Jesse,

As you have already surmised, I think the blood work was looking for other things, while the MRI was looking for evidence of MS (among other things). It is very common when somebody presents with symptoms that might be MS, to test their blood for all kinds of other things to look for evidence of Lupus, Rheumatism, etc. So on the whole, if all of those came back negative, but you had an MRI that looked like MS, they could use the combination as a diagnostic.

I am kind of curious why your docs would rule out MS with that radiological report from your MRI? Did they actually look at the MRI CD themselves or did they just read the report? I can see where they would say there isn't enough evidence from that MRI to call it MS for sure, but I also can't see how they would see that and rule it out entirely.

Lyme Disease causes symptoms of MS, hypothyroidism, and neurological symptoms. Neck pain, brain fog, forgetfulness, digestive problems . . . they all can be Lyme Disease. My pain started overnight. For two months, I had unbearable, burning pain in my hands at night, which was somewhat lessened by standing up. As the symptoms worsened, my hands started tingling and having shooting pains during the day, too. I slept in a recliner for three months for just three hours per night. Multiple doctors, three MRI's, blood work . . . One orthopedic doctor decided that I was a junkie looking for pain pills when he couldn't figure out the cause of my symptoms! (I'm a 49-year-old attorney - NOT a junkie!!) I finally diagnosed myself by researching online. I found a Lyme specialist in Illinois who saved my life with antibiotics and immune system support. False negatives are common, so when you get tested, insist that your blood be sent to IGeneX Laboratory at 795 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA for the Lyme Western Blot test. Lyme Disease is seriously ignored by doctors, especially in relation to neurological symptoms.

This is a long post, so please forgive my rambling here:

Well, in my case there was some really rare things going on - mainly that my Cipro treatment was considered "caught in the act" by the ER doctors and that they were so adamant to readily admit it so early on. I went to the ER after only 2 days of the severe symptoms with the bottle of Cipro with me to confirm that it could be a cause.

The doctor realized I was taking Naproxen regularly with Cipro (a big NO-NO) and then later made the connection that I was also taking the benzo Clonozepam alongside it, too. These 3 meds were a bad mix. He simply said it like it is - and I quote: " Do NOT take NSAIDS with Cipro ever! Stop taking it -and do NOT finish your 2nd bottle." (I was on a 6-week treatment for a prostate infection and stopped at the 3rd week.)

It's such an odd thing that 2 ER doctors figured this out very quickly, while my 1st neurologist even to this day refuses to chalk it up to Cipro (although my new neurologist seems to have accepted this as the "most possible" cause.)

It's really sad that so many urologists prescribe these meds together - I actually asked if it was alright to take Naproxen and I was told it was. What a shame that this dangerous mix still goes on being prescribed when so many doctors figured out by now that this is a very bad thing.

To mrsD:
Thanks for clearing up my misunderstanding - I get it now. And I'm glad you posted your findings about B6, too. I was certainly PARANOID to take in anything with B6. I ate some shredded wheat cereal the other day, then looked at the back of the box and cussed over the addition of B6.

I'm like a lot of other people who have been in extreme pain over a long period of time and am paranoid to an extreme about what I eat...and am definitely super-aware of any medications.

I still get prostate pains from time to time, but that has plagued me for most of my life and it does go away by itself. It sometimes takes 4 months for it to fade away completely -but it does and most of the time, the pain of prostitis is very light. But when I do get a very painful flare-up, as I did a week ago, I can't take any medication for it, just vitamins - (I started taking Lycopene and noticed it faded to near non existence).

The point here, is that I'm so glad that I'm nearly healed, but my life has been changed forever. I can't drink beer/or alcohol the way I used to, or eat some of my favorite foods, or do some of the more heavy weight lifting exercises I was used to. But maybe this is all for the better.

I thank God, that I've been feeling much, much better over the last few weeks -so much so, that I truly feel like I'm finally returning to normal. Still, I'm not there yet...and don't know if I ever will. But I'm at the point now where I can live a happy life, even if I still experience minor pains throughout the day from time to time.

