It's hard for me to believe that it's MS and hard for me to believe it's not. I had neck pain/neuropathy and issues with my right arm..the issues seemed to have cleared up..but once I started back into my old routine at the gym..bam..neck issues started with more WEIRD symptoms..balance..legs..dizziness. So frustrating.

Oneof the weird things about MS is that heat can bring back your previous MS problems you thought had been worse at one time. When you exercise, your body is heating up. Just like some people have a difficult time in a hot shower because they temporarily have some MS issues. But they cool off and they are gone again.

A lower disk herniation, or budge, "shouldn't" cause neck issues as well, however, it still can. When a disk herniation causes discomfort, it tightens the muscles around the area in the body's attempt to prevent further injury and reduce swelling. Same as if you sprained an ankle or cut a finger.

When the muscles in the lower back tighten however, it changes ones posture which often times places strain on the neck. When I herniated and bulged an L3 disk (and broke the vertebrae) it wasn't long before I pinched a nerve in my neck, though I followed the doctors directions, was doing PT, taking meds, and not lifting more than 10 lbs.

I still have a lot of problems with my neck and left arm, exasperated by MS and a bad car wreck (now I have a bulging disk in my neck ) but the MRIs showed that the vertebrae were already showing undo signs of wear and tear in the ten+ years my back has been injured.

I've never gone to a chiropractor, went through orthopedics with my back, who referred me to physical therapists rather than a chiro. My brother had a similar injury, around the same time oddly enough, and went to see a chiropractor for his back finding less improvement than I have (even with my compounding issues). But then his injury was the result of downward forces (fell from the top deck of a naval ship to the lower managing to land on his feet) while mine was spontaneous combustion for lack of a better term.

What you're describing is extremely similar to what my brother has complained of in terms of symptoms. Which still doesn't rule out MS, it's entirely possible to have both, but the symptoms you describe are more classic back injury symptoms rather than MS.

Thanks for the input everyone. Had my MRI done today..pre liminary was normal. No scaring or bleeding. Whew. My neuro is going to review the full report and give me final results.

can i suggest that you get a copy of the disc & the report.
start a medical file on yourself. i will be invaluable in the future to have your own records.

Hey folks. I followed up with my neuro a week or so ago and said you're good. You don't have anything to worry about. Knowing he specializes in MS..it brought me relief. I followed up with my orthopedic doctor and he read the report from the neurologist. I told him the neck tightness, balance, and weakness was still an issue. He had me lay down on the table and tested my hamstrings. My leg is supposed to lift at a 90 degree angle..but it was more like..50 or 60. He said, "Wow...you're tight in your lower body..very tight." He thought maybe my tight lower body is causing some issues. You may have some nerve irritation in your neck..but nothing major. Your MRI was normal. Let's send you to physical therapy. If things don't improve in a month we'll take it a step further." The therapist was baffled by my symptoms. She said i had no mobility in my lower back. She had me do some exercises and is also having me see a PT who specializes in spine. My neck stiffness has improved. I really didn't feel the pinch in my lower back. Today I went for a brisk walk and did some stair climbing. Didn't feel as dizzy..but my legs felt so weak and my lower back was hurting. My neck started getting stiff as well..not nearly as bad as it used to. Can tight hamstrings really cause this much havoc on your body? To me..it really seems spinal.

In answer to tight hamstrings...yes... They can cause many problems with the body. Women are always being chastised by doctors for wearing high heels which can cause any number of problems for the feet, but also the back as well, even the shoulders. Think of the old song.."the foot bones connected to the ankle bone and the ankle bone's connect to the shin bone......." It works the same way with the muscles. They're all connected to each other.

So when your major muscles get tight, even just one set, it puts strain on everything. It's a little less noticeable and causes a few less problems if it's a tight bicep. You might notice some grip involvement or tightness in the shoulder more than anything else, but then the arm has more resting time than the legs.

So the hamstrings get tight and get no real rest, but more than that too, when the hamstrings are too tight they change your posture to. Your weight is carried more forward on you feet and as counterbalance your lower back is thrown backwards to stop you from tumbling head over heels. It's not consciously done, your body will wiggle which ever way it needs to to stay upright.

The same this is happening with the neck involvement. Because you want to look ahead and not down at your toes (as you would be with your lower back pushed out to avoid tipping over on your toes that your hamstrings are making you walk on) your needing to bend it backwards to see where you're going. These aren't exaggerated shifts, and don't need to be either to cause massive amounts of strain upon the muscles and the joints.

Keep up the PT get those hamstrings stretched out, be mindful of your posture and you should start to feel relief. And since it's not MS apply plenty of warm moist heat to relax those poor muscles. Be it in a nice bath or hot shower or just curled up with a heating pad. But most importantly listen to the body, don't wait till you're ready to pass out or dizzy to take a rest and give the muscles a break.

Thanks Starz. My legs feel like they have more strength. Although today I was a wreck. My head was so foggy, headaches, my spatial coordination was off..I was literally almost running into things, and I felt what seemed like electricity around my c2 area. I went to an ENT after I saw my neurologist and he told me I was ok. I may have an issue with my vestibular nerve..but that heals over time. He gave me meds for dizziness. When I saw my therapist show thought it may have been vestibular as well. Does it sound like it could be?

Almost textbook for vestibular. And I assume the doctor did double check that you don't have a quiet inner ear infection. I'm prone to those, I'll got to the doctor complaining of my ear hurting or feeling itchy, they look say it's fine nothing at all wrong. I go back a week later feeling nauseous, maybe ringing in the ear or the ear feels fine, they look, say I'm fine. I go back a week later pain in the ear, dizzy, nauseated can't see straight. They look say I'm fine.

A week later I go back, the pain is I bearable, I can barely keep anything down, the world feels like it's spinning under my feet, I can't stand, can't see, feel like I'm going to pass out in the next second, they look and yelling at me for not coming in sooner my ear drum is ready to explode ...

It's gotten better with my new PCP, who I explained how many times it has happened in the past, so now they just give me the rx for antibiotics telling me to wait and see for a little bit if the symptoms resolve but if they continue on their usual path take them before the infection gets worse.

I saw my physical therapist again today. She told me she doesn't think it's vestibular. She thinks it's purely mechanical. She had me do backward and forward bending chin tucks. Seems like it's worse now. Is that normal after doing those exercises? I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm so scared. The ENT did all of his tests and said I was fine. I'm really a wreck. It's uncomfortable turning my neck..my right arm is a little clumsey, shaky, and a little weak. My right leg is aching a little.