Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Symptoms 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
Symptoms of MS.
by Victorl_, Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM
First of all, sorry about my english. It's been four weeks I've been experencing strange symptoms. It started when I was exercising in a bike late at night (by that time I was having four hours exercise a day) and felt a strange chill on my entire left side. I thought was just the cold of night. But in the morning, my I was feeling weakness/pain in my left leg, I couldn't make exercise. Two days later I was still feeling it, plus a low back pain. I went to ER thinking about a discal hernia, but the exams and x-ray were normal. Still, I was feeling my leg strange. In that day, later, I started to realize that when I touched (light touch) my body in the left side (specially abdomen) I felt that same chills pass through my left side, specially in the leg, abdomen and back of my head. I've been then to a neurologist. I told her I have a history of fasciculations too and she ordered EMG and MRI, to rule out ALS and MS. All came normal, but I saw on Internet it doesn't means I really don't have MS and I'm desperate. The weakness in leg seems to have gone, but I feel even more the chills on my left side, sometimes even without a touch. I'm very nervous about diseases since I have suspected of Cushing Syndrome (what have been ruled out). I can't stop thinking about MS. What are your thoughts? What's the possibilitys besides this symptoms? And there's something else I can do to rule this out? Thank you very much.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Feb 12, 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 story that you relate are non-specific and do not indicate one particular disorder. The symptoms of left leg weakness and pain along with a 'chill sensation' over your left side could be related to a problem in your cervical spine. There are many pathological processes that can occur at this site including multiple sclerosis (MS), herniated disc, tumors, vascular malformations, infections, etc. that might compress the spinal cord in this region. I would suggest a MRI of the cervical spine with contrast to evaluate for these possibilities. Additional information may also be obtained from a lumbar puncture (to evaluate for inflammation with tourtelotte panel, IgG index, oligoclonal bands) and visual evoked potentials. Given your history of low back pain you might also consider a MRI of the lumbar spine as well (but pathology at this location could not explain the numbness in abdomen etc).
I hope this has been helpful.
The symptoms and story that you relate are non-specific and do not indicate one particular disorder. The symptoms of left leg weakness and pain along with a 'chill sensation' over your left side could be related to a problem in your cervical spine. There are many pathological processes that can occur at this site including multiple sclerosis (MS), herniated disc, tumors, vascular malformations, infections, etc. that might compress the spinal cord in this region. I would suggest a MRI of the cervical spine with contrast to evaluate for these possibilities. Additional information may also be obtained from a lumbar puncture (to evaluate for inflammation with tourtelotte panel, IgG index, oligoclonal bands) and visual evoked potentials. Given your history of low back pain you might also consider a MRI of the lumbar spine as well (but pathology at this location could not explain the numbness in abdomen etc).
I hope this has been helpful.
Best of luck!
i have had ms symptoms for many years and it started with bladder problems. thanks.
About 10 years ago I had recurrent bladder infections, or so I thought. Horrible painful ones. Following urine testing, no infection would be found. I was sent to a urologist and went through alot of testing, including having a procedure at hospital where the urologist used a scope and camera to examine inside my bladder. Nothing was found to explain the bladder problems I was having, but he was able to see I could not fully empty my bladder and also that it was severely spastic. It would just come and go. Sometimes it would be a year or two between flares. Then I could go months off/on again with problems. It has not been fun let me tell you.
I need to use the bathroom upwards of 20-30 times per day, no exaggeration. I only ever can manage to empty my bladder a very little bit. I get bladder spasms. About a year and a half ago the spasms were so severe it felt like a abdominal organ was rupturing, I didn't realize even that it was the bladder, it was severe. Until I tried to urinate. Not a drop could come out. Had a rush trip to ER screaming with pain and unable to stand. It has continued pretty steady since then, with a few periods of relief but they don't last. Ironically just last night it got out of control nearly as bad as that experience a year and a half ago. I should really have gone to the ER but I am just so sick of being in that place, the wait, etc. I took 2 strong pain pills that would make me so loopy I wouldn't care, just to fall asleep and avoid ER. This morning I was able to pass urine and the spasms are bearable at least, although not gone. I can't stand pain meds, take them next to never, I am developing a disconcerting level of pain tolerance so sometimes I have to be doubled over in agony before I even pay attention to just how bad a shape I am in.
I have had 2 episodes in the past 2 months where I lost all control of the bladder. I had no sensation it was emptying at all until my pants were wet. I cried hard those 2 days let me tell you. I am only 32 years old. Now I am having some mild leaking of urine from time to time, only when I stand up from a sitting position.
Still, the biggest issue for me is the spasms, they can take my breath right away and I have been bedridden from the pain several times.
I have MS dx 7 years now, but thinking back probably had it way before then. I am fully mobile and they have given me the prognosis of bengn/RR.
From what your saying about feeling a coldness I have not heard of that before, normally it's a burning type sensation especially when moving your head - this is called "l'hermittes" sign and means that you have lesions on the spinal cord.
Are you sure it's a cold feeling and not a burning sensation?? When they gave you the MRI did you have the drug