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.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Help! very frustrated What is it?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Help! very frustrated What is it?
by drbcw, Sep 04, 2003 12:00AM
For 4 mths I have been having very odd symptoms. I was training for a marathon, running 18 miles,playing softball for my church &raising two very active little boys. I developed chest pain that started on the left side and went to the right side, alot of fatique. Finally, went to internist, he does lab's and stress test which were fine. Chest pain waxes and wanes, still have it but not my main symptom. After many visits internist diagnosis anxiety and gives me Xanax. Epigastric pain developed, was treated for H. Pylori which causes ulcers. 3 weeks ago, I developed numbness and tingling on left side that went to right side a week later. I went back to internist that said the reason I am tired is because I keep running back and forth to the Doctor and he sticking to original dx of anxiety. After insisting on a neuro referal, I have seen a neuro guy that says I have hip flexor weakness, hand weakness and something about my reflexes. He ruled out lupus,and I had a neg lyme test. I am sched for a neck Mri next week to rule out cervical disc problems. My symptoms are so much worse....I am so stiff in the am, twitches, severe numbness and tingling I am so frustrated and I never feel good, almost like the flu! At what symptom do I get worried, I truly feel like this is progressing and I will not be able to walk in a few weeks. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks I am 34 white female.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Sep 04, 2003 12:00AM
It is difficult to know precisely what is wrong from the description you have provided. Based on the weakness and change in your reflexes which the neurologist found, I assume they are concerned about something pushing on your spinal cord at the cervical level. The MRI will be able to visualize this region to see if there is a bulging disc or boney change causing your symptoms. If your symptoms have become more severe since seeing the neurologist I would call him/her on the phone and tel them. They may be able to move the MRI up and get some answers quicker. Certainly if develop severe weakness of an extremity, or loss of the ability to control your bowel or bladder you should call your doctor immediately and seek medical attention.
Your symtoms may be secondary to a compressive lesion of the spinal cord, or inflammation within the spinal cord. If the MRI suggests an inflammation, then a spinal tap, with analysis of the fluid will be helpful to determine the cause. Good luck
Your symtoms may be secondary to a compressive lesion of the spinal cord, or inflammation within the spinal cord. If the MRI suggests an inflammation, then a spinal tap, with analysis of the fluid will be helpful to determine the cause. Good luck
...I've been participating here since 1998 and haven't done it thus far, even during the time not so long ago when the doc could do multiple replies regarding one inquiry. Now, having said that, it's my turn. Please look at my reply on VF's 8/26/03 CIDP-Autoimmune Disorder thread as it relates.
You said that your problems began 4 months ago with waxing and waning chest pain and a lot of fatigue. The internist did lab work and stress tests. All were fine, but you weren't... so you kept going back seeking his professional help. Since he couldn't make head nor tale out of your condition (because his expertise fell short) he made an "Anxiety" diagnosis and sent you away armed with Xanax. Your condition "waxed and waned" and "you" knew things weren't right. After all, you live in yourself all the time and who should know you better than you! And whatever "it" was that was in you... was still in "you" and "it" was progressing.
Three weeks ago, you developed numbness and tingling that shifted from the left to the right side over the duration of one week... so, you went back to the same doc who said the reason you were tired was because you were running back and forth to the Doctor who had no choice but to stick to his Dx (rather than admit your problem was out of his arena).
You insisted that he refer you to a neurologist... and the neuro guy says it is hip flexor weakness, hand weakness and something about your "reflexes." No lupus... negative lyme test. Now it's MRI time. What if it shows NOTHING?
I would insist on having a lumbar puncture done to check for elevated protein levels in my spinal fluid before I'd subject my finances to a costly MRI. Why?
Because it sounds like "it" is more in tune with autoimmune disorder than cervical disc problem. You're getting stiff. You're having severe numbness and tingling. You're REFLEXES are no good. You feel "almost" like it's the flu! And... you know that it is progressing and that you will not be able to walk in a few weeks.
Guillain Barre Syndrome progresses in much the same manner, but 4 months "creeping" almost doesn't fit. GBS takes less time. But Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)sounds more in tune. Please... get the lumbar puncture immediately, if not sooner. If that's not it, then get the MRI.
Those 2 little boys of yours need their mom. All they know is that mom used to be "into everything" and now...
Please let me know what is going on. Read my reply in the other thread.
Take care,
LJ