[rockinreel]

1.5 years ago: bottom and side of left foot felt asleep a lot

1 yr ago: left arm and leg felt weightless, dizzy, heat flash. Each of the next 4 months same episodes that lasted 20 minutes. Dr. thought TIA. Lesions on right side of brain.

6 months ago: More numbness but now to include up leg. Had multiple Episodes which changed to funny bone feeling in foot, outside calf, inner thigh that lasted for 20 min's, arm = funny bone feeling 2 minutes. (only once did left face tingle for 20 seconds). All on left side, no right

Now: back to beginning, bottom of foot feels numb.

Asking because I get my spinal tap results soon after 3 positive MRI results of legions on the brain. I'll post the results. The longer I walk the better I feel which is the opposite of MS (that I've read). So, maybe there is hope for me.

thanks

[Debbie D]

Actually, I suffer from spasticity in my legs. I stiffen up when I stand still...when I walk, things loosen up a bit & feel better...kind of like the Tin Man after getting some oil in his joints

Let us know how the lumbar puncture turns out. Don't forget to hydrate before the test, and lie down the rest of the day afterwards. Also drink lots of caffeinated drinks-I used Monster drinks. Helps keep the post-puncture headache away.

[NurseNancy]

welcome to NT,
it is so hard to say. MS sx's (symptoms) are so different for each person.
i would encourage you to take 1 day at a time; 1 test/result at a time.

then, have an appt face to face with your dr to discuss the results. try to take a friend or family member with you for a 2nd set of ears. start to get copies of your test results, dr's dictation and mri cd's. this will become invaluable if you ever see other drs, and for your personal medical file.

please keep us posted.

[rockinreel]

Neurologist thought I may be having seizure like symptoms so he put me on Anti-seizure medicine called Lamictal. I developed diplopia (double vision) and quit the medicine. Took two more weeks to get my vision back.

I'm not sure because I'm not weak and I only have symptoms on one side of my body. I'll have the spinal tap results next week.

[SallyC]

Welcome Rockinreel, nice to meet you.

[rockinreel]

Thanks for the greetings.

My spinal tap came back normal. As of now, I don't have lupus, MS, CNS lymphoma. Get MRI of my cervical spine today.

I would assume that a normal spinal tap doesn't completely rule out MS.

Some mystery disease is damaging the nerves down my left leg and arm and causing "the ground just moved under my feet" brief feeling.

[SallyC]

Right, MS has not been ,yet, ruled out. A brain MRI may also be
necessary. Thanks for bringing us up to date and good luck with
the MRI.

Hang in there...

OOPS.. edited to say: I see your Brain MRIs were positive for
possible MS.

[ANNagain]

Glad that you don't have anything in that list!

Yes, you are right, a neg. CSF does not r/o MS. Many here, including me, have had that result.

Good luck in your search and please let us know how you are along the way. How are you handling this?

ANN

[NurseNancy]

if your dr thinks you're having seizures i feel the better thing to do before prescribing meds is to do an EEG to look at your brain waves. to me that would make more sense in diagnosing a possible problem.

and, i'd make him tell you what the lesions mean. when i became symptomatic i went to a neuro and had an abnormal neuro exam. my mri came back with lesions (other MS mimicers had been ruled out) and i was dx'd on that alone.
only later did we do an LP that was +.

[rockinreel]

After 3 positive MRI's of lesions on my brain, all other test ware normal, to include the evoked potentials test. Can't believe my left leg nerves are normal.

The only thing I know for sure about my MS symptoms is that caffeine makes them worse, along with drinking too much alcohol. I demanded a Western Blot test.

@NurseNancy. I asked the doc if he could tell if the lesions were dead tissue in my brain, blood clot fragments, etc... He said you can't definitely tell from an MRI.

I've had every MS test there is and nothing, with exception of the positive EEG and MRI's. Sigh! Numbness has substantially subsided in the last week and a half though. Doc wants to send my to the MAYO clinic in Jacksonville now. Put m on anti-seizure meds again, but I refuse to treat the symptoms without knowing the cause. I'm not in pain.