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Neurology (Expert Forum)
MS symptoms for 3 1/2 years
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MS symptoms for 3 1/2 years
by terrijean, Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
Hello,
My initial onset of symptoms began 3 1/2 years ago at which time I started with a severe right-sided facial pain lasting for seconds like a toothache. I went to my dentist at that time and he said the tooth had a hole in it and needed to be removed. At the time I was having the tooth removed even after Novocaine, I had excruciating pain as my dentist started prying my tooth from my lower jaw.
Several days after this, ALL everything broke loose. As I recall, it seemed to start with my vision--as if it was doubled and blurred. Then after this, I had paresthesias extremely worse on my right side from my face down to my foot with difficulty with speech, cognitive function etc. I had a feeling of almost not being in my own body or euphoric.
I am a medical transcriptionist for a local hospital and when I began working on Monday morning, I felt as if I could not correlate my hands with my eyes etc. and started becoming panicky; I knew something was wrong. I thought maybe it was a stroke or something.
I went to my PMD and he took me off work with "peripheral paresthesias"; off for 1 1/2 months. CAT scan - negative.
I then started with a local neurologist who said "it could be stress" related. Came to Cleveland Clinic to rule out a stroke and "he said it could be stress related". MRI - negative. VEPs negative. EMGs negative. Spinal tap - negative.
I have been on Neurontin which has thankfully taken away the TN and complete right sided numbness but still left with multiple other symptoms and no DX. Should I come to Mellen for a DX? I am now 44/declining..
My initial onset of symptoms began 3 1/2 years ago at which time I started with a severe right-sided facial pain lasting for seconds like a toothache. I went to my dentist at that time and he said the tooth had a hole in it and needed to be removed. At the time I was having the tooth removed even after Novocaine, I had excruciating pain as my dentist started prying my tooth from my lower jaw.
Several days after this, ALL everything broke loose. As I recall, it seemed to start with my vision--as if it was doubled and blurred. Then after this, I had paresthesias extremely worse on my right side from my face down to my foot with difficulty with speech, cognitive function etc. I had a feeling of almost not being in my own body or euphoric.
I am a medical transcriptionist for a local hospital and when I began working on Monday morning, I felt as if I could not correlate my hands with my eyes etc. and started becoming panicky; I knew something was wrong. I thought maybe it was a stroke or something.
I went to my PMD and he took me off work with "peripheral paresthesias"; off for 1 1/2 months. CAT scan - negative.
I then started with a local neurologist who said "it could be stress" related. Came to Cleveland Clinic to rule out a stroke and "he said it could be stress related". MRI - negative. VEPs negative. EMGs negative. Spinal tap - negative.
I have been on Neurontin which has thankfully taken away the TN and complete right sided numbness but still left with multiple other symptoms and no DX. Should I come to Mellen for a DX? I am now 44/declining..
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Dec 13, 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.
Your story is very complex and there is a lot of data that I do not have. I am glad the neurontin is working for the pain (Trigeminal neuralgia?). From what you describe, you evaluation has been good (MRI, VEP, EMG, LP). I think multiple sclerosis is unlikely given the results you describe. If you have not had a MRI of your cervical spine with contrast, I would also suggest this test. I would recommend that you follow-up with your Cleveland Clinic neurologist to address your remaining symptoms (not mentioned, which symptoms remain).
I hope this has been helpful.
Your story is very complex and there is a lot of data that I do not have. I am glad the neurontin is working for the pain (Trigeminal neuralgia?). From what you describe, you evaluation has been good (MRI, VEP, EMG, LP). I think multiple sclerosis is unlikely given the results you describe. If you have not had a MRI of your cervical spine with contrast, I would also suggest this test. I would recommend that you follow-up with your Cleveland Clinic neurologist to address your remaining symptoms (not mentioned, which symptoms remain).
I hope this has been helpful.
I am sorry to read about your various symptoms. The first thing to address in answering possible Multiple Sclerosis is that it is a common denominator that most attacks first experienced with MS patients come during or directly after a stressful event, for example, the death of a loved one, social persecution, loss of a job, giving birth, accidents, and so on. The situation with your tooth and with your facial pain are more than likely specific to your oral surgery and disease.
The symptom you describe in your eye is more than likely what is commonly a presenting monophasic syndrome and it is called optic neuritis. Do you recall which sensation you experienced with the presumed parethesias? Speech and cognitive function are less common in MS, but do occur in some patients. The feeling that you experienced with being “out of body” has never been described to me and it may be asking you to look at other conditions. MS, however, can do many strange things.
Regarding your CTscan, you should be aware that MRI is considered a much better detector for conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis as it has more of an ability to look for punctuate lesions, that too, may be enhanced though unremarkable.
I do not want to give you the impression that I am among the many who blame Lyme disease for everything because it sadly can discredit the suggestion to people who truly may be suffering with this condition. Depending upon your locale you may want to look into this as a possible cause for what you are experiencing. An important consideration would be whether or not your symptoms wax and wan, rather than with MS, which generally has clear starts and stops. If your symptoms do not go away and all and simply get worse, one would consider a more progressive disease and LD can present this way as well.
Was your cervical spine studied under an MRI and did you have a lumbar puncture? It is possible that you may have had plaques on your brain and that they went away. This sequence occurs more than often in Multiple Sclerosis and other related conditions, such as LD.
Good Luck!
JCmcc.
This information is not meant to supplement your physician/s.
I am directing this to you JCMCC because you made rather direct medical answers to my medical questions.
In regards to my "tooth pain", it was not actually tooth pain after all; it is called TN or trigeminal neuralgia which a small percentage of patients' I have read have this first initial onset of.
And yes, not only was the tooth extraction STRESSFUL situation but also I was under tremendous personal and financial stress.
All of my initial severe symptoms at initial onset lasted for 8 weeks but I was left with permanent sequelae of some symptoms between attacks.
I have read and had posts from others on different sites that everybody's symptoms can be different and no one is alike by any means for any disease.
Trigeminal neuralgia in and of itself medical documentation states is a very painful disease and is not a toothache; that is just how it can be perceived at first from trial and error going to the dentist, tooth extractions etc.
I do not want to sound harsh, but I personally would not give any
advice to anyone as you have done to rule in or out a disease for anyone on any forum.
I am seeking advice from a medical doctor on this forum in particular because I will be going to this center at the end of January. I would, however, gladly like to hear from any others with similar problems as mine. I, although, do appreciate your kindness JCMCC of acknowledgement on this forum.
terri
Good luck
AnnLynn - My worst times are spring and especially SUMMER; but I do get some episodes in the fall too. Usually when the snow comes or winter, I do pretty well until March or so.
Patsy10 - sorry to hear you have this problem also; the not knowing can be so detrimental a lot of the time.
I saw my PMD yesterday and he told me I need to start exercising, walking, eating right, taking multivitamin and B6, doing the alphabet ankle exercises 3 times a day to get my body back on track.
I totally agreed with him that I should get back to doing this. I've had 6 ankle sprains with the last one being a good one just getting out of bed 1 1/2 months ago. I cannot feel my legs below my knees and I will take a step, turn an ankle