Welcome to NeuroTalk..:hug: Tell us a little about yourself. We are here to support you and just to listen..:)

Cp/ms
 

My name is Kim Hubbard and I have CP and not MS. I know there are some similarities and differences in the two conditions. Many people can narrow my condition down to two things and they guess MS or CP. My husband also has CP.

Hello Kim,

Welcome to our community.

CP and MS are equally cruel and unforgiving it seems. It must be especially difficult to have both you and your husband affected.

There do seem to be many similarities between CP and MS; especially with respect to spasticity and loss of normal neurological conduction.

Hope that you find what we offer helpful.

With love, Erika

This is long, but I was told to repost...
 

Hello, I originally posted this in the MG group, but I have no idea what I have. It could be Lupus, or primary Dysautonomia, or a bunch of unrelated things plus nerve root issues. I just don't know but hello to everyone who has M.S. and please know that you've all helped me many times without realizing it, as I've read and found strength here before, anonymously.

First, thank you to anyone who reads this. Though extensive experience with internet, have never ever joined a chat room or forum. I'm desperate for help from people who have experienced something like I have and am hoping for advice on how to get treatment & what treatment & diagnosis of ? confirmed by ? tests? my local doctors are not helpful.

HISTORY:
i look like a very healthy, fit, slim, 43 year old. i am well educated, divorced from a doctor for 14 years, never remarried, have a 16 year old son. i have good friends, some for more than 20 years. though i did lose some during the past 4 years because of my strange health issues & non-diagnosis, which can be a "drag" to deal with as a friend, especially when it seems like friend may just be "crazy/have anxiety."

I've had 2 major "episodes." the first one, three years ago, landed me in E.R. three times at two different hospitals, complaining of shortness of breath, unable to lay down and breathe, weakness, headache, muscle & skeletal pain, vertigo, "twisting spine" (rib cage turned one way, pelvis the other, neck the other!), red ears, drooling, trouble swallowing, chewing, eye pain, anxiety (because i was exhausted & couldn't sleep or eat!). was accused of being drug addict at first hospital (i'm not. no drugs in system but they didn't have results back yet, sent drug counselor in who shut the door and asked me what i was "really on"!!!!). i'd been taking 1 alprazolam a night for several years to sleep & when began having such pain and fatigue, did not want to mix medicines, so went to GP (also was having torticollis!) and gave me fluxeril & cspine xray, and said if xray comes back normal to go to psychiatrist. well, i took the fluxeril and that whole night had convulsions, couldn't breathe when laying down, spine twisting, etc. and so in morning had to go to E.R. My ecg said pulse 119 (it was usually in 70's) "Sinus Tach, possible infarct, left enlarged vent, abnormal ecg" and they took a shot of my chest with a portable xray and declared me anxiety & hyperventilation. They sent me away with psychiatrist recommend.

2nd ER visit basically the same, but no treatment AT ALL. couldn't breathe, had to hold my finger in back of jaw in mouth to keep airway open and lay in a bizarre twisted way on couch, but EMT's put oxygen saturation on finger and it said 98%. I said I'd taken an alprazolam and they said they knew I'd "been taking something" because my eyes were weirdly dilated (non-matching dilation). No exrays, nothing. Got to ER, heard my story, told me to follow up with jaw dr. and psychiatrist.

Third time went to Myofascial Pain Clinic here in town (they'd seen me & told me to learn how to "breathe" because was "obvious" my "parasympathetic nervous system was kicking in" and had told me to ask GP for valium instead of the alprazolam, and come back in two weeks. But when I'd gone to GP, she refused to give me valium to replace the single alprazolam a day, acted like I was "drug seeking" and told me to go to a particular in-patient detox clinic!!!! I was so exhausted and tired and hungry and scared i knew I could not stay alone another night (couldn't lay down and breathe!) so actually WENT TO THE DRUG CLINIC! Well, OF COURSE they wouldn't take me, I'm not nor every have been, a drug addict. So I'd stayed in my car by the myofascial pain clinic till they opened and the next day and went in without an appt and explained what had happened. They put me in a room and eventually walked me down to Head Trauma in the E.R. where I stayed for NINE hours, was interviewed by every resident known to man, NEVER GIVEN AN XRAY, CSCAN, MRI, MRA, NOTHING, only valium "taper" (as if I was an addict), and eventually sent home with instructions again to see psychiatrist and jaw dr, because of my "complaints."

