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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Apparently, I do not have ALS OR MS...WHAT DO I HAVE? I AM CONFUSED!
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
Apparently, I do not have ALS OR MS...WHAT DO I HAVE? I AM CONFUSED!
by mavinlong, Sep 17, 2003 12:00AM
42 of 525
Subject: Medical Advisory Board Answers
CC: ***@****
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 13:05:33 -0400 Status: Normal
From: ***@****
Thank you for your inquiries to the Medical Advisory Board.
You have received answers to your medical question: Hello
I am frustrated and confused and have travelled from Canada to China seeking answers.
In March I got a muscle spasm in my right, lower abdomen. After remaining stable for
six weeks it travelled up the muscle at the right rib cage, back and my right leg
felt weighted.
My doctor sent me to a physiotherapist who said my left hip joint was out by two cms.
He corrected this, but it provided some partial, temporarily relief.
I did a google search, "muscle spams and right side of body and reason". MS
was the first on the list. I began to get the usual symptoms of MS - severe body
jerks, dizziness, extreme fatique twice, clumsiness with my hands twice, and my
whole body was burning. An ER doctor gave me Oxazepam for anxiety and my burning
skin went away. My symptoms may have been psychosomatic or as the result of anxiety
I am told.
I had nerve conduction test in May - it was normal. I also had an MRI in June that
show a mildly flattened spine, and atrophic at C5-6 along with a tiny scar at the
same level. An injury is suspected. I had protruding discs but they were not
causing cord compression at this time.
While I was waiting for my first MRI I began to develop symptoms that mimics ALS -
muscle weakness in legs, muscle fatigue, twitches in my calf and other parts of my
body, body jerks and brisk reflexes. My Canadian neuro said my neuro. exam was
normal but he said that he was a little concerned about atrophy at the small muscles
at my scapula (that is why he gave me an MRI AND he wanted to see the C6 level) -
the Neuro in China disagrees. The Canadian neuro said there is winging present.
The Canadian neuro said he does not think I have a motor neuron disease or MS. He did
NOT tell me what I DO have.
In China my MRI show protruding discs at my cervical spine that ARE causing cord
depression. (I saw the picture myself in China but not in Canada) The EMG in China
(nerve conduction and needle exam was normal - done two weeks ago). My twitches did
not show becauses I was not having them at that time, I am told. The needle emg
included my scapula. The Chinese neuro. said that I definately do NOT have ALS.
Now my legs continue to weaken, and the muscle fatigue is progressive in my legs (my
left more that my right) and my twitches are more generized. The Oxezepam relieved
my twitches and my body jerks in June for about two weeks, but came back. The
jerks, however, are less severe.
I noticed some pain at my scapula muscles 1.5 month's which have subsided. But my
scapula has a strange feeling. I now have pain on the bottom of my feet and
buttocks when I sit down.
Finally, I had a thyroid blood test test in China.
T3 - .95 (NORMAL RANGE - .66-1.92, T4 - 6.93 (NORMAL RANGE: 4.30-12.50) TSH3 .238
(NORMAL RANGE: .38-4.34), TUp - 1.08 - 1.06 (NORMAL RANGE: .73-1.09).
(Note last summer I had mild hyperthyroidism and my wife had severe hyperthyroidism at
the same time. The doctors thought she had post-part hyperthyroiditis, but I do why
my T4 was slightly low and TSH HIGH. In the above, my T3 is low normal and my TSH
is low - our of range!)
Could the cord problem be causing my symptoms?
What do you think is going on???
Specialt(y/ies): Neurology
1: It is possible that the cord problem is causing your symptoms. This does not
sound like MS or ALS. Any nerve root impingement on the nerve going to the scapula
can cause winging. It is also possible that you have a myopathy called
fascioscapulohumeral dystrophy (which can be tested for). This sometimes presents
with scapular winging. Good luck.
2: The cord problem could be causing your symptoms of twitcging and atrophy. Your
thyroid problems, *** well as anxiety, coud be causing yourt fatigue and more
generalized symptoms. I doubt MS or ALS, given there are no signs of MS on your MRI,
or ALS on your 2 EMG's. You should get treated for the cord problem, the thyroid
problem, and if needed, the anxiety. Best wishes.
3: With this rather confusing picture, it is hard to tell what's going on. Since
you focus on the thyroid, it leads me toward the thyroid as a possible cause, but
that may be erroneous, and simply a result of you focusing my attention in that
direction. Nevertheless, it is possible that you have had a thyroiditis with some
degree of fluctuation in thyroid function. This could account for some of your
symptoms. You'll have to stay in touch with your neurologist, however, because it is
also possible that you are in the early stages of a demyelinating disease.
?2000-2002 AnswerSoft.Com Inc. All rights reserved. All information is intended for
your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment
for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any
specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness
regimen. This communication,(assessment, advice etc) does not mean that a doctor
patient relationship has been formed. Use of this online service is subject to the
disclaimer and the terms and conditions. External Web site links provided on this
site are meant for convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not
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Subject: Medical Advisory Board Answers
CC: ***@****
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 13:05:33 -0400 Status: Normal
From: ***@****
Thank you for your inquiries to the Medical Advisory Board.
You have received answers to your medical question: Hello
I am frustrated and confused and have travelled from Canada to China seeking answers.
In March I got a muscle spasm in my right, lower abdomen. After remaining stable for
six weeks it travelled up the muscle at the right rib cage, back and my right leg
felt weighted.
My doctor sent me to a physiotherapist who said my left hip joint was out by two cms.
He corrected this, but it provided some partial, temporarily relief.
