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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Concerned about 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
Concerned about MS
by sideline27, Jul 25, 2006 12:00AM
About 8 weeks ago I went to the doctor with some muscle weakness in legs, muscle twitching all over, and weight loss. He sent me to a neurologist, the neurologist did a physical exam (no MRI)in his office and concluded nothing was wrong from a neurological standpoint. He thought it was thyroid related, ran bloodtests and I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid (thyroiditis) likely do to a Virus. I am seeing an Endo for that problem, my thyroid is correcting itself based on my last blood tests and no Hashimottos. I am still having symptoms and am concerned about MS. I am still having twitching all over my body, I have tingling throughout my body, the tingling will last 1-2 seconds then seems to go away this will happen periodically throughout the day. When the tingling happens its only on a very small spot such as 1 finger or 1 toe or a 1 inch area on my leg or arm, I dont have any numbness. On occasion I am getting some ringing in my ears, again this last for a few seconds an goes away. My endo. stated that he does NOT feel all these symptoms are thyroid related. I called my neurologist and he feels that they are still thyroid or endocrine related not neurological. I am having a great deal of anxiety which I am sure is not helping. I am concerned about MS, Who is right and who is wrong,
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Jul 25, 2006 12:00AM
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes. The symptoms you describe suggest a possible Steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT), [Hashimoto's Encephalopathy is an old term, it does not happen only with Hashimoto's]. This is a neuro-endocrine disorder where antibodies against the thyroid are thought to attack the brain and nervous system. This is often associated with myoclonus (brief jerks/twitches all over the body). This can also cause various other symptoms including memory/speech problems, seizures, weakness, anxiety and psychosis (most patients only have a few of these symptoms). Further workup for this disorder would include Anti-thyroid antibodies (full panel, there are several, may already be done?) EEG (to evaluate for seizures) MRI brain to evaluate for changes consistent with encephalopathy, SPECT scan (to evaluate blood flow to the brain) and Lumbar puncture (to look for inflammation). The good news is that this disorder responds to high dose steroids (IV Solumedrol) and typically patients improve rapidly within 1-3 days of treatment. Other treatments include IVIG and plasmapheresis.
There are other possible causes of "twitches all over my body", after a viral infection, some people will develop benign fasiculations (twitches in muscles that do not cause movement across a joint).
The symptoms you describe are unlikely to be multiple sclerosis (MS). MS typically presents with optic neuritis, isolated weakness or numbness, each of which that resolves in 3-6 weeks (not 1-2 seconds). However, the initial workup for MS which includes an MRI and Lumbar puncture needs to be done in your workup for possible SREAT anyway.
I hope this has been helpful.
There are other possible causes of "twitches all over my body", after a viral infection, some people will develop benign fasiculations (twitches in muscles that do not cause movement across a joint).
The symptoms you describe are unlikely to be multiple sclerosis (MS). MS typically presents with optic neuritis, isolated weakness or numbness, each of which that resolves in 3-6 weeks (not 1-2 seconds). However, the initial workup for MS which includes an MRI and Lumbar puncture needs to be done in your workup for possible SREAT anyway.
I hope this has been helpful.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
my email is ...***@****
I can understand your suffering. I have neuro symptoms for one year and can't get at least a possible explanation. I'm doing some research by myself, and seems that the Lyme incidence is growing all over the US, and the doctors are not prepared to make the diagnostic and treat it, unless you show the classic : tick, rash, cold/flu like symptoms. The problems is that many people don't even remember the tick...
I've an appointment and will ask the doctor to be tested for Lyme. You can get some help and advice through this website: http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi.
Hope you feel better soon! :)
Me too with the thyroditis (they called mine postpartum thyroditis). My neuro. symptoms started before the thyroid went hyper but, definitely got worse with twitches that make me jump, muscle stiffness etc.after the thyroid thing.
Before the thyroid thing I had all these weird sensory problems and even blurry vision from time to time. I've had 11 ct's all over my body , 4 MRI's of brain, and tons of blood tests. When the original neuro. stuff started 10 months ago I had a low titer ANA (1:80)I was also 2 months postpartum then and all the specific Rheumo diseases were negative. The ANA has also since gone negative.
I am so scared with all this...I actually even went to the Mayo who said Fibromyalgia but, I haven't heard of fibro causing all my neuro stuff....even stuff like feeling as if my left foot