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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Is this stress, somatic, or neurological?
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Is this stress, somatic, or neurological?
by Kelly to Dr. KDK, Mar 05, 2000 12:00AM
Thank you so much for reading my question. I have been having difficulties for almost a year, since I had a baby. Right after the birth, I fainted when I got up. Two days later, I almost fainted again, and when I laid down I got this horrible headache which travelled down my spine and across my lower back. My doctor felt it was possibly the beginning of hypovolimic shock since my fluid was low and my blood was low. She gave me a blood transfusion. Ever since then, though, I have never been the same, and everyone attributes it to anxiety. I had severe headaches and after a normal CAT scan and spinal tap, they diagnosed them as severe tension headaches. I had heart palpitations and after a stress echo, several EKGs and a Holter monitor, diagnosed that as anxiety. I've had many other symptoms that just puzzle me, and won't go away. I have neck and head pain. When I lay down I feel lots of pressure in my head. Sometimes when I exercise I get the same pressure in my head. I have joint pain in my wrists all the time, it comes and goes in my hands, feet, elbows and knees. My muscles are weak, sometimes they hurt and sometimes twitch. I have tingling in my hands and feet, and sometimes around my mouth. I have a spot on my spine where it feels like someone is pressing on it. Several months ago, after doing push-ups, the next morning a feeling of electric shock traveled from that spot (in the middle of my back) down my spine. That hasn't happened again, however. But I can still feel the pressure on that spot. I also get dizzy sometimes. I know that severe anxiety can mimic neurological symptoms, but some of these symptoms don't sound anxiety-related to me. Do you agree? I know that sometimes anxiety can be expressed in somatic symptoms. Could this be what is happening? Also, in MS, do the symptoms come on all at once, then leave all together, or can they occur at different times? I was under the impression that you had "attacks" of it, then it got better for a while and you were symptom-free. This is not the case with me, although there are times when I am better than others. But I am never symptom-free. I am very scared, which makes everything worse. I have terrible, constant anxiety that there is something wrong with me. My doctor doesn't feel I need to see a specialist because she feels they are somatic in nature. Do you agree? Please help me. I am very afraid. I have a baby that I want so much to be healthy for. Thank you for your response.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Mar 05, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Kelly:
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Since I can't examine you or see the results from all your lab tests, I really can't give you much of a diagnosis. MS is episodic with relapsing and remitting symptoms (hence the name multiple). There are uncommon forms of MS that start and just progress. However, in both conditions, the CSF finding and neurological exam are pretty diagnostic. Usually, there are motor symptoms associated with MS and you do not describe any muscle symptoms. I think for your peace of mind, you ought to see a good neurologist and have a good neurological exam.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Since I can't examine you or see the results from all your lab tests, I really can't give you much of a diagnosis. MS is episodic with relapsing and remitting symptoms (hence the name multiple). There are uncommon forms of MS that start and just progress. However, in both conditions, the CSF finding and neurological exam are pretty diagnostic. Usually, there are motor symptoms associated with MS and you do not describe any muscle symptoms. I think for your peace of mind, you ought to see a good neurologist and have a good neurological exam.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
No, I do not think that what you described are the motor symptoms of MS. The motor problems found in MS are objective weakness, inco-ordination of muscle movements, cramping, severe fatigue with muscle use, etc. I don't know what happened after you delivered. What did your neurologist tell you? Kelly, it is impossible to tell you much over the internet. Yes, problems that you describe can be somatoform in nature. Yes, the might be a neurological problem. You really need to see a neurologist, get a good examination, go over the lab results and imaging studies and then procede with what care he/she thinks would be best for you.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I have a similair question to Kelly's. I also had a baby 5 mos ago, and have had strange symptoms, blurred vision occasionally in both eyes, not double, just blurred. Went to opthomologist and said had far sightedness, also optic nerve looked good. have some tingling in mouth area, leg and heavy arms. Baby is 20 pounds very huge, maybe related? Went to my Practicioner and he did an MRI with the contrasting agent and nothing showed on it, was normal. Can you have neuritis and it not show on an MRI or a complete thorough eye examination? Was under the impression that with neuritis it gets worse quick then better, my blurriness has lingered for several months, yet normal exams, I would think something would show on one of the tests. What are your thoughts? I also am exhuasted, could this be the cause for all my probs? Help im at my ropes end.
Gina
I had posted previously, As mentioned in my post, ive had intermitent blurry vision on and off for the past 2 mos, yet its been having epidosed for the past 3 years, noticed it more the past few months, but with optic neuritis, I hear it gets real bad quick and then improves within a few months. With me it comes and goes, one day its good, or fair (im not 20/20 anymore) then another day more so blurred. I get dizzy, possibly to my changing vision? I was given glasses which do help, but she said im still borderlne for needing them all the time. i get an occasional tingle on my left side of face, almost if I think of it it will happen. Then I also get a tingle in my right leg. I think im more scared then it is bothersome. I had an MRI with the contrasting agent, it took about 40 minutes for them to do teh scan. Nothing showed up and the tech showed me my optic nerve which looked in her words, perfetct no swelling or lesions. So this is probably not optic neuritis you think? Maybe my vision is just changing as my opthomologist says? She said the optic nerve upon examination was very healthy and with MS you usually have double vision and its only in ONE eye, rarely both are affected. Its in both my eyes, one is is alittle worse then the other and at times that eye feels heavy, normal for a weaker eye?? Since my MRI came out perfect and I have experienced odd symptoms for the past several yrs,should I be relieved and do you think that something would have shown on my MRI? I am a 31 yr old mother of two, my baby is 5mos old and this really kicked in about 2 mos ago, I read with MS exaberations are common after pregnancy, yet mri normal. I dont know weather Im exhausted or what, I dont get much sleep these days. Anyhow sorry for the lenght of this message. I just need some info. My doc says normal mri so dont worry, Thanks so much!
I don't think that you have optic neuritis