I hope you find the answers that you seek.

I will keep you posted. Life has become hell, im trying to stay positive but this has taken over, currently off sick from work with the bladder problems especially wouldnt want to leak in from of a client if you know what i mean !.

blessings

tony

Hi Tony, nice to meet you.:) I understand you anxiety going through the DX process from hell. Hang with us and we'll try to help you through it.

Welcome....

Hello ukman and welcome to NeuroTalk.

It is possible for your L5 disc to cause the symptoms you are having IF there has been impringment on the nerve. Every symptom you have listed affects you from L5 down.

When there is damage to the spine, problems/symptoms can happen from the damaged area down.

Good luck with your MRI and please let us know what you find out...we care

Hi Tony.

Sorry you've been having so much pain. I'm with the others here, your sx could be attributed to many things. I think even the sciatica can cause most of them.

I hope you find relief soon.

Welcome to NT!

I agree with Snoopy, especially since all of this started after your injury 3 years ago. While it doesn't mean that you don't have MS or anything else going on, I would try to get to the bottom of the damage that the slipped disc at L5 caused. Many people experience issues long after they slipped a disc. For some, it is a life time. I know that is not something you want to hear but getting a right dx is so important as there are things that can be done to help you - physical therapy (which I know several people who went this route instead of surgery and did extremely well), pain medications/injections, etc. Going to a good neurologist as well as orthopedist is a good place to start.

In the interim, those of us with MS can certainly relate to your symptoms and we each experience some or all of what you are experiencing. Please know that we are here to help you through this. Hang in there and let us know how you are doing.