Yes, all this is a true story. So my best friend came from different state & saw I was having spasms all over face, head, etc. took me to nyc and there was given MRI, cscan, orthodontic appliance to keep jaw & airway open while sleeping, daytime bite plate, dx: secondary hypothyroid, given jobs stockings for swollen legs and feet, propanalol for anxiety/tension when going to sleep, an inhaler for inflammation of alveoli, a diet for leaky gut, IBS, magnesium for spasms, Wobenzym for inlfammation, trigger point injections to head, neck, scalp, botox in masseters.

MRI CSPINE: no compression, yes to loss of lordosis, partial disc diseccation changes at mid & upper cervical level. disc spaces and vertebral body heights otherwise well maintained & display acceptable sign.

BRAIN MRI: vascular asymmetry with small right internal carotid artery and right vertebral artery seen. no scalloping distinctly seen to suggest avasculitis. MRA may be performed for better evaluation.

endoscopy/colonoscopy: functional dysmotility, GERD, slow emptying, constipation, incomplete evacuation, esophogeal stricture, received esophogeal dilation while totally knocked out w/anasthesia. noted tertiary esophogeal contractions while out.

I've spent two years recovering from all that, and one year basically "normal" again, except taking hypothyroid meds, vitamin D3, 1000 mg daily of magnesium because when tried to stop got contractions again, and finally given 150 xl wellbutrin for brain fog and fatigue. it worked well, but just took edge off fatigue & body pains. then prescribed adderall for ADD and it took my fatigue away and gave me back my "normal" life of 15 years ago.

Now had a second episode two months (almost three) during which I experienced my first serious car acciden (didn't see car coming, at all?) but without convulsions, and only 1 night of non-sleep. Refused to go to ER, so waited till morning and went to shrink, then to pysical therapist. cervical neck strain, and 1 cspine xray showing more of the same. Neurology appt in 2 weeks. This time also had crazy itching, night sweats, red ears, and PT diagnosed POTS unofficially by doing laying, sitting, standing pulse and then exercise pulse. (cannot exercise, cheeks turn blue).

I'm so tired of getting run around. New pyschiatrist said all was "anxiety" until he got to know me better & I told him that if he proved it by ruling physical reasons out, I'd accept that dx. Asked him to explain the tertiary contractions while totally out under anesthesia. he was sure pulse and anxiety were combo of wellbutrin 150 xl 1 x daily, and and adderall, 30 mg 2 x daily, plus thyroid meds. tapered wellbutrin and back to 1/2 that and pulse even higher. ecg says pulse 110, sinus tach, low voltage in frontal leads.

Here's my "Red Ear" (and i'm wearing the jacket because I'm cold. in my own house. I had been watching TV when this one came on. And my nose swelled and got red, too. No, no alcohol. Just watching TV!) oh, I'm new so it won't let me post link to pic.

I'm almost "better" again. Spasms gone. Sleeping fine. Fatigue worse than ever, brain fog better, anxiety gone, swelling of legs & feet still present, eyes only sometimes strange feeling. but now nausea and flu feeling, moderate loss of appetite, forearm soreness, weird tinglings & pain, flushing neck, weakness (have a hard time opening medicine bottles, lower legs have fatty atrophy). swallowing problems & swallowing problems come and go.

Welcome to NT/MS Forum STG 43.:)

Wow, you have been thru so much and received so little, it seems.

While your history doesn't scream MS to me, I am glad that there is information here that can help you. We do have things in common. Many of us were not believed or told our symptoms were of a psychiatric nature. More so before MRI's but even today it happens.

Some things to try:
Keep notes (symptom journal that includes dates of exams and tests).
Ask for copies of all reports and keep a file of those.
Get CD's of MRI's and other X-rays.
Try to do somethings that have nothing to do w your medical situation

And water your friendships and keep them growing. Support them as you are able. It sounds like you have a keeper in the friend from NY.

