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Can you have MS if neurological exam is normal?
I saw a neurologist a couple weeks ago and he spent about 5 minutes doing a neurological exam. He had me touch finger to nose, tandem walk, tested reflexes, did the vibrating thing touching my leg, looked at my eyes and had me stand with my eyes closed for a second. He sped thru the exam and didn't even wait for my response on some things. It literally took 5 minutes.
He doesn't feel MRI's would reveal anything so isn't ordering any testing for me at this time since my neuro exam was normal. He is waiting to consult with a doctor from Mayo Clinic that I saw 9 years ago. My question is, do any of you with MS have normal in office exams? If not then maybe I'm worrying about this for nothing. If you have MS then will you definitely fail some part of the exam?
My face is tingling more and more, I get all these little pin ***** feelings everywhere all the time, my head is starting to tremor slightly just in the last few weeks and fatigue is sending me into a depression. I cannot function half as well as I should be able to because of the fatigue. And my arm and leg jerk intermittently. I'm just wondering if I should ask about an MRI or not. I really don't want to make something out of nothing but this is getting me really down and I don't know what to do.
My neuro doesn't seem very concerned about it since "my symptoms were much worse 9 years ago." But 9 years ago I was working full time and the only symptom that was worse back then was the myoclonus. I haven't been able to work full time for 8 years, and I think if I was trying to work full time my symptoms would be much worse since they all get worse when I'm worn out.
Sorry to go on and on about this but I am just so frustrated right now and I'm having a hard time waiting. If any of you have any words of advice I'd appreciate it.
Michelle
He doesn't feel MRI's would reveal anything so isn't ordering any testing for me at this time since my neuro exam was normal. He is waiting to consult with a doctor from Mayo Clinic that I saw 9 years ago. My question is, do any of you with MS have normal in office exams? If not then maybe I'm worrying about this for nothing. If you have MS then will you definitely fail some part of the exam?
My face is tingling more and more, I get all these little pin ***** feelings everywhere all the time, my head is starting to tremor slightly just in the last few weeks and fatigue is sending me into a depression. I cannot function half as well as I should be able to because of the fatigue. And my arm and leg jerk intermittently. I'm just wondering if I should ask about an MRI or not. I really don't want to make something out of nothing but this is getting me really down and I don't know what to do.
My neuro doesn't seem very concerned about it since "my symptoms were much worse 9 years ago." But 9 years ago I was working full time and the only symptom that was worse back then was the myoclonus. I haven't been able to work full time for 8 years, and I think if I was trying to work full time my symptoms would be much worse since they all get worse when I'm worn out.
Sorry to go on and on about this but I am just so frustrated right now and I'm having a hard time waiting. If any of you have any words of advice I'd appreciate it.
Michelle
I would find an LLMD and see if you can get properly tested for Lyme disease. I'm in the same boat, unfortunately. Daily migraines, dizziness, random twitching, hand tremors, brain fog, confusion, and so many other brain and nerve problems to count. I would start there. MS and Lyme have same symptoms but Lyme is hard to detect on an MRI if the Dr isn't looking at the specific things an LLMD would.
Pat - I'll be thinking of you and your kids. My sister's son developed some very noticeable tics when he was in 2nd or 3rd grade. She took him to the doctor and they just watched him to see if it got any worse and his eventually went away. My sister's family had gone thru some major changes at that time and so maybe the stress of all that brought it out.
I think every parent goes thru feelings of guilt for not doing this or that. It's easy for me to be hard on myself because we never go anywhere or do anything, while other families do all sorts of activities. Growing up my mom & dad were always doing things. I just don't have the energy. I try to remember that no family is perfect. My kids will be fine even if I don't sign them up for every activity offered.
Hope all goes well for you!
Michelle
I think every parent goes thru feelings of guilt for not doing this or that. It's easy for me to be hard on myself because we never go anywhere or do anything, while other families do all sorts of activities. Growing up my mom & dad were always doing things. I just don't have the energy. I try to remember that no family is perfect. My kids will be fine even if I don't sign them up for every activity offered.
Hope all goes well for you!
Michelle
((HUGS)) about your kids.
I just wanted to chime in here about that. I have 4 kids. My 10 yo DD came to me a few months ago and showed me her fine, bilateral hand tremors. She also said that her legs get shaky when she runs.
So, here she is showing some of the same symptoms I have. I'm kind of freaking out a bit since I am not diagnosed yet, and I'm thinking that there may be something viral or ??? that both of us have. I rushed her off to her Pediatrician, who checked her out (plus a little bloodwork) and told me that everything looked fine and that she believes that it's psychological due to the health issues that I've been having. :(
Even though she thought it was psychological, her Ped did recommend that we follow-up with a neurologist and my DD has an appt in December (it takes months to get an appt with any type of children's specialist here).
Now my 15 yo DS told me that he's getting brief episodes of dizziness like I've been having. :(
Not saying that is what's going on with your DD and kids, but just wanted to let you know my experience with my kids. I feel so guilty about being ill and not being there 100% for them, and now, they may be "adopting" my health ailments on top of it.