I did a google search, "muscle spams and right side of body and reason". MS
was the first on the list. I began to get the usual symptoms of MS - severe body
jerks, dizziness, extreme fatique twice, clumsiness with my hands twice, and my
whole body was burning. An ER doctor gave me Oxazepam for anxiety and my burning
skin went away. My symptoms may have been psychosomatic or as the result of anxiety
I am told.
I had nerve conduction test in May - it was normal. I also had an MRI in June that
show a mildly flattened spine, and atrophic at C5-6 along with a tiny scar at the
same level. An injury is suspected. I had protruding discs but they were not
causing cord compression at this time.
While I was waiting for my first MRI I began to develop symptoms that mimics ALS -
muscle weakness in legs, muscle fatigue, twitches in my calf and other parts of my
body, body jerks and brisk reflexes. My Canadian neuro said my neuro. exam was
normal but he said that he was a little concerned about atrophy at the small muscles
at my scapula (that is why he gave me an MRI AND he wanted to see the C6 level) -
the Neuro in China disagrees. The Canadian neuro said there is winging present.
The Canadian neuro said he does not think I have a motor neuron disease or MS. He did
NOT tell me what I DO have.
In China my MRI show protruding discs at my cervical spine that ARE causing cord
depression. (I saw the picture myself in China but not in Canada) The EMG in China
(nerve conduction and needle exam was normal - done two weeks ago). My twitches did
not show becauses I was not having them at that time, I am told. The needle emg
included my scapula. The Chinese neuro. said that I definately do NOT have ALS.
Now my legs continue to weaken, and the muscle fatigue is progressive in my legs (my
left more that my right) and my twitches are more generized. The Oxezepam relieved
my twitches and my body jerks in June for about two weeks, but came back. The
jerks, however, are less severe.
I noticed some pain at my scapula muscles 1.5 month's which have subsided. But my
scapula has a strange feeling. I now have pain on the bottom of my feet and
buttocks when I sit down.
Finally, I had a thyroid blood test test in China.
T3 - .95 (NORMAL RANGE - .66-1.92, T4 - 6.93 (NORMAL RANGE: 4.30-12.50) TSH3 .238
(NORMAL RANGE: .38-4.34), TUp - 1.08 - 1.06 (NORMAL RANGE: .73-1.09).
(Note last summer I had mild hyperthyroidism and my wife had severe hyperthyroidism at
the same time. The doctors thought she had post-part hyperthyroiditis, but I do why
my T4 was slightly low and TSH HIGH. In the above, my T3 is low normal and my TSH
is low - our of range!)
Could the cord problem be causing my symptoms?
What do you think is going on???
Specialt(y/ies): Neurology
1: It is possible that the cord problem is causing your symptoms. This does not
sound like MS or ALS. Any nerve root impingement on the nerve going to the scapula
can cause winging. It is also possible that you have a myopathy called
fascioscapulohumeral dystrophy (which can be tested for). This sometimes presents
with scapular winging. Good luck.
2: The cord problem could be causing your symptoms of twitcging and atrophy. Your
thyroid problems, *** well as anxiety, coud be causing yourt fatigue and more
generalized symptoms. I doubt MS or ALS, given there are no signs of MS on your MRI,
or ALS on your 2 EMG's. You should get treated for the cord problem, the thyroid
problem, and if needed, the anxiety. Best wishes.
3: With this rather confusing picture, it is hard to tell what's going on. Since
you focus on the thyroid, it leads me toward the thyroid as a possible cause, but
that may be erroneous, and simply a result of you focusing my attention in that
direction. Nevertheless, it is possible that you have had a thyroiditis with some
degree of fluctuation in thyroid function. This could account for some of your
symptoms. You'll have to stay in touch with your neurologist, however, because it is
also possible that you are in the early stages of a demyelinating disease.
?2000-2002 AnswerSoft.Com Inc. All rights reserved. All information is intended for
your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment
for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any
specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness
regimen. This communication,(assessment, advice etc) does not mean that a doctor
patient relationship has been formed. Use of this online service is subject to the
disclaimer and the terms and conditions. External Web site links provided on this
site are meant for convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not
constitute an endorsement. These external links open in a different window.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
View headers, Variable width font, Inline Images, View as HTML Execute HTML
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Sep 18, 2003 12:00AM
Your symptoms are rather complex. Based on what you have presented, I think it is unlikely that you have MS or ALS. In regards to your transient hyperthyroidism, were you ever evaluated for auto-immune disorders or inflammatory disorders which could cause the increased thyroid? If you have not, then performing this may be beneficially, because soemtimes these disorders can cause neurologic symptoms as well. Regarding your spinal cord MRI's, without personally reviewing them, I am unable to comment on the results. However winging of the scapula could result form cord or nerve damage at the C5-C6 level. Given the description you have provided, it does not appear the spine problem can be blamed for all of your symptoms. Lastly, anxiety and stress can cause many symptoms, and after everything else has been excluded seeking cousel with a psychiatrist may be reasonable. Good luck.
Have you had your thyroid antibodies checked? My PCP has been running mine for 5 yrs as well as regular thyroid tests. Mine are high and I have been diagnosed with Hashimotos disease a form of hypo and thyroiditis.It could account for the neuro symptoms or not , I don't know about that. I am even having seizures as well as some of the things you mentioned and many more. I do have brain lesions but apparently not enough for MS. I was also diagnosed with APS {antiphospolid don't know correct spelling} the clotting syndrome. I have one brother with Lupus and another with Graves thyroid so my chances of having an autoimmune disease are great.
Take care,
Bonnie