My best to you,
ANN

new member/tremors
 

hi, my name is granny ruby..i am a 75 yr old christain lady. I started getting sick in may. (pcp,eye dr,neuro surgeon,back and forth,er visits, ct scan, mri scan)..finally in sept, a neuro looked at me and in 10 minutes told my daughter and me..u have MG..i have been thru many things in my life time..actually i have had 26 surgeries, to many things to mention..where this disease came from i do not know..everyone was shocked and some still are..i have double vision, my head is on my shoulders, been to er.(2).thought it was a heart attack, peridsone, mestinion,(cellceft, on this now) weakness, i wear a neck collar, sweats and u name it..this disease has consumed me..the thing i am trying to find out more about is "TREMORS"..everyday..they last for a while..i dont quiver, trying to think of the best way to describe it..parkenson disease..thats it..they absolutely take me down and all the strength out of me..just wondering dose any one else go thru this..glad im here, i know i'm not alone..

Granny Ruby,

Welcome to the NT Multiple Sclerosis Forum. I am sorry you are having a struggle.

Although this is the MS Forum, some people w MS also have MG. I don't know if there is any one on the forum w MG, tho. We have much to share in learning to listen to our bodies and managing the precious energy that we do have.

You are not alone. Stay awhile.
ANN

Hello
 

Hello Kitty, welcome to neuro talk.

Hello All. New Here..
 

Im 33, mom of one from Ohio. I was dx w. MS 10-5-12. Its taking some time to get used to that's for sure. I started my Avonex therapy last mnth. Im here for support.

Welcome Mom of one..:) What part of Ohio? I'm near Dayton.

Take off your shoes and make yourself comfy.:hug:

Im in n.e. Ohio, Youngstown to be exact

New member- is it a blessing in disguise?
 

I found this website because of a google search on MS and High Blood Pressure. I'm only now beginning to experience some of the "typical" MS symptoms or at least knowingly experience them. I actually think MS may be a blessing in disguise. It has had me reevaluate priorities, love my kids and husband more and I have learned that asking for help is o.k. For the first time in 8 years I took more than 5 consecutive vacation days and ignored work completely. I'll never not be a "type 'A'" personality but I think I can change to an A-. What about you?

Hello Mcsisters and welcome to our community.

Managing stress in this world of ours is an important and beneficial way to promote health and well being; especially when dealing with diseases like MS that seem to be amplified by stress.
How one does that seems to be as individual as the manifestation of MS and I'm happy that you are taking steps to explore your options in that respect.

For me, voluntarily taking time off work to rest was difficult at first, but when the body just couldn't do the work required, it became a necessity at times...and the frustration that goes with that reality can become its own stress.
Finding things to do that don't tax the body when one is used to working but can't, helps to manage that secondary stress.

Please keep us posted on how things are going for you.

With love, Erika

Welcome home to NeuroTalk Mcsisters, where we all understand and empathise with all you are going through.

I was the Queen of type A's. I have given up my title and succomed(sp) to a lesser position.:D

Come in and join us..:hug:

Hi McSisters.:)

See you on the board.
ANN :)

Hi ya'll
 

Hello group. I am Kitty Berry, southern girl transplanted to DC via my Air Force husband. We have a sweet 11 year old daughter with a myriad of health issues that are a mystery. 4 years ago she started experiencing internal tremors that made her just crazy. We finally found a Neurologist that started her on Requip that managed the tremors. We thought we were home free. Fast forward 2 years and relentless global sharp shooting pain hits. She has to be hospitalized for Ketamine infusions to get it under control. Now she has pins and needles anytime she experiences temperature changes anywhere on her body. She does have Type 1 diabetes. A muscle biopsy showed Type 1 muscle fiber hypotrophy, she has 2 unknown Mitochondrial mutations, white matter changes on her MRI, 2 normal EMGs, and now a normal skin biopsy. The Neuro today told me she is Psychosomatic. Needless to say it ticked me off. Just because she is difficult to diagnose doesn't mean she is crazy. We are so desperate for help.

Hello tikiberry and welcome to our community.

I am so sorry that your daughter is having these symptoms and that you are having trouble getting some answers. Unfortunately many conditions that affect the nervous system can mimic MS, including nutritional deficiencies, endocrine disorders and toxicities. That makes diagnosis of the cause of neurolological symptoms difficult so quite often a few are given until the correct one is found.

Here's a shot in the dark though:
You mention that your daughter has some mitochondrial alterations and is also diabetic; so I'm wondering if she is consuming Aspartame.
A small percentage of people (more so in children), are very sensitive to Aspartame and/or its metabolites, and even with ingestion of small amounts may develop symptoms like the ones that you describe.
It might be worth checking it out.

