Could It Be MS???
 

Hi all! Need some opinions please on what in the world is wrong with me. In November 2011, I woke up and my right arm was numb and I was unable to grasp anything at all. I went to the doctor and had the steroids and an MRI of the cervical neck, without contrast. Out of work due to being unable to lift anything for approximately 10 weeks. The thing is, I still have what I call flare ups with this arm and now it has moved to my left arm. The pain the numbness the difficulty doing anything with my arms. Been to 3 different neuro's, 2 who said they didn't know what it was but if I was having problems in 6 months come back. Haven't been back to them. The neuro I am seeing now has started me on Neurontin which has helped, although I have had to increase my dose 3 times. I suspected TOS temporarily, but the EMG and NCV studies were totally normal. Had a brain MRI and another cervical MRI, just to rule out MS, which came back normal. After looking through family hx, found that my grandfather had MS and according to death certificate that is what he died of.

Anyway, I have recently been back to the neuro I am seeing now and he has agreed to go ahead and do an MRI of brain again with contrast again, although he says there will be no difference in results. He also said that if I want he will do a spinal tap as well, I agreed to that. New symptoms that have appeared over the last few months are facial numbness that comes and goes. The first time this happened it lasted all weekend. Now it just comes and goes for a day or hours at a time. When the numbness happens, I lose taste on that side of my mmouth and things feel funny to my tongue. My right leg has been weak feeling recently. Low back is killing me, pain up and down my leg on right side, feels weak although I haven't actually had it give out on me. Constantly going to urinate, and if I don't get there quick I will pee on my self. Is there any help out there? Any one have any suggestions as to what I can do? I am on steroids now for the "flare up" so any help would be appreciated.

I've read of people having Sxs of MS without lesions present in brain. Did you have a MRI of your spinal column as well?

They did not do MRI of spine, just the brain and cervical area. No lesions found. I have been looking at all the info out there and I was under the impression that MRI with contrast is the best bet. Not sure if I was reading that right or not.

Tara505,

Hi and welcome to NT/MS Forum. :)

You asked if this could be MS. I think it could. OTOH, there are many, many things that mimic MS (B12 deficiency, Lyme disease, for instance).

Regarding MRI's, the standard is w and without contrast. While you are still on the table, they come in and give you IV contrast.

I am glad that your symptoms are being treated and hope your symptoms improve. It is good that you are seeing the same neuro so s/he can evaluate your symptoms over time.

Regards,
ANN

I have read about the lyme disease and B12 deficiency. I am going to contact my GP and get these tests done just for the heck of it. Any other suggestions that I should ask for? I thought about a sed rate and ANA but not sure if there is anything else I should be looking for. Thank you for all your answers and opinions.

There are 2 Lyme tests out there. I have read that the western blot test is more reliable than the ELISA test.

hi sorry for hijacking with this rambling post but i've had a year long saga..

starting off with vertigo twice over a five day period last feb, followed by roughly 3 months of intense dizziness, that occasionally returns. Also have base of skull pressure/pain down to my T1.. Also have had eye pressure sensation, along with just an overall strange feeling.. and eyelid fascics that come and go. TBH I've always had odd feelings in my right eye, but during the dizziness it was more pronounced.

My left shoulder's had bouts of a intense fatigue feelings at times, and percieved weakness, but no actual weakness.. strength on command always. Currently it's OK. I'll mention now that I've done a lot of stuff that could irritate my rotator cuff, like rubbing my neck when it was aching for half the day, pulling wires, turning wrenches, etc.

My leg however has started to bother me.. around november I started feeling a kind of stiff sensation in the left leg.. and today it's i would say a degree more irritating now. I can walk, walk fast, sprint, stand on the leg, strength etc, but it randomly has some sort of conduction error when I'm on my feet, and my knee will feel slightly unstable. Il also have fasciculations, although somewhat randomly. Seems that my outer quadricep is the or one of the culprits, along iwth the shin muscles.
with regards to the legs I sit a LOT as I'm an internet addict, and have worn out the cushioning on my computer chair more or less.. i've had lots of problems with my lower leg going to sleep as I stood up from it. Also have had dull pains arise that made me concerned about dvt.. also have had pain at the sacral spine area.. I also have used knee pads to crawl around in crawlspaces for the past few months.
Anyway I haven't had extended periods of numbness.. so far any numbness has been the result of sitting only.. but this feeling in the leg is completely foreign and does not go away. I don't feel any pain, only this weird feeling.. *seems* to come and go from one moment to the next, so I hope that rules out MND

As far as imaging is concerned: Got a brain MRI w/wo contrast in may - the report indicated absolutely nothing. I've looked at it myself and AFAIK don't have chiari, and there's no white blobs anywhere in the tissue area. Also recieved an x-ray that showed mild arthritis in the T1 area according to the report.

At this point I know I can only wait and see (and hope it goes away), but from what I'm reading, MS is capable of creating all of my symptoms, even the neck pain.. Oh yeah I also had a 'ms hug' experience after contorting to put a plug into my tv on the wall - a week of feeling like I got stabbled under my shoulder blade.. that was roughly last january before all hell broke loose for me. Oh yeah I've had a constant cascade of varying ailments and symptoms over the past decade.. I really hate growing older !

Apologies if my post is unreadable. Just trying to sort this whole thing out in my mind.
THANKS,ROB

Welcome Rob.:) Are you seeing a Neurologist? Have you had all of the tests for possible MS? If not then you should and if so and nothing pointing to MS has been found, then you're on the waiting list, so to speak.

MS is sometimes difficult to pinpoint and diagnose, so after all the tests, we wait and see.:rolleyes: It's exasperating but, sometimes, the name of the game.

In the meantime your Neoro or PCP can treat your symptoms, I would think.:)

Take a deep breath and try not to stress out, as that only makes symptoms worse.:hug:

Rob
 

Hi Rob! I am also playing the waiting and guessing and waiting again game! No fun, I am waiting for results from my latest brain MRI. I wanted to ask you though have you had your vitamin levels checked? Pain and weakness can be from Vit D deficiency and a lot of neurological conditions can be from B12 or B1 deficiency. Just a thought and you probably have but if I could help you I want to. I have all the same go on that you do and just found out I have a pretty bad D deficiency! Probably won't solve all my problems but it's nice to finally have something

Welcome KeepingFaith, Nice to see you.:)