Can you have MS without a positive ANA ?

[tot_teacher]

Well I had an appointment at a neurology clinic in my home state (NC) whose clinic is in a huge teaching hospital.  I was confident that I would receive a more thorugh exam and MS screening there rather than in my small home town.  I was impressed that they did answer questions and took time with me and did not tell me that I'm having psychosymatic issues.  But the neuro did focus on certain points of my history and totally dismissed symptoms as being related to other illnesses.

My history is quite complicated.  I have been a CONTROLLED diabetic for 13 years.  I have had SLIGHTLY high blood pressure for 1-2 years which has been CONTROLLED by meds.  

I present with classic clinical autoimmune disease symptoms, history of a possible MS plaque on an MRI 13 years ago, and a questionable area on a recent MRI.

Two courses of bloodwork have now been done to rule out several of the autoimmune disorders, but is it possible to
1)  have MS without a positive Anti-Nuclear Antibody test?
2)  have MS without muscle weakness/gait problems?  
3)  can MS only effect vision, heat tolerance, lightheadedness  and other milder symptoms?  or
4) could I just be having early MS symptoms?

The symptoms I have been having for a few months now are actually getting much better.  I feel as though "I'm coming out of it".  Is this how early flares present themselves?  

Any comments from someone who can answer these questions would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

[essdipity]

Hi. You pose 4 questions. The answer to all of them is a resounding YES.

Most MSrs will not test high for ANA. Doctors look for diseases such as lupus when this comes out high.

MS affects different people differently. No one symptom or set of symptoms is required. What part of the body is causing problems is totally dependent on where lesions occur. Although there are sites in the brain that more often will develop MS lesions, they actually can occur in many places. This appears to be somewhat random---at least, medical science cannot yet explain this phenomenon.

Symptoms can be light or heavy. Especially at the beginning, they often seem just odd, and it's only in hindsight that a pattern can be seen. Strange things then begin to make more sense. No one wakes up one day and wham, they have MS. It sort of creeps up on us.

I'm glad you're coming out of your current symptoms, and hope with you that they'll never come back. If they do, make sure you keep careful track of them, and add to your timeline. (Hope you have one!)

It sounds to me as if MS can't be ruled out for you at this point. Maybe it can't yet be ruled in either, but make sure you find the best possible care meanwhile.

ess

[Quixotic1]

Absolutely, ess is right.  All those things can happen.  In fact, with regard to your first question, you would "expect" a person with MS to have a negative ANA.  It's just that some people have an mildly elevated ANA that doesn't mean anything.  Or a person with MS could have a second problem that involves an elevated ANA.  The point is that MS doesn't have anything to do with a positive ANA.

And the rest of the questions are : Yes.

Quix

[Quixotic1]

I meant to say that one of the milder symptoms you mention is light-headedness.  This is not typically a symptom of MS.

Also with regard to having gait problems or leg weakness.  A large number of people with MS do not have gait problems or present with sensory problems - often paresthesias - only.  In general this group is felt to have a better (milder) course than those that have motor problems (weakness, spasticity and coordination) early in theri course.

Q

[Cat081957]

Hi I have very strange parathesias on one side of face, both arms and lower legs and feet with joint pain in elbows and sometimes thumbs. I also get a feeling of weakness in the legs and lower back with a very slight wobbly feeling like when you get off of a cruise ship and takes a while to get your land legs back (balance). I have had just recently test for ANA which is negative. Over a year ago I had normal MRI, Radiologist noted something on frontal lobe but neurologist said it is nothing, normal at my age (52). I think its to do with my neck and back since I have recently had some strong burning sensations down my spine and across the mid section of my back starting in December but has since subsided. Hmm any ideas I am at a lost and frustrated.

[Quixotic1]

Hi,  Cat, and Welcome to the MS Forum.  Unfortunately you landed in an old discussion and your question likely won't be seen here.  If you would go to our front page and Post A Question, then tell us your whole story, you will hear from a variety of people.  I particularly have things to say about things seen on the MRI that "they" say is "normal for one's age."  That happened to me and delayed my diagnosis by two years.  My "something" was also in a frontal lobe.

See you on the front page.

Quix, MD

[Tsnapp34]

There's no correct answer for symptoms with Multiple sclerosis. I have different symptoms than my aunt and cousin.It depends on the person. Theres symptoms that one person has that the other person doesn't or even heard of. I did a lot of research when I was getting diagnosed because I knew before they diagnosed me that I had it. Because I know my body.Have chronic fatigue. Chronic pain; pain in my shouler blades and shouders. Lower back Pain. Wrists hands and ankles and feet. Sometimes pain in elbows. Pain in my eyes. Migraines. Hard time focusing and memory issues, short term and long term. Balance problems. Muscle spasms. Some times they jerk. Sensitivity to heat. Summer is hard. Bladder issues. 1 day recently I had retention where i couldn't go pee for a day. Neck pain. All my joints. Weakness in my whole body. Its hard to exercise. Hands and feet tingling. Dizziness. Blurred vision. Tremors. Some times my whole body/bones shakes. Jaw pain. TMJ. Sometimes my hand twitches so hard I drop things. I can open things i used to, too weak. Sensitivity to light. Hard time concentrating

[Tsnapp34]

So the shoulder pain and hand and wrist pain comes and goes.