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Neurology (Expert Forum)
What is wrong with me - MS?
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What is wrong with me - MS?
by Cindy, Apr 12, 2000 12:00AM
I am 36 years old. In July, 1999, I developed inflammation in the inside of my cheek - left side. This lasted a few weeks. I went to dr. and they did notice it being swollen but did not know why. In early Oct, 99, I was diagnosed with intermediate uveitis in left eye - retina was inflammed. This was treated with drops and went away after 6-8 wks. In mid Oct. I noticed tingling in my back, followed by soreness in upper back. This lasted approx. one week. At the end of November I developed a burning type of sensation in my head - top left area.I had MRI done of head, results were normal. This headache lasted approx. one month. I felt good for a month, then the headache was back, this time I also felt it in back and top areas of head. I also had mid back pain - stabbing/burning pain and upper back soreness. I also feel tingling in the upper back. I also experienced the swollen inner cheek - this time both sides. Uveitis came back mid January and is now almost gone. Dr. treated with prednisone injection. I have been seeing neurologist. I am taking amitriptylin for head pain - 10 mg/day. THis seems to help or it may be that the pain just left again. Swollen inner cheek symptom just appeared again yesterday. Other than that I feel fine for now. Does this sound like MS to you? I have suggested to neurolgist that I would like to have MRI of back done but he wants to wait. I have heard that optic neuritis is associated with MS, is this intermediate uveitis the same thing? Is it also associated with MS? I just want to know what is wrong with me. Thank you for any info you can provide.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Apr 12, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Cindy:
Sorry to hear about your problems. The association with eye problems and MS is optic neuritis, not uveitis. Uveitis is more associated with autoimmune disorders (collagen vascular disease) such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, etc. A type of autoimmune disorder might also explain the parasthesias (burning pain). Although MS can begin with parasthesias it is usually extremities and not facial. The treatment with steriods would treat both MS and an autoimmune disorder, however, usually the dose is higher for MS treatment. I would lean more toward some sort of autoimmune disorder such as collagen vascular problems and not MS.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry to hear about your problems. The association with eye problems and MS is optic neuritis, not uveitis. Uveitis is more associated with autoimmune disorders (collagen vascular disease) such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, etc. A type of autoimmune disorder might also explain the parasthesias (burning pain). Although MS can begin with parasthesias it is usually extremities and not facial. The treatment with steriods would treat both MS and an autoimmune disorder, however, usually the dose is higher for MS treatment. I would lean more toward some sort of autoimmune disorder such as collagen vascular problems and not MS.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I had posted some time back about MS and you were so kind to answer my questions, (many thanks) you have spent far much more time and been of much more help then my own Drs rushing me in and out of the factory line. I truly thank you for your kindness.
Questions are: Today had an ANA test also b12 and a Sediment? anyhow I am 2 days into a terrible COLD, will this effect the results (false pos)? (NOBODY in this hospital could answer this question, not even the phlebotomist)
2. Noticed my feet turn bluish (no pain involved) im a 5ft7in tall female, my Dr said due to height, have you ever heard of tall people getting blue feet? I've heard it linked to horroble disorders, is this normal in your oppinion?
Thank you again if you get around to this.
The only test that having a cold should influence is the sedimentation rate, it will cause it to be elevated somewhat. But if you have a collagen vascular disease, it will be higher that a cold infection. No, I have never heard of height of a person influencing cyanosis. I do not think that your color change in your feet is caused by your height. Just think of all the blue footed basketball players if that were true.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
My ANA came back normal. Even the Sedimentation rate was normal despite the cold - 15. Rhumatic factors normal. So apparently my Blue feet are a part of who I am? They are the only part of me that gets real cold, but no sores or pain on my toes and never color change in hands. Since all was normal, apparently this is not an auto-immune situation? Oh im sorry to be such a pain and ask you so many ??? Yours Truly,
Blue Foot
I am happy that your tests came back normal. That doesn't answer the question of why your getting cyanosis and temperature changes in your feet. What tests don't tell us is what is going on before or will happen. They can be predictive, although not necessarily accurate. I would just keep tabs on things and see what is going on during the event. Then if a pattern develops you can check with your doctor about what your experiencing.
CCF Neuro MD
Couldn't her blue feet be something like Raynaud's?
Yep this was my first impression, and when I searched the web it was linked mainly to Scleroderma (basically a death sentence) But what got me was only about 500,000 people in the us have this,(scleroderma) could i be so misfortunate? Anyhow its been noticeable for the past 2 years, seems to come and go, no pain etc. No sores on my feet or fingers (only occurs in feet) Happens when in a hot shower, or just sitting down. Never any burning.. seems they are like this on and off most of the day. I think Raynauds are attacks that come and go, I dont think you get dozens per day, But I dotn know, im trying to put together the puzzle.
I never even cared about my occasional blue feet, im so tall I rarely look down at them, but 3 months ago when things started happening, leg tingle, facial numbness, all over body tingle, muscle twindes - I started looking at the entire picture, looking at everything with my body and maybe looking to hard. Like the Dr mentioned above, could be the beginning of something, those ANA tests are good to pick things up, but maybe I need to be full blown in one of the systematic disorders for it to show pos. Im holding hope that since I noticed the blueness a few years back, it is not connected. Im praying anxiety is the root cause, post pardum issues, lack of sleep etc. Sometimes the blueness will be up the calfs to, its not acutally blue, but they are greyish or not that fresh pink color. Cyanosis is lack of oxegen in the blood, can be caused by heart trouble or pulminary stuff, maybe I have a heart defect, but would it cause the above, numbness, tingle?? Very frustrating. :( I pray it goes away or an ansewr is found.
Dear DR., 2 yrs.ago i had a laminotomy L4-5 and foraminotomies. after reducing the heavy dosage of pain meds 4 mthslaterI had a painful bout of what I described as 1oo's of bees stinging both
legs and was dx'd as inflammation of nerve roots.I cold not tolerate Neurontin. M.R.I showed a mass of scar tissue partially surrounding the bundle of nerves we allhave on spine, damage to spinal nerves that has caused both legs to contiue and ache when I walk a short distance. Defacation causes much pressure., also bladder dysfunction. my
question, do I consent to more surgery or a treatment program of a heavier dosage of percocet. I don't know what to decide.Neurology has proposed the treatment.I have not been viewed by surgeon.Sorry to be so lengthy. Lorraine