Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Very Mild Optic Neuritis - brain lesions
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Very Mild Optic Neuritis - brain lesions
by KiminCO, Sep 29, 2006 12:00AM
I am a 38 year old female that was just diagnosed with very mild optic neuritis in my left eye (eye pain, haziness, etc.) I have seen a neurologist about an MRI that showed brain lesions - I am also a migraine sufferer for the past 3 years. He feels my lesions were due to Migraines, even though I had some numbness and tingling in my left arm and foot (that eventually went away). Since I had the tingling, he tested me for MS with the muscle/electro test. He felt he could rule out MS at that time due to the fact that my migraines kept getting worse, etc and I showed no other signs of MS. At that time I had no vision problems. Now with this diagnosis of a very mild case of ON, do I need to think again about MS, or play the waiting game to see if I show any other symptoms. My migraines are better since I saw the neuro and he put me on Inderol to try and prevent them. Could this all be related to Migraines? Thank you for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, Sep 29, 2006 12:00AM
okay let me preface this by saying that i am not a neurologist.
but no, there is no way your ON is related in any way to a diagnosis of migraines.
i am not going to tell you that you do or do not have MS. i'll leave that up to your neurologist.
but i will tell you that ON combined with suspect white lesions on MRI...that sure sounds like MS to me.
i have found that a lot of neurologists are very hesitant to tell patients that they "might" have MS. they either say they have ruled it out for now, or if you have an obvious raging case, they'll diagnose it. but if you're iffy/borderline...they're not going to tell you that you have MS. even if they suspect that you do.
but no, there is no way your ON is related in any way to a diagnosis of migraines.
i am not going to tell you that you do or do not have MS. i'll leave that up to your neurologist.
but i will tell you that ON combined with suspect white lesions on MRI...that sure sounds like MS to me.
i have found that a lot of neurologists are very hesitant to tell patients that they "might" have MS. they either say they have ruled it out for now, or if you have an obvious raging case, they'll diagnose it. but if you're iffy/borderline...they're not going to tell you that you have MS. even if they suspect that you do.
Optic neuritis can be caused by Lyme Disease.
Lyme Disease can cause brain lesions, migraines, and numbness and tingling in different parts of the body.
Have your doctors considered this?
Carol
======
Symptoms of Lyme
http://www.canlyme.com/patsymptoms.html
* The Tick Bite (fewer than 50% recall a tick bite or get/see the rash)
1. Rash at site of bite
2. Rashes on other parts of your body
3. Rash basically circular and spreading out (or generalized)
4. Raised rash, disappearing and recurring
* Head, Face, Neck
5. Unexplained hair loss
6. Headache, mild or severe, Seizures
7. Pressure in Head, White Matter Lesions in Head (MRI)
8. Twitching of facial or other muscles
9. Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
10. Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue, cheek or facial flushing
11. Stiff or painful neck
12. Jaw pain or stiffness
13. Dental problems (unexplained)
14. Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm ( flem ), hoarseness, runny nose
* Eyes/Vision
15. Double or blurry vision
16. Increased floating spots
17. Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
18. Oversensitivity to light
19. Flashing lights/Peripheral waves/phantom images in corner of eyes
* Ears/Hearing
20. Decreased hearing in one or both ears, plugged ears
21. Buzzing in ears
22. Pain in ears, oversensitivity to sounds
23. Ringing in one or both ears
* Digestive and Excretory Systems
24. Diarrhea
25. Constipation
26. Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping) or Interstitial cystitis
27. Upset stomach (nausea or pain) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
* Musculoskeletal System
28. Bone pain, joint pain or swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome
29. Stiffness of joints, back, neck, tennis elbow
30. Muscle pain or cramps, (Fibromyalgia)
* Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
31. Shortness of breath, can't get full/satisfying breath, cough
32. Chest pain or rib soreness
33. Night sweats or unexplained chills
34. Heart palpitations or extra beats
35. Endocarditis, Heart blockage
* Neurologic System
36. Tremors or unexplained shaking
37. Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
38. Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Weakness, peripheral