I know it's hard, but please try not to think about your kids inheriting your illness right now.
Take care! Pat :)
I just wanted to chime in here about that. I have 4 kids. My 10 yo DD came to me a few months ago and showed me her fine, bilateral hand tremors. She also said that her legs get shaky when she runs.
So, here she is showing some of the same symptoms I have. I'm kind of freaking out a bit since I am not diagnosed yet, and I'm thinking that there may be something viral or ??? that both of us have. I rushed her off to her Pediatrician, who checked her out (plus a little bloodwork) and told me that everything looked fine and that she believes that it's psychological due to the health issues that I've been having. :(
Even though she thought it was psychological, her Ped did recommend that we follow-up with a neurologist and my DD has an appt in December (it takes months to get an appt with any type of children's specialist here).
Now my 15 yo DS told me that he's getting brief episodes of dizziness like I've been having. :(
Not saying that is what's going on with your DD and kids, but just wanted to let you know my experience with my kids. I feel so guilty about being ill and not being there 100% for them, and now, they may be "adopting" my health ailments on top of it.
I know it's hard, but please try not to think about your kids inheriting your illness right now.
Take care! Pat :)
Thank you for confirming how I felt about my "quickie" exam. On a couple of things he would ask me if I felt this or that and before I even responded he was on to the next thing. Since I had a very thorough exam by a movement disorder specialist years ago I felt that I wasn't quite getting my money's worth.
Tonight has been rough and I'm really down about not being there for my kids. I'm there physically but not mentally. Now my 7-year old daughter has some facial tics and I'm so worried about her having some of the problems that I have. I've never really had tics too bad but I have myoclonus and I'm worried about passing stuff down to her. She's a beautiful girl and it is hurting me so much right now to think about this. I have been so short with the kids and it's not fair to them.
Thank you all for being here.
Michelle
Tonight has been rough and I'm really down about not being there for my kids. I'm there physically but not mentally. Now my 7-year old daughter has some facial tics and I'm so worried about her having some of the problems that I have. I've never really had tics too bad but I have myoclonus and I'm worried about passing stuff down to her. She's a beautiful girl and it is hurting me so much right now to think about this. I have been so short with the kids and it's not fair to them.
Thank you all for being here.
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Of course you will have a normal exam if he completes something that should take a good deal of time in 5 minutes!
I have not yet had a full neuro exam. The most they have ever done is check reflexes and asking me to touch their fingers to see if I can coordinate.
What they did with you is hardly sensitive neuro testing! Particularly when you would probably have subtle rather than hit them in the race neuro problems.
Find a new Dr. Probably I should be talking to myself as well. But I seem to be doing relatively ok at the moment and so will wait.
Welcome!
Sally
Of course you will have a normal exam if he completes something that should take a good deal of time in 5 minutes!
I have not yet had a full neuro exam. The most they have ever done is check reflexes and asking me to touch their fingers to see if I can coordinate.
What they did with you is hardly sensitive neuro testing! Particularly when you would probably have subtle rather than hit them in the race neuro problems.
Find a new Dr. Probably I should be talking to myself as well. But I seem to be doing relatively ok at the moment and so will wait.
Welcome!
Sally
I'm glad you're going to a rheumy. It's worth it to look at all angles, especially if you're having other symptoms like the stiffness.
I also have an appointment with a rheumatologist, but mine's not until mid-January. I have some non-MS related symptoms that may be part of the problem or entirely separate (rash, sore lymph nodes). I HATE the waiting!!
Hopefully, either your current neuro will start running the appropriate tests or you'll find one who will start to take you seriously.
Take care and let us know what your neuro says next week!
Pat :)
I also have an appointment with a rheumatologist, but mine's not until mid-January. I have some non-MS related symptoms that may be part of the problem or entirely separate (rash, sore lymph nodes). I HATE the waiting!!
Hopefully, either your current neuro will start running the appropriate tests or you'll find one who will start to take you seriously.
Take care and let us know what your neuro says next week!
Pat :)
You really need to get an MRI. My office exams have all gone fairly well. Even though my feet have the pins&needles all the time and sometimes frozen and other times on fire I can still walk on my heels and toes, feel a pin *****, have good reflexes etc etc. I can touch my finger to my nose and hear the fingers rub by me ear. God, I feel like I have had all these tests done a million times in the last month. It wasn't until I got the MRI (finally went to the ER) then the lumbar puncture that I realized I wasn't crazy and something really is wrong with me. Don't stop fighting for yourself. You are not crazy, but that's how these symptoms make you feel!!!
Hi Pat - Thanks for the advice. Sounds like you have a good neuro who isn't blowing you off. I'm trying to keep an open mind about all of this. I'm going to see a rheumatologist in a couple of weeks because of the stiffness I've been having so maybe we'll see where that takes me. I also will hear back from my neuro next week and I may tell ask about doing some testing then and see what he says. If he doesn't seem to want to do anything then I will probably go get another opinion. Sometimes I also feel like I'm just waiting for something major to happen that will be more obvious for the doctors to see. If I describe a vague symptom they seem to think I'm imagining things.
