MS? or Polyneuropathy...help??
 

Hello everyone

My name is Nicole and this is the first time I have ever used a forum and I would love some feedback or ideas.

I'm 27 and over the last two years I have had back problems. Initially I hurt my back and had herniated discs. However, over the last year I have had (what I can best describe) muscle spasms. I can't control them and they started in my left leg. It is kind of like I am having a seizure in just my leg. Then it stated in my other leg. Over the last couple of months it has progressed to my arms and hands. I get so tired afterwards and can barely move or walk. I also have pins and needles, along with the loss of sensation in mainly my left foot. I have been diagnosed with polyneuropathy from a neurologist but no medication or physio therapy has been offered. I am wondering if this is similar to ms for anyone.
Thanks so much

Hi, kole87, and welcome!

To answer your question, it may be MS and then again it may not be. That's no answer at all but it's the best I can come up with. Often a lot of time has to pass before a doctor will be sure it's MS.

In the meantime, if the doctor had suspected MS an MRI would have been ordered. It sounds as if you didn't have an MRI--?

The type of symptom you're describing can definitely be part of MS but doctors won't start thinking about MS, usually, unless you have some other body part of system involved, probably at a different time. It could be bladder, bowels, eyes, loss of your sense of position in space, balance--the list goes on.

Disc problems can persist and cause new problems over time. I hope your doctor will have some suggestions. It surprises me that nothing helpful was offered. Maybe you have to ask outright?

I hope you'll find a way to solve these problems, particularly the loss of sensation.

My GP had thought MS as a possibility when I first hurt my back... Or rather when my back became injured. 'I' didn't hurt it, no fall, accident, impact, slouching, excessive sitting or standing, or even toting excessive weight. No signs of any back problems until "Wham!" Broke a vertebra, bulged and herniated a disk in the lumbar spine. My muscles had ripped my back apart.

So MS could be a possibility, but considering the info, I would likely agree with your doctors towards the neuropathy. Though I am surprised they have not tried any medications to help control the involuntary muscle movements, or injections to reduce swelling of the herniated disks, unless your herniated disks are infringing upon the spinal cord, in which case, if your a good candidate they may opt for surgery.

The only reason my GP had thought of MS for me, was because of my history prior to the snapping of my back. Lots and lots of little, seemingly insignificant things that added up to a much larger picture. Constant muscle spasms that I ignored, weird falls, chronic headaches, heat intolerance, insomnia, catching every bug, sniffle and cold going around... A multitude of things that when younger and 'healthier' I largely ignored, or had for so long I didn't know it wasn't normal.

thank you both for your replies they are very much appreciated. I had two MRI's done on my lower back about two years ago. The symptoms have gotten worse since then but I am wondering if I should push for an MRI of my neck and head. I am not sure where in the body MS presents itself. I have been to a neurologist but she never offered anything. I was basically told I have a neuropathy but they don't know why or what is causing it so I guess they want to see if the symptoms get better or worse and its definitely worse. I don't know if I should try to see the doctor earlier than December. I just feel lost and frustrated because I can't control my own body sometimes. Thank you for your feedback it really helps.

Welcome Kole..:hug: Yes, sometimes it's a waiting game..:mad:

Hang in there and hang with us.:)

Thank you Sally thats so kind of you. Its just scary because when I get these muscle spasms I cant control them and it takes days to recover. I just want to know what I have :( having such an awesome support group is amazing,

MS can present itself just about anywhere in the body, and when you think about it, since it's a CNS (central nervous system) disease and the CNS affects all our parts, it figures.

There are some common places where MS pops up: the bladder, the eyes, the way we control our muscles, our sense of position in space, our balance, and sensation itself.

I'd say December is a long time to wait. Could you be put on a list of people to be notified in case of a cancellation so you could be seen sooner?

My advice would be to push for an MRI of the brain and maybe the C-spine, with and without contrast, if your insurance will cover it. They're quite expensive if you have to pay out of pocket. Or you could go for a spinal tap, that would provide some further info. Look at the McDonald criteria for diagnosing MS.