Here's a link:
http://voices.yahoo.com/aspartame-po...oma-38555.html
QUOTE: "The symptoms of Aspartame poisoning are known to mimic Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, and also Fibromyalgia (spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, joint pain)."

Hope that you get some answers and that your daughter overcomes her health challenges.
Please keep us posted.

With love, Erika

Welcome to NeuroTalk Tikiberry. I hope we can be of some help. Of course, to some Docs, we are all psychosomatic.:mad: If they aren't smart enough or interested enough to figure it out, then they pull that one.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Get yourself another Neuro, who specializes in MS illnesses. Erika's suggestion is a good start to your own investigation. There are many Neuro Illness that mimic MS, so be patient, but insistant.

Come back and let us know how it goes for Daughter and you.:hug:

Hi folks! :-))
 

Hi folks,
Just signed up and wanted to introduce myself. Diagnosed with myofascial pain and fybromyalgia. Have not to good days and bad days.:( Hoping to see if any other sufferers have this.......some days I can hardly walk? Is that usual with MFS?:confused:
Look forward to learning more from folk on this site.
Lizzy:)

Hi Lizzy :)
You have posted this on the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) forum but I think you may be wanting our Fibromyalgia forum? here it is http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum12.html

MS a Possibility
 

:confused: I have been diagnosed with BMS ( Burning Mouth Syndrome) . But it also affects my nose, ears, eyes, tips of toes, tips of fingers, and sometimes soles of feet and random spots on my back. It burns like hot, hot wings and sometimes hurts like actual sores but there are none. I also get a taste like burning metal or cigar smoke in my mouth or the smell in my nose.
I have been tested : brain MRI, EMG and many blood tests, 24 hour urine test and even a chest xray and tested for TB. I am presently on 800 mg of gabapentin a day but it does not last the day, I am bothered by 1 pm and really uncomfortable by 4 pm. Could this be the beginning of MS?

Hello njm,

Welcome to our community.
I'm sorry but I don't have any experience with burning mouth syndrome, but I don't think that is a common first symptom of MS. Maybe someone else on the forum has some information/experience with this and can help you.

Hope that you find a medication that helps...sounds nasty.

With love, Erika

welcome to NT,
i've never heard of this but i hope someone can help with your Q.
do you split your med dose?

it often helps to take a med every 12 hrs rather than once a day.
but always ask your dr first.

hello mcsisters,
one of the hardest things i had to learn in the months when i was 1st dx'd was to listen to my body.

if it said stop, no more errands, go home i started to listen. if not i paid the price. weak, tired, no reserves etc.

i also had to learn to be patient with myself. i was a bit type A also. wanted things to be just right. be kind and gentle with yourself.

I'm new to the site but I've had MS since 2009.

Hello Tmparker and welcome to our community.
There are many threads that cover a lot of different topics here, so we always hope that the information is helpful to those who come. If there is something that you'd like to discuss or share, please feel comfortable about doing so.

With love, Erika

New to forum, new to MS
 

Hi all! Name is Kelly, I'm a 26 year old mother of two, after having my second son I went blind in both of my eyes in a matter of 3 days and was diagnosed with bilateral optic neuritis, which has since been resolved. After my second spinal tap they found the hhv-6 virus in my spinal fluid and am currently being treated for that, but since the optic neuritis there has been a question of MS, and a little over a month ago started my first confirmed flare up. Extreme fatigue, short term memory loss (very bad), bowel incontinence, severe pain in my lower back and right hip, weakness in my right leg, and very bad instability.. I know there is another word they use for it in the neurology world, but for the life of me I can't think of it. Kind of like a "drunk" stumbling. Anyhow, just 3 days ago I got the confirmed diagnosis and I've been an emotional wreck. I'll be starting a week of IV solu-medrol for this flare up, I've gotten it before (3 weeks worth) for the optic neuritis and it worked very well for that, then they want to start me on copaxone. So, anyhow, that's where I stand now. :) I guess this was kind of a long introduction, sorry for rambling on.

Hi Kelly and welcome to NT. It's alot to digest when you're first diagnosed. With the responsibilities of motherhood and everything that goes with that it's easy to become overwhelmed. There's a whole group of wonderful folks here that know exactly what you're going through. So sorry you got the MS diagnosis but at least you know what you're fighting. :hug:

Hi Kelly, Nice to meet you. I hope you like it here and pull up a chair.:)

Copaxone is a good choice for some MSers. I hope it works to slow your progression and limit your attacks.