Take care!
Michelle
Take care!
Michelle
Just a "quickie" note. I had a neuro appt today. My office exams are still "normal", and my neuro is still waiting for MS to rear it's ugly head.
Michelle,
A good neuro exam should take more than 5 minutes.
As far as the office exam being normal, I have had several exams since February and my exams are all normal. I am still un-diagnosed.
Even though I have normal office exams, my neuro still proceeded to order brain and spinal MRIs with/without contrast, an LP, VEP, SSEPs, a BSEP, EMG/NCV, and a VNG. My only "abnormal" test that is suspicious for MS is my brain MRI which shows 2 lesions.
My neuro is still continuing to monitor me for additional evidence to diagnose.
I agee with you and I don't think your current neuro is doing everything necessary to diagnose you. I'm sorry he seems to be belittling your symptoms right now.
Is it possible to see another neuro? I think this would be in your best interest.
Take care! Pat :)
A good neuro exam should take more than 5 minutes.
As far as the office exam being normal, I have had several exams since February and my exams are all normal. I am still un-diagnosed.
Even though I have normal office exams, my neuro still proceeded to order brain and spinal MRIs with/without contrast, an LP, VEP, SSEPs, a BSEP, EMG/NCV, and a VNG. My only "abnormal" test that is suspicious for MS is my brain MRI which shows 2 lesions.
My neuro is still continuing to monitor me for additional evidence to diagnose.
I agee with you and I don't think your current neuro is doing everything necessary to diagnose you. I'm sorry he seems to be belittling your symptoms right now.
Is it possible to see another neuro? I think this would be in your best interest.
Take care! Pat :)
Thank you both so much for being here for me.
Angela - I'm sorry for your diagnosis but happy for you that you have answers and know you're not crazy. I'm glad you are trying to be positive about things, I'm sure it's a difficult time and I'll be thinking of you. I can understand you not feeling up for work, can you take the day off?
I have been trying to look at things more objectively and last week after a couple days of feeling good I thought, yes, I am fine and maybe it's just in my head. But then I started feeling bad again, even when I wasn't thinking about my health at all and I am now so frustrated! I just want to get on with life.
Carol - thank you for the prayers. I had a neuro exam about 6 years ago I think and it took like 2 hours, so when this guy spent 5 minutes I couldn't believe we were done already. He seems concerned when I talk to him and acts like he's trying to help. But when he says my neuro exam was normal and that's what he's going off of, it's hard to believe that he's doing everything necessary to rule out neurological problems.
I am very thankful for this forum. I really appreciate you all. Thank you for letting me vent!
Angela - I'm sorry for your diagnosis but happy for you that you have answers and know you're not crazy. I'm glad you are trying to be positive about things, I'm sure it's a difficult time and I'll be thinking of you. I can understand you not feeling up for work, can you take the day off?
I have been trying to look at things more objectively and last week after a couple days of feeling good I thought, yes, I am fine and maybe it's just in my head. But then I started feeling bad again, even when I wasn't thinking about my health at all and I am now so frustrated! I just want to get on with life.
Carol - thank you for the prayers. I had a neuro exam about 6 years ago I think and it took like 2 hours, so when this guy spent 5 minutes I couldn't believe we were done already. He seems concerned when I talk to him and acts like he's trying to help. But when he says my neuro exam was normal and that's what he's going off of, it's hard to believe that he's doing everything necessary to rule out neurological problems.
I am very thankful for this forum. I really appreciate you all. Thank you for letting me vent!
It's time to find a new neuro. I expect a lot more than 5 min. of his time. You are paying them to find out what is wrong with you and they act like they are the boss. I would find a neuro that gave me quality time and listened to what I said and also ordered tests done such as the MRI.
Your symptoms don't sound like something that should be thrown on the back burner. They sound like something that should be checked out right away. Also, how did he know you had a normal exam? There is no way of deciding that in 5 min. time.
I hope you find someone who cares enough to help you.
I'll be praying,
Carol
Your symptoms don't sound like something that should be thrown on the back burner. They sound like something that should be checked out right away. Also, how did he know you had a normal exam? There is no way of deciding that in 5 min. time.
I hope you find someone who cares enough to help you.
I'll be praying,
Carol
I'm sorry your neuro isn't requesting further testing, such as the MRI. How frustrating! Each time I've gotten a neuro exam I've been told it looks "pretty good," yet I have 4 lesions total between brain and spine and positive oligo bands in my CSF. So, to answer your questions, yes, I would imagine you could "pass" your neuro exam and still have MS (I just got dx Friday). Don't worry about "making something out of nothing." I felt like this for the past couple of years with different symptomolgy, and I actually convinced myself I was going crazy in some ways because no doctor could figure it out. It wasn't until June when my arm and face went numb/tingly that an MRI was ordered with contrast, and the rest is history - well, kind of, I wish it was history but I guess I should say "the rest is my future." :) Not really funny but I'm really trying to start my day off positive and humorous because I'm stalling to go to work because I'm really not feeling up to it! Try to have a great day, Michelle! Angela
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