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Neurology (Expert Forum)
HEADACHES AND MS
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
HEADACHES AND MS
by bengalcats, Mar 26, 2006 12:00AM
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF HEADACHES ARE A SYMPTOM OR SIDE AFFECT OF MS.I HAVE BEEN HAVING HEADACHES SINCE SEPT WHICH IS RARE FOR ME, I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY MEDICATION PRESCRIBED OR OVER THE COUNTER THAT TAKES THE PAIN AWAY ,ALONG WITH THE HEADACHES I AM HAVING TINGLING IN ARMS ANG LEGS NEARLY EVERYDAY AND MORE NOTICABLE AT NIGHT, HAVE PAIN ALONG MY SHIN BONES TOO.ALSO PAIN AND STIFFNESS BELOW MY NECK RIGHT WHERE YOUR NECK ENDS AND THE BACK STARTS.THE PAIN IN MY LEGS DOES NOT GO AWAY WITH ANY PAIN KILLERS. I HAVE READ THAT PAIN THAT IS FROM MS DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY PAIN MEDICATION. ALSO COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHERE IN ONES BRAIN WOULD MS SPOTS OR LEISIONS SHOW UP, IS IT MORE COMMON IN A CERTAIN AREA? AND HOW ABOUT HOW LONG AFTER A PERSON FIRST EXPERIENCES SYMPTOMS RELATED TO MS MIGHT IT SHOW UP ON AN MRI? I HAD 2 NORMAL MRI AND A THIRD ONE STATING A FEW SMALL PUNCTATE T_2 BRIGHT SIGNAL FOCI IN THE SUBCORTAL WHITE MATTER MATTER BILATTERALY WHICH ARE NON SPECIFIC AND NOT DEFINITELY PATHOLOGIC. I REALLY WISH THAT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS COULD BE WORDED SO THAT PEOPLE WITH OUT A MEDICAL EDUCATION COULD UNDERSTAND THEM WITH OUT CONFUSSING THEMSELVES. I ALSO OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENSE BOUTS OF VAGINAL NUMBNESS AND THE ONLY DISEASE THAT I HAVE THAT LISTED AS A SYMPTOM IS MS, AT THIS TIME IN MY LIKE I AM READY TO FIND OUT JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME BECAUS EI SPEND SO MUCH VALUABLE TIME SEARCHING THE NET FOR ANSWERS WHEN I COULD BE DOING MORE CONSTRUCTIVE THINGS. OVERALL I AM VERY GRATEFULL FOR THIS SERVICE THAT IS BEING OFFERED HERE AS ITS IS VERY HELPFULL.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Apr 03, 2006 12:00AM
Headaches, tingling, and vaginal numbness are not specific symptoms for MS, and do not particularly suggest MS.
MS is diagnosed primarily by discrete episodes of neurological dysfunction such as loss of vision of one eye, clumsiness or weakness of one side of the body, inability to walk or pass urine, double vision. Rarely there can be loss of sensation in a focal distribution ie on one side of the body. These episodes last for days to weeks then resolve, then return at a point later in time. This is the type of clinical pattern when doctors look for typical MS. With 3 normal MRIs the diagnosis of MS is unlikely, although a cervical spine MRI is also important to show MS, and may be indicated in the evaluation of your neck pain anyway.
T2 bright signal spots are quite common in the general population, especailly as we get older. Most commonly they are due to hardening of the arteries, or migraine.
The only type of pain 'specific' for MS is bilateral trigeminal neuralgia. This results in sharp shooting pain in both sides of the face. In a young person, this sign can suggest the diagnosis of MS.
Problems in the neck are quite common causes of headache. Perhaps a detiailed evaluation of your neck might reveal somethings that can be treated apart from pain medications. If there is an underlying cause of the pain, symptomatic treatment with painkillers may not be effective alone. If no definite cause is found, perhaps detailed pain management assessment coud help. For instance, this type of service is provided at the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Center.
MS is diagnosed primarily by discrete episodes of neurological dysfunction such as loss of vision of one eye, clumsiness or weakness of one side of the body, inability to walk or pass urine, double vision. Rarely there can be loss of sensation in a focal distribution ie on one side of the body. These episodes last for days to weeks then resolve, then return at a point later in time. This is the type of clinical pattern when doctors look for typical MS. With 3 normal MRIs the diagnosis of MS is unlikely, although a cervical spine MRI is also important to show MS, and may be indicated in the evaluation of your neck pain anyway.
T2 bright signal spots are quite common in the general population, especailly as we get older. Most commonly they are due to hardening of the arteries, or migraine.
The only type of pain 'specific' for MS is bilateral trigeminal neuralgia. This results in sharp shooting pain in both sides of the face. In a young person, this sign can suggest the diagnosis of MS.
Problems in the neck are quite common causes of headache. Perhaps a detiailed evaluation of your neck might reveal somethings that can be treated apart from pain medications. If there is an underlying cause of the pain, symptomatic treatment with painkillers may not be effective alone. If no definite cause is found, perhaps detailed pain management assessment coud help. For instance, this type of service is provided at the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Center.
The other possibility for you of course, is Lyme - if I don't say it, somebody else is sure to on this site. Yes, I know you've been tested, but apparently the tests can return false negatives....Anyway, good luck and I hope you find an answer soon - I know what you mean about spending too much time doing this - I've managed to cut it down to twice a week - I'm very proud of myself!