BTW- Cymbalta - my grandmother was given it for aches pains anxiety ect. Took it for 2 days then thankfully realized what it was doing to her.
It almost put her in the hospital. She got sick and worse- was seeing things! Her friend's been taking it for yrs so once again, every body's different.

Funny thing is I have NO pain in my head, neck, arms or hands. But my hips, legs and feet never stop hurting. If I don't take prednisone I can't walk more than a few feet at a time. My biggest complaint is the horrible lethargy I experience where I don't do anything for days and days. I hate it!
I asked for the MRI of my head and the doctor agreed but it didn't happen-I don't know why. I am so lost as to what is going on with me.

i'd call the dr's office and find out about why they didn't do the brain mri.
insist you want it done to complete the picture (no pun intended).
and yes, if there were lesions that's what the report would have called it.

i'd schedule another appt with your neuro (after the mri matter is settled) and ask him to explain all this to you and come up with a plan of action. try to take a friend or family member with you to help you advocate, get answers and be a 2nd set of ears.

Honestly my neuro really is not a favorite of mine right now. He basically shooed me away telling me I need maybe a skeletal specialist but had no one in mind. I pick up the disk tomorrow and after I get a good look I'll schedule with my primary to see where we go from here. I am weaning from prednisone and a lot of the pain and tightness is coming back in just my legs and feet as usual. Maybe if I walk in with a cane and brace (I have needed both at times) I will be taken more seriously.
I am scared to death of Cymbalta. I understand it's only effective for a year or two and coming off it is real hard to do. These doctors are abhorred that I take prednisone but it really helps a lot with only minor side effects for me. And isn't that the idea of medication???
The worst part though is this drowsiness that will become total "useless blob". That's the part of whatever this is that I can't stand and the part I don't understand the most.

About the COq10. My daughter had Chronic fatigue syndrome for several years which can have a lot of the symptoms of MS, fibromyalgia. I can't say it helped her a whole lot though. Get family member on your side that has more of the tolerance that can fight for you.

Here's some images of lesions for you http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread177183-4.html

Software that comes on disc should be ok but I like http://www.onis-viewer.com/ProductInfo.aspx?id=19

Spend a few days or nights playing with it. You'll amaze yourself.

I take 2000mcg's B12 when I wake, B100 after lunch. Just started taking 200mg caffeine with the B12 and those 3 surely keep me going all day. Exercise can't be stressed enough to get your wheels turning.

Thanks! It may take me a while to figure it all out! I have an appt with my primary on the 12th to see where I go from here. I am e=weaning myself off prednisone (again) and am really starting to hurt but NOT where this MRI shows I should hurt. I am also sleeping more and feeling wrung out all day again. Yuck.

My suggestion is get a referral for a new neurologist. You need a second opinion. The neurologist you have now seems incompetent and frankly not very sympathetic. Good luck!

What you're describing reminds me of a friend who has polymyalgia...do research on that also.

It can be very frustrating when you are just trying to get an answer to what is going on with your body and no one can figure it out:hug::hug:

If you see something like "punctate hyperintense areas", that would be radiologist-ese for lesions. If they are talking about stenosis in your neck and spine, and you are having peripheral symptoms, I would lean towards spinal compression as an explanation rather than MS in the absence of an MRI of the brain showing lesions.

Keep in mind, my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it. Get the reports, read them, google them and ask questions here...but most of all, go back to your doctors and ask them to explain what the reports mean once you think you know what they mean. If you aren't satisfied with their explanations, go to another doctor and try again.