Does this sound like MS?

[infinity7]

I know the symptoms can vary from person to person, and that there are different types of MS, but not being able to talk with anyone who would really understand is driving me crazy.

I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's. I know some of those symptoms can also be MS symptoms, but I'm having some issues that are not thyroid related. I have an appt with a neurologist next week, but would really like any opinions you all might have.

Here are my symptoms:

Migraine headaches (have gotten better with 600mg Magnesium Glycinate every night)

Muscle & joint pain - it seems to affect certain areas, hang around for a few days, then subside. It's hurt really bad in my upper back and elbows, then went to my hips, thighs & knees (that was excruciating).

Vision problems - I'm 45 years old. I didn't need glasses until April 2014. They are RX reading glasses. In the late Fall of 2014, it seemed like my vision had worsened. I went back to the doctor in January 2015 and my eyesight got 2 points (I think that's what she said) worse in that short timeframe. In the last week or so, I swear it's getting worse again. It's only been 1.5 months!

Head and hand tremors - I have head tremors unless I'm lying down. They aren't every single minute, but they do occur frequently. I've had hand tremors for awhile... maybe 5 years or so. They seemed to come and go. I went to a painting event a couple of weeks ago and my left hand (I'm left handed) was shaking so badly that I had to hold it with my right hand so that I could paint.

Short term memory loss and brain fog

Arms fall asleep when I sleep at night - this started happening maybe one year or so ago. Now happening more frequently.

Muscle weakness in my arms and legs, mostly my arms.

Fine motor skill issues - I have a hard time unscrewing lids and it's difficult for me to write with a pen or pencil.

I know a lot of these are thyroid related, but do any of them sound like MS?

Also, is it possible to get an MS DX from an MRI without a spinal tap? I had spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis, so I have rods attached to my spine... pretty sure they can't do a spinal tap.

[essdipity]

Yet again, the radiologist doesn't know you from the man in the moon. Your neuro should be the one who knows your health history, has done other tests, and has given you a thorough neurological examination.

Lots of MSers (including me) have lesions that are not typical or specific for MS. Makes it harder to diagnose, but ultimately MS makes itself clear.

ess

[kwarendorf]

Radiologists are not diagnosticians. The impressions section of a radiology lists a range of possible causes for the findings.

More often than not the most probable causes ae mentioned first. In your case it seems like ischemia and or migraines are more likely causes than demyelination (MS).

Kyle

[HVAC]

What it says is it can't be interpreted by itself you need a histort, neuro exam, and the doctors experience to relate it to something.

Alex

[infinity7]

Hello again, I had my MRI, talked with the neurologist and just got my MRI results electronically.

I have spots of white matter in my brain. The neurologist thinks that's caused by hypothyroidism or he said it could be MS but he doesn't think so because the white matter isn't typically where he'd see it in MS patients. I've had migraines for 6 mos, but he said that's not a long enough history to cause the white matter.

I'll post the findings below. I'd really appreciate any feedback. I'm going back to see the neurologist in April, after I have my thyroid checked/results recd later this month.

RESULTS:

CEREBRUM:     No edema, hemorrhage, mass, acute infarction, or
inappropriate atrophy.   Scattered periventricular and subcortical T2/FLAIR
hyperintense foci are present.
CEREBELLUM:   No edema, hemorrhage, mass, acute infarction, or
inappropriate atrophy.
BRAINSTEM:    No edema, hemorrhage, mass, acute infarction, or
inappropriate atrophy.
CSF SPACES:   Ventricles, cisterns, and sulci are appropriate for age.  No
              hydrocephalus, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or mass.
SKULL:        No mass or other significant visible lesion.
SINUSES:      Limited views demonstrate no significant mucosal thickening
              or fluid.
ORBITS:       Limited views are unremarkable.
OTHER:        Negative.

CONCLUSION:

No acute infarction.

Multiple small periventricular and subcortical white matter foci are
present. These are nonspecific, but typically seen in the setting of
chronic microvascular ischemia or vascular type/migraine headaches.
Additional considerations would include processes related to demyelination,
immune-mediated disease, post infectious sequela, or toxin exposure.

[infinity7]

Thank you, Deb. I've only been on synthroid for 2 weeks & it's only 50mcg. I'm going back to my doc for a blood test check up at the end of March. My migraines are better, but I think that's because of the magnesium glycinate supplement I'm taking. I really don't know... there are so many different symptoms & possible illnesses/disorders.

The tremors are what I was wondering about too. From everything I've read, tremors are only associated with hyperthyroidism. That's why I was thinking MS. I'll see what the neurologist says. Maybe an MRI will tell him more.

Thank you for your feedback!  

[Deb61]

I have hypothyroidism and MS.  If you have MS it is not that uncommon to have low thyroid issues. It is also not uncommon for people with MS to have migraines.  It is worth a trip to the neurologist to rule out the possibility of MS.  The head tremors and hand tremors stand out to me.  An overactive thyroid will cause this problem, but I'm not sure an underactive thyroid problem will do this.  

Have you started your medicine yet?  Once on it for a month or so, you will see which symptoms are related to thyroid because the thyroid symptoms will pretty much subside. You can then sort out what is what- except for migraine attacks.  Migraines can give you symptoms when experiencing them such as weakness and possibly a tremor.  They can also cause changes on your MRI and sometimes be a mimic for MS.  

So, I would suggest that after being on treatment for a month or two for thyroid disease and your neurological symptoms don't subside that you seek a MS specialist to rule out the possibility of MS.  If everything is ok after seeking their advice (MS is said to be unlikely), I would then find a neurologist who specializes in migraines.  I saw one before my MS diagnosis and reduced my migraines down to only two a month.  

Hopefully all those symptoms disappear with your thyroid medicine!!!!
Best wishes,
Deb

[infinity7]

Thank you so much for the feedback! Most of this came on rather suddenly, so I've been pretty overwhelmed with it all.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

You definitely can be dx with MS with out an LP, But according to the latest Mcdonald diagnostic criteria, if you have 2+ lesions in 2 of the 4 specified locations, objective evidence of 2 attacks etc and no other medical condition that could otherwise account for the diagnostic evidence......    

The problem with autoimmune symptoms is that they often overlap, another issue regarding MS is that there are also many others and non neurological medical conditions that mimic the same or similar symptoms.

To me there's nothing you've mentioned that is suggestive or specific enough, for a neurological condition MS to be likely, when you've got a few possibilities already.......symptoms are just not always a good indicator of a neurological condition like MS, and it's possible these types of symptoms could be explained by your Hoshimoto's, migraines, and possibly further spinal related issues eg structural, degenerative etc

Cheers.........JJ