Soooooo young. Congrats on becoming a Mother. Thats the best thing of all.:hug:

hi tm and welcome to NT,

i've had MS since '03, dx'd anyway. probably had it for much longer.
i hope to hear more about you. how are you doing?

hi kelly,

welcome to NT. it sounds like you've had a rough time & i'm sorry you're flaring. i hope the roids work.

i've been on copaxone for 10 yrs and have done well on it.
true it's daily shots but it's not IM & you don't get flu like sx's on it.
the shots become routine. the RN will come to your home & teach you how to do them.

the best advice i can give you looking back on my experience is to take 1 day at a time. try not to look ahead because no one can predict the future, not even healthy folks.

and, be gentle with yourself. listen to your body and don't overdo if you don't have to. pace yourself so you can conserve your energy to do things that have to be done.

congrats on your baby too.

Thank you everyone for all of the great advise, I am SO happy to have found a place to talk to people I can relate to. I have a wonderful and very supportive family but when it comes to all of this MS stuff it's hard to talk to them about it because none of us know anything about it! lol

And I was completely wrong as to when this flare up started, it's been almost 3 months now. I called my neurologist office 4 times today in hopes of starting the 5 days of IV solu-medrol this week, since I've been living with this pain and all other symptoms for so long, but they didn't call me back. I just want to feel better!

I am very sorry my little rant.

Hi,

I am a 47 yr old woman. I've been having the odd symptoms all of my life. Being a busy person, I ignored a lot. A big "symptom" was at the 32 I lost the use of my right leg..it just stopped working for a couple of weeks. We had no insurance, I went to the urgi, but they did no scans. They thought it was anxiety and sent me on my way. I did get it going again though. A disability center loaned me a walker and somehow I got thru. I always have had times of weird vision problems and eye pains that glasses wouldn't help and opthamologists couldn't fix. Sometimes they would rx prednisone drops, sometimes not. I finally stopped looking for answers. Occasionally my closet would hide a bag of depends adult diapers.

3 years ago I had a major complex surgery and all hell broke loose. The tingles, the shakes, the burns. My face would go numb. The pain up and down my body. I couldn't handle the heat, I wouldn't even leave my air conditioned home in the summers. I started taking cool showers. I thought it was menopause. People attribute all bad stuff to menopause.

I took a few falls. Suddenly my daily beach walks had become treacherous. Stairs were a jungle. Handles became my best friends. And then I'd be fine for a few weeks. Finally my gp did the "follow my fingers" test, and then puzzled a bunch of neuro tests. And a neuro consult. 2 clear MRI's. Puzzling labs with inflammatory markers extremely high.

Optic Neuritis. Wow. Scary crap. Almost completely blind in one eye. Now they've got my attention.

I just started a 5 day IV prednisone dose.

How can it be MS with clear MRI's though? The doc's say they are pretty sure. (oh the lumbar puncture was positive?) I go to a clinic in Boston.

Hello NoWakes,

Welcome to NT.
Sorry that you are going through this...the road to diagnosis can be a rough one :hug:.
It is usually best to take one day at a time and listen to what your body... as well as to what the docs have to say.

It is quite possible to have MS and a clear MRI; especially if an MRI was not done of the spine. Even then, some spinal lesions do not show up either.
It sounds like you are in good hands with your doctors so far though.
It seems that they have run some of the tests to exclude other possibilities and have chosen to use a strong anti-inflammatory to get things under control ASAP.

From there it might be a bit of a wait and see approach. Please let us know how you are making out with the prednisone and how things go afterward.

With love, Erika

Welcome home NoWakes.:) Sounds like you've had this carp for a long time..me too. I was mild n the beginning, but like you said, all hell broke lose.

I hope you are going to stay with us and let us know how it's going. Join us in our misery and fun..:D

:hug:

New Here!
 

