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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Diagnosis of 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
Diagnosis of Ms.
by vanwarp, Dec 29, 2006 12:00AM
Last July 2006, I suffered a major convulsion. During this convulsion I also suffered two conpressed vertebraes. During my
hospital stay I had many test. The epelepsy test where negetative. They also ruled out a stroke. My symptoms prior to convulsions where speech difficulties, uspset stomach (nausea) a general malaise. After convulsionI remained in a clonic state for aproximaty an hour.
My next test was an MrI. To my surprise they found a total of 25 abnormalities. Most where very old lesions they said. they asked further question about my health. I have had balance problems in the dark, blured vision with nausea, and headaches. I suffered what I thought was an attack of meniere about 12years ago. In your opinion does this sound like ms. I will doing a second mri in January 2007 along with a lumbar puncture. I am 42years old. If this is ms and I have had it for years , what can I expect for the future in regards to this desease.
Thanks
hospital stay I had many test. The epelepsy test where negetative. They also ruled out a stroke. My symptoms prior to convulsions where speech difficulties, uspset stomach (nausea) a general malaise. After convulsionI remained in a clonic state for aproximaty an hour.
My next test was an MrI. To my surprise they found a total of 25 abnormalities. Most where very old lesions they said. they asked further question about my health. I have had balance problems in the dark, blured vision with nausea, and headaches. I suffered what I thought was an attack of meniere about 12years ago. In your opinion does this sound like ms. I will doing a second mri in January 2007 along with a lumbar puncture. I am 42years old. If this is ms and I have had it for years , what can I expect for the future in regards to this desease.
Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Jan 23, 2007 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 and MRI findings that you describe are consistent with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS has a variable course and some people have severe disease with onset of symptoms in the teen years and are wheel chair bound by their 30s. Others have more mild disease, often with relapses that are misdiagnosed as other conditions until finally someone orders an MRI of the brain. The reason the diagnosis is often delayed is the attacks (relapses) get better on their own in a couple of weeks (at least a first) and what ever you do, it seems like it works. As the lesions accumulate, then more problems arise, some that do not completely get better and that usually prompts the search for a diagnosis. Patients with MS do have a tendency to have seizures, some literature says a 3 fold higher incidence of seizures than the general population and some say a 2-5% incidence (with the general population being 3%). Having a 'epilepsy test' that is 'negative' does not mean that you did not have a seizure (I think that you did), it just means there were no 'footprints' of epilepsy seen on the EEG (electroencephalogram-or brain wave test). Many patients epilepsy will have normal EEGs inbetween seizures. I would suggest that you make an appointment with a neurologist that specializes in MS to continue your quest for diagnosis and treatment options. If you diagnosis does turn out to be MS, It seems that you have a mild-moderate form of the disease. I would also suggest a repeat EEG as well that is 2 hours long with sleep deprivation (to increase the senstivity).
I hope this has been helpful.
The symptoms and MRI findings that you describe are consistent with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS has a variable course and some people have severe disease with onset of symptoms in the teen years and are wheel chair bound by their 30s. Others have more mild disease, often with relapses that are misdiagnosed as other conditions until finally someone orders an MRI of the brain. The reason the diagnosis is often delayed is the attacks (relapses) get better on their own in a couple of weeks (at least a first) and what ever you do, it seems like it works. As the lesions accumulate, then more problems arise, some that do not completely get better and that usually prompts the search for a diagnosis. Patients with MS do have a tendency to have seizures, some literature says a 3 fold higher incidence of seizures than the general population and some say a 2-5% incidence (with the general population being 3%). Having a 'epilepsy test' that is 'negative' does not mean that you did not have a seizure (I think that you did), it just means there were no 'footprints' of epilepsy seen on the EEG (electroencephalogram-or brain wave test). Many patients epilepsy will have normal EEGs inbetween seizures. I would suggest that you make an appointment with a neurologist that specializes in MS to continue your quest for diagnosis and treatment options. If you diagnosis does turn out to be MS, It seems that you have a mild-moderate form of the disease. I would also suggest a repeat EEG as well that is 2 hours long with sleep deprivation (to increase the senstivity).
I hope this has been helpful.
good luck
There are meds that help the progression--copaxone,rebif,avonex and betaseron.These are all injections.Some have had great releif with the use.
I have MS and will be starting rebif and I am 41.I have had MS they expect for at least 10 years.
Primetime- TV station ABC- program- Medical Mysteries is doing a special on MS.
Feel better soon.
Noonie
Please be advised that I am not responding to you professionally or as a medical doctor. My comments are purely educational.
With that said; your situation has many variables and will require several tests. Some of these tests will be done in the office by the neurologist and most certainly he will send you to a lab for blood work to rule out things such as b-12 deficiency, Lyme, et al. After that you will more than likely have contrast MRI studies of the brain and cervical spine, perhaps even the thoracic spine to look for plaques related to demyelinating conditions such as MS, Lyme disease, and Lupus-to name a few. You are about to go through a rigorous rule out process.
A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in neurology. Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurologists are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with neurological disorders.
Your stomach may be a separate symptom from the other distal areas of numbness, such as, your stomach may be Bell's Palsy of the stomach, etc.
I wish you luck at your appointment and though waiting is difficult-it is nearly impossible to know-at this point.
I hope that I have been helpful.
Good Luck!
JCmcc.
It seems you are very current on information regarding MS. I have so many questions, and really have no place to turn for answers. I would appreciate your help. I have had several symptoms of MS, but have not been dx. I have seen several drs., one of which was a neurologist. Have had tests for MS, which include an MRI. They all came back neg. Is there a point where the MRI should be done, could it be done to early? I have had symptoms for at least 3 1/2 years. That is the point I have noticed them and suspected MS. I do alot of reading and know what the symptoms are. Mine are tingling in hands and feet and pain in my left leg, which I never had before. I am, like everyone else in this site, am very scared and feel hopeless at the thought of MS. I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks
Regards,
JCmcc.