And in addition, I will have to keep my vigilance about eating right and keeping my weight down and such. Strangely, I used to be terrorized of the thought of death, but my attitude has changed dramatically about dying. (No, I'm not dying) I just realize how precious life is and that it's worth the effort to "live right" rather than being complacent and careless about what we accept as medicine. We have to live our lives and not be so afraid of illness and death. Sure, it's sounds corny. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this quirky take on life, or if I'm just having a mid-life crisis of sorts. LOL

Regarding prostate issues:

Where we live, the knowledgeable doctors are using doxycycline for prostatitis. It is an antibiotic, and also has anti-inflammatory properties to take down inflammation. Its only downside is possible Candida of the bowel, so yogurt or kefir is a good idea with it.

Cipro is now generic. This means that drug reps are no longer promoting it. Hence younger doctors, or those like ER doctors who are younger (and missed the promotion) or not visited regularly by drug reps, have not been brainwashed to overuse it, any more. The general public does not realize that when a doctor in private practice orders a brand name drug, this is reported back to the drug company monthly by pharmacy software programs (paid for by the Big Pharma and then some) to gather statistics on their drug promotions. In the "business" this is called gathering "numbers". ER doctors typically are not called upon by drug reps, so their "numbers" are not pushed at each visit, by the sales. This factoid was initially revealed in Canada, and now many people realize what a complex interaction exists between doctors and Big Pharma.

Once a brand name goes GEQ (generic equivalent) this process stops.
Cipro was heavily and I mean heavily promoted at one time.
It was approved by the FDA as an alternative antibiotic and not for first line use, and the drug manufacturer bypassed that one and the result was overuse.

Here is an example of one discussion about data gathering:
http://www.naturalnews.com/033749_dr...r_records.html
There are many more on the net, including the Canadian one from years ago that was the whistleblower for consumers.

In fact this whole site is worth reading when you have the time.
http://www.naturalnews.com/drug_companies.html

Many thanks for the links & the info - I was totally unaware of this. I'll be sure to check it out.

mrs d do you have any idea why im getting paraesthesias everywhere on my whole body from the top of my head to my toes? i have been doing some reading and read that small fiber neuropathy usually doesnt present all over the body everywhere like that. this along with the abnormal protein in my blood should i be concerned about multiple sclerosis? the paresthesias feel like static shocks, or sometimes burning feelings like hot grease hitting your skin in small areas on random spots of my body. sometimes more than one area at a time. the doctors now want to send me to mayo clinic in jacksonville. is this small fiber neuropathy or something more serious coming from the brain?

I have no idea. Something you are eating could be doing this.
Nightshade vegetables can be very irritating to those who cannot tolerate them. Gluten in wheat/rye/barley can affect nerves too. MSG additive is very irritating and stimulates the NMDA pain receptor.

Have you started a magnesium supplement yet. Do you soak in epsom salts? (another way to get magnesium into yourself).

What are you doing? Did you stop your supplement yet in case it is the culprit? You don't tell us what you are doing besides that nerve supplement.

PN requires some participation by the patient, because commonly something in the environment is bothering you or stimulating this. Proteins in the blood are not MS. MS is a deterioration of myelin which insulates axons of the nerve cells.
Low Vit D also can cause all over paresthesias. As can acid/base problems and other electrolyte aberrations.
Not all PNs are environmental, but a great many are. So focusing there can be helpful.

Have you seen a hematologist to explain your blood work yet?

I can't recall why I'm taking Magnesium, other than reading that it helps PN somehow. Can you explain in simple terms what help Magnesium does for PN?

About 70% of the American Public is low in magnesium.

All those wonderful breakfasts of Pop Tarts, etc.

Magnesium is found in whole foods..beans, almonds, yogurt, etc.

Magnesium is the blocker (antagonist) to the NMDA pain receptor, so when that is over working-- too much calcium, not enough magnesium, or high intake from processed foods of MSG (monosodium glutamate), then pain is worse, amplified.

Magnesium also works in the cells on the membranes of the mitochondria enabling better energy production. There are hundreds of actions in the body that suffer when magnesium is low.

If it gets really low, you can have a heart arrhythmia. Low magnesium can bring on a long QT event and sudden death. Magnesium stabilizes neuronal membranes, and dilates constricted blood vessels. It calms the mind and allows for more peaceful sleep, blocks muscle cramps...etc etc.

My magnesium thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=1138

mrs d i went over the bloodwork that they did on me in the ER and my magnesium was 1.9 which they categorized as normal. based on this record, how much magnesium should i take in supplements? i already take a multi vitamin that contains 100mg of magnesium(25% daily value). how much additional magnesium is safe to take without overdosing?