Hi,

I'm a 19 year old woman who's been having episodes of transverse myelitis in addition to other symptoms for the last six years. In 07, when I had just turned 13, I got acutely ill with the textbook TM: muscle spasms, progressing paralysis, binding pain, hyperreflexia etc. At the ER they dx'd me as Acute Idiopathic Transverse Myelitis and treated me with two weeks of IV steroids (after the first week symptoms returned so they re-hospitalized me for a second round). A slow and bumpy recovery ensued. Since then, I have had relapses (less severe) of TM as well as misc other neurological symptoms - sensory changes as well as severe shortness of breath caused by spasticity of the abdominal wall muscles and perhaps mild diaphragm weakness. Currently taking a round of 'roids for my latest TM relapse. Stickler: I have absolutely normal tests. MRI's w/o contrast of brain & spin; CSF; even an evoked potential. Every blood test available, including NMO IgG. Everything completely normal. At first neuros thought I was crazy, but now (after the history and objective neuro findings) they just don't know. Was seen at the UCSF MS Center who, on first visit, thought I had MS but after normal tests did not know. Current neuro is waiting for some confirmation before dx'ing MS: positive brain or spinal MRI or, he says, solid evidence that the disease was involving some other spot in my CNS and not just a specific band of spinal cord. Whew! There's the tirade. Sorry for all that babbling! Just really wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this - spinal-only MS and/or clear MRI's?

Thanks! And wishing everybody a peaceful and healthful neuro system in this new year!

Hello Nimrodel and welcome to NT.

I'm so sorry that you are going through the "nasties" of Transverse Myelitis.

Quote: Just really wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this - spinal-only MS and/or clear MRI's?

Some people do develop symptoms of MS while the MRIs and other tests remain clear...at least for a while. It seems that some lesions take time to show up (especially in the spine); and/or some MRI Tesla strengths may not be strong enough to show small lesions.

It may take a while for the docs to figure out if you are dealing with TM, partial TM, and/or MS; so please try to be patient and most of all, be kind to yourself. The road to diagnosis for MS is often a long one...as it is often a process of elimination.
The sensory changes, pain, spasticity and even the shortness of breath (due to abdominal muscle spasticity known as 'the Hug'), can all occur with MS; but there are usually some other findings on tests that indicate MS rather than TM.

At least so far, it seems that your tests have consistently been clear for MS, but then again, some of the symptoms of TM might not be classic enough for your docs to arrive at that exclusive diagnosis either. They might settle on a diagnosis of Partial Transverse Myelitis, at least until some lesions show up on MRI.

I have experienced MS bouts and partial TM episodes, both separately and together; but I had MS symptoms (optic neuritis, lower limb spasticity, pain and tingling) before my first TM episode. My partial TM experiences have been more like what you describe; although there was also ascending spastic paralysis that affected the legs with the more severe bouts of partial TM.

Sorry but I can't say what would have shown up on MRI in the early stages once I had gone through a couple of MS and TM bouts; as MRI was not available/used back then (circa 1978-1988). Now after 35 years of dealing with these neurological disorders, there most certainly are lesions in the brain, as well changes in the spine that show up on MRI.

It sounds like your docs are doing their best to get your symptoms under control while they figure out what is going on. Hopefully they will find out the 'why' this is happening to you and will then be able to offer something to prevent it from happening again.
I'm not sure if the disease modifying drugs (DMDs) that are used for MS work on TM, or if there is something that might work on both; but your docs would probably know that and might offer that option at some point.

Please keep us posted on how things are going with you. We are here to support you and hopefully some others here can/will offer some insight along the way as well :hug:.

With love, Erika

hello nowakes and welcome to NT,

it can be possible to have MS and the lesions not show up for a while on mri.
but it does seem a bit odd since it sounds like you've had this for a while. and, if you're in an active flare the lesions should show up as active. odd.

did you have the mri with contrast? that shows the lesions better than without.
at least your drs are validating you and tx'ing you. i hope the roids help.
please keep in touch and let us know how you are.

hi nimrodel and welcome to NT,

i don't know about your situation but wanted to say hello anyway.
others will be along to help too.

check out the other forums on the site as you may find some that will help you.

Mary Sue
 

Hi everyone

I am looking for advice and information. After 2 years and extensive work ups I finally got a tentative diagnosis this week. My neurologist thinks I have both Cervical spine stenosis and M. S. I will get the complete diagnosis on January 30th. She has already scheduled me to see a nuero-surgeon. I am not ready to just agree to surgery. I did that about two years ago when an orhtopedist told me I needed rotator cuff surgery and that would cure the pain in my upper back. Didn't work I still have as much pain and now I have substantial weakness. I am familiar with M.S. my Mother had it and I care for my daughter who has had it for about 29 years.

Any information on avoiding cervical spine surgery would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Mary Sue