I too have mostly spinal (cervical mostly) leisons. I have constant pain in my neck/shoulder blades, and dare I be active it tightens so painfully. I find a heating pad eases it and stretching helps too. I usually ignore it until it's unbearable. My bad, but I hate giving in to the MonSter.

Feel better Soon.

Massages, by someone who is very experienced with MS, can help considerably.

Cherie

I recently did a little more reading on the banding, or "MS hug" effect and learned that it is caused by tiny muscles in the ribcage spasming.

It's possible that adding Neurontin or Baclofen to your meds would not only alleviate the "hug" and throat issue, but help with your leg too.

I've considered meds for the pain..But have been trying to avoid them as long as possible since they tend to make me oh so sleepy (which I am most of the time anyway)..May still have to go that route, though. And the massage thing sounds good to me..Thanks MzB and Lady Express..MSAcorn, I hope you're feeling well, too. Thanks for sharing! As much as I hate to see anyone in pain, it's nice to know we're not alone..

Now, I'm still waiting for Jen! How are you feeling today, and please explain the "esophogus" thing you're experiencing..I'm really curious if it's the same or similar..

What do spinal lesions generally relate to? Are they are symtom of MS? or symtoms of MS developing?

Hello Nancee and welcome to NeuroTalk.

Spinal lesions as well as brain lesions represent damage to the Central Nervous System (CNS)...in MS. There can be other causes for lesions even in the spine.

Not sure I answered your questions, if not please feel free to ask more.

Here is some information you might find helpful:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/342409-overview

Search the net for "Dermatomes". Chart will show 1000 words more then I can type Then get your MRI on cd and play find the lesions. I had one around c4 that faded thank god because Christopher Reeves injury was probably just slightly above it.

Hi,

I was diagnosed with TM 4 years ago. I've been perscribed neuro drugs like lyrica and amatriplyne, neither did anything but make me so tired that i was boarder line sleeping behind the wheel.

I've taken myself off the drugs and have been living this way for more than a year. The only relief i've been able to find between the constant spasms and RLS is to take high doses of motrin / ibprofin (usually between 1200 - 1800mg). I'm aware that this is probally not good, but it beats getting addicted to the mutiple amount of painkillers i've been pushed. I have countless perscriptions for t3's, oxycodone...etc.. I refuse to become drug dependant.

I've managed to get on the wait list for the MS reasearch clinic at UBC hospital and my appointment is next week, it's been a long journey to get this far which included firing 3 neurologists because in thier opinion "you'll just get better" when clearily due to severity of symptoms and frequancy i was not.

I've been doing alot of research into TM and MS prepairing for my day long list of appointments and I've noticed something. TM develops quickily over a period of hours or a week, is this what happens in every case?

I ask because I want to prepair myself for what's ahead. My symptoms started in December and got increasing worse over a period of 9 months tapering off in september. another thing that baffles me is that my symptoms do not affect my legs at all just everything from the waist up.

should I be worried?

Just so you are aware, the original poster asked this question in 2008 and it was talked about a bit. The post was revived in 2010 for a few comments.

AllyBear you may be better off starting a new topic of your own so that you can receive responses tailored to your situation. We have had several folks come and go since that original posting. I hope you get the answers you seek. I dont know much about TM except I hear that it comes on very fast and after some time leaves just as quickly. That it can be more devestating than MS, and carries alot of similar traits, but acts differently too.

Hang in there.

After over a year of on again off again mysterious issues and doctors telling me, "i dont know" or suggesting Im insane or remarking, "youre too young to have these issues..." and even an mri that showed nothing, I finally got an MRI done of my brain and spine. They found 2 or 3 lesions in my cervical spine which may indicate a demyelation disease. (Also a slight bulging disc in my thoracic spine... but I didnt have any back pain, so yeah)

I do not have lupus, lyme, or b12 issues oh and I dont have sjergions (or however you spell it)....

I just turned 22 and I am a woman and I am from the NorthEast but currently live in Texas. We moved here 5 months ago (there are NO jobs in PA and its so expensive, I do not miss the state in the least). We moved here because we thought it was just a b12 issue since my last neuro told me my b12 was just a little bit off and just to take the vitamins and ill be fine. Well I did, and I wasnt. Also I was on the pill at the time and that frequently causes a dip i b12.

My issue(s), get worse in the heat. A lot worse. I walk outside or step out of my car and bam! spasms and my leg wont lift right. Its like its stuck in a cement bucket that I have to drag around with me. Along with the right leg, my right arm often feels like it has RLS and its super annoying, or it will feel very weak and I cant use it well, or my right hand will keep dropping things. At times I get a shock down my entire spine when I bend my neck forward, so painful! It lingers for like 20min afterwards!

Also at times I get this tight sensation around my rib cage. It doesnt happen often and I first noticed it when I was sick and coughing but then when I wasnt coughing it was very tight and I felt like I couldnt expand enough to breathe. Oh and "dryness" south of the border... which is unfortunate because Im recently married and want to enjoy that part of my life before it dies with kids and older age... haha. oh and does anyone get frequent UTIs? they always seem to coming around when my issues kick it up a notch too...

Would cervical lesions cause these issues? How likely is it that it is indeed, ms? The MRI said they were t2, and there were no enhancing lesions. Which I guess means, non-active, which would make sense as I am not having too many issues the past couple of weeks. I can make it flair up by stressing myself and making my body really hot, but Im not fully sure Im in an "episode." It also gets worse during menstruation, which makes sense since my migraines act up then too. But can the issues act up without it necessarily being an "episode?" I go back to discuss with my neuro on friday but i just wanted to see if anyone else went through the same thing?