Good luck on your mri. It is better to be safe then sorry. Rule out some issues. I am super suprised your neuro didn't have you get them.
I was on zoloft for a long time before the pn. It was a combo of zoloft and remeron. I too think they use it more often in teens which I was at the time. Cymbalta I know some have found to help in pain but for me it did nothing. I often wonder from the commercial if it is more the pain experience from depression it works with rather then the nerve pain that of course adds to depression. What works for one may not for another. So frustrating,a lot of trial and error,and of course the lovely side effects. Well good luck

I finally called the dr. today, it's been a week since my MRI, and I got a nurse who said the doc is off till Monday, but she looked at it and she told me it's looking like MS but it's "unequivical" and they recommend further testing. Well gee now I am freaking, I am thinking unequivical means not 100% certain, however, without being able to quiz the dr. I am going to have a long weekend of worry.

"Unequivocal" would mean certain/beyond doubt, whereas "equivocal" means uncertain or indeterminate . . .

The problem with MS diagnoses--and many people here on the MS board talk about this--is that there are a number of different conditions that can produce MRI brain or spinal "spots" that look like MS (Migraine, B12 deficiency, age-related plaquing), so it may take a follow-up MRI some time later, particularly after another "round" of neural symptoms, to make a comparison and confirm or eliminate the diagnosis. (In fact, most neuros are still using the protocol that involves having two neurological "symptom incidents" of at least 24 hours duration seperated in time along with MRI changes before giving a diagnosis of "clinically definite" MS; in between, or after one "incident", they may label one as having "suspicion of MS" or some other such term.)

The experience of the person looking at the MRI is a factor as well; some are much better at distinguishing MS-type lesions from other types than others.

Keep us informed as to what clarifications you get--and don't be afraid to vent (I know this must be a disquieting time for you).

Thanks Glen, I am sure she said unequivical, I don't think she should have told me, she should have stuck with the dr. will call you Monday morning. My neuro appt. is the 13th and I guess that will be where the further testing will be, this MRI was ordered by my rhuemy. I will keep you all posted.

People misuse words all the time. Even doctors!

So don't freak yet.

Un---This prefix to some means negative

So someone may have dictated that response using the wrong term.

Look how often jealous and envious are misused today!
Envy means we would like what someone else enjoys or has.(typically possessions). One may envy a fancy car, or a lifestyle, or beauty.

Jealousy is more directed to possession of a person and the feelings they can share. While the terms are similar they are also different. When one is jealous, one does not want their significant emotional partner to give his/her attention elsewhere. This word is often used to describe envy, and as the years pass, this has become almost standard usage. So one has be very careful of language.

The fact that other tests are suggested, means the diagnosis is not firm.
Typically a spinal tap is also done...so prepare for that one.

I'll never forget the doctor who told my grandmother that she had spots on her lung, and probably had cancer. She went home and was emotionally devastated and upset for days. I made her call back, and he apologized and said the films were not dry yet.... she suffered that "diagnosis" acutely.
So please don't get freaked yet!

I've had spots on my lungs for about 30 years, and they're not even
related to my cigarette smoking. I had been exposed to TB in a nursing home while visiting my ailing father-in-law. We found out about it when my wife (now - ex) had to get a 'patch' test to be licensed for home kiddie care. I had to get one, too -and it was positive, so a chest x-ray was ordered.
It was determined that the exposure in the nursing home
was the culprit.
More recently, my injured son was in shock-trauma for 6 weeks,
and ICU for 2 more. There.... I picked up MRSA & freaked, ....until my doc told me that many medical professionals wind up with it, as well. Occupational hazard.
But I was 'on the edge' for a few days about it.
(I'm still not so thrilled about it.) What if my PN progresses to autonomic? Then the MRSA will put me in a heap of big trouble.

Aww Mrs. D, thank you for the words of wisdom and comfort. That's what I love about this place, good info, great wisdom and plenty of humor.
I was thinking as the nurse was talking, "Unequvivical, the one word I don't know the meaning of, great!" so I asked as she said well it means something is definately there but the radiologist recommends more testing be done. At some point I quit absorbing anything she was saying, maybe because I didn't like what I was hearing, that little devil on my shoulder was reading her the riot act. I thanked her, assured her my cell phone was the best way to reach me and then I hung up. I am over being mad at her, I will tell the doc how it made me feel and let him deal with it. The best about this guy is he always calls my hubbie with his blood results first thing in the morning, so I know I won't be hanging all day wondering.
I know I probably will have a spinal tap, not looking forward to it, but my grandson has had plenty with his cancer so I'll be brave like him, okay the kids are always, always sedated.......I'll be fine with it. Just like I was when they pulled the mask over my face for the MRI, I was told to close my eyes that the new machine is that sensitive, the rebel in me rolled my eyeballs inside my closed eyes. I don't recommend this, they had a "do over" so I eyeballs went quiet too, aside from the noise it was okay.
The one thing about chronic anything is losing my ability to do normal things, I have been struggling with this one for four years now, thank you PN. On the other hand I feel its best to know your enemy and I would be glad to have something better than idiopathic.
I wilt in the heat, I have noticed my cognitive abilities dropping, but I always blamed it on the neurontin. I have trouble remembering things, can't bring a word to mind to finish a sentence, I am noticing these things. My work area isn't tidy, I have trouble remembering anything unless I write it down, and I am aware of all these things, so I write it all down, millions of notes stacked up by my computer/phone....
It will be something I can deal with, it isn't cancer, I am alive and working and enjoying my grandchildren, and life is still good.
Thank all of you for being here for the last four years of my PN and I know you'll be here for the next four.....

To my knowledge, PN has nothing to do
with memory loss or cognitive abilities.
That is definitely a s/e of the meds.

Nide, I was thinking of M.S. when I mentioned cognitive abilities, I am not leaning toward thinking I have M.S. though.
The rheumatologist called me Monday morning and he was very vague, he said "a lesion measuring 6x14 mil. mumble mumble, not really large, atypical of M.S., hmm but still doesn't rule that out, mumble, mumble. evidence of demylation, radiologist recommends further testing given symptoms. Well Janna I don't know much about the brain so I am sure Dr. Lindsay will go over this with you and even show you the pictures. I don't feel qualified to answer any questions, he is the neurologist. so keep those for him. And quit smoking, you know I am going to nag you every time I see you, let me know if you need additional help with that."
Dost thou leave me so dissatified, so I get to wait nine more days to get the real picture from neuro. In the meanwhile I am starting a journal of symptoms and pain so I know what to ask, I hate to focus on this but I think a journal will help me remember things like the ends of my fingers going numb and then "zinging" every time I touched something. All I want is a definitive answer, I hate being idiopathic, it is like not knowing your enemy!
I'll keep you posted and by all means let me know if you think of questions I should ask and I am always open to suggestions.
Janna

Idiopathic is frustrating. Knowing the cause is a kind of 'closure'.
Since there are over 200 known causes for PN, finding the right one
can be a 'needle in haystack' search. Endless testing to see that you are negative, since it is a process of elimination.
No one test finds a smoking gun.
But ideopathic or not, the treatments and meds are 95-99% the same !
Since there are about 75 meds currently Rx'd for PN - take your pick.
We are all different. We respond differently.
Same with response to the Rebuilder, TENS, Rejuvenator, etc.
But you must have a specialist neuro who has many satisfied PN patients.
Most neuros don't 'cut the mustard'.(no matter what they say- ask for patient referrals and ask the receptionist & nurse to tell you, about how many PN patients the doc sees - not 'a lot' but an actual estimate of numbers)
Good luck on your search.