Frustrated

[Rhody406]

I have just returned from an appt with a nuero.  She just shrugged her shoulders and said she doesn't know wha tis wrong with me but my five MRI's don't show evidence of MS.  This all started in May, I woke up and I could barely stand I was so dizzy and fatigued,blurry vision in my left eye, and numbness and pain in my foot. I had my first MRI.  This nuero told me that I had two lesions, but not in an area of my brain that would account for my symptoms.  I had a spinal MRI and they found a herniated disc, had surgery in Oct.  The end of Feb. I woke up and couldn't lift up my feet or legs to take a step, I was admitted to the hospital and was given some IV medication, for the treatment of MS (I can't remember the name) because the ER doctor thought it was clear that I was having an MS occurrence.  The medication helped, I still can't walk without my right foot dropping.  The nuero today prescribed PT and said because my legs are getting better and where the lesions are located I don't have MS.  She doesn't know what it is, but sometimes a lot of stress can cause psychosomatic symptoms!!!   I just need to know there are other people going through this and I am not crazy,  I'm going to pursue this with a different Dr. somewhere.

[Quixotic1]

Okay, welcome to the forum and your neuro knows very little about MS!

There is rarely a good correlation between where the lesions are in MS and the symptoms we suffer.  Every once in a while we can point to a lesion and say," Aha!  There is the culprit!"  But this is not very common.

Sesides, many of the symptoms you report would be cause by lesions in your spinal cord.  Where were the two lesions they saw?  Have you had your spinal cord imaged?

You have now had two separate attacks.  If you have any objective evidence of damage to the nervous system on physical exam or on testing, and the blood work up is negative, you have enough evidence to diagnose MS, ESPECIALLY with 2 lesions in your brain.

You have drop foot.  Do you have any other abnormalities?

Your neuro is a idiot if she thinks that stress can cause drop foot!  You need a new neuro, preferably with a doctor that knows something about this disease.  She is not doing you any favors.

Here are an article you might read to get a better idea of what I am talking about:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Lesions-vs-Symptoms/show/61?cid=36

and here is a discussion of the many myths that neurologists seem to hold about MS.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Lies-My-Neuro-Told-Me-or-Common-MS-Myths/show/1074879

Once you read these you'll know why we get so upset when someone tries to match lesions to symptoms.

We are here to help you through this.  All Neurologists are not created equal and you have a real dodo if she is suggesting that, because she is not educated enough that YOU must be all stressed out.  Sheesh!

Quix

[Lulu54]

Hi Rhody and welcome to the forum here at Medhelp.  What you are experiencing sounds all too familiar.  I posted a link earlier to a blog about this very topic and I hope you will take the time to read it.

the blog entry is at
http://myelinrepair.org/blog/?p=1942

I think you will find this story all too familiar.

You know there is something wrong with your body - dont give up on finding answers.  You deserve them and its important to know the name of your enemy.

Welcome again.
Lulu

[HVAC]

Is this Neurologist an MS Specialist? Neurologists specialize in different things. I saw one during my MS diagnosis who was a headache specialist and she dismissed MS even though every test she did pointed to MS.

Alex

[stella213]

Hi there,

No you are not crazy and I'm no expert but check out the health pages (upper rt) when you can and find yourself a new dr ASAP!

I'm glad you found this forum too. I'm fairly new here and am not exagerating a bit when I say THIS FORUM CHANGED MY LIFE!

Read as much as you can ok? and welcome to the forum !

Stella

[Rhody406]

I have had a lot of blood tests to rule out lupus etc.  i had a spinal tap and 5 MRIs. All were normal except the 2 lesions and the herniated disc.  Thank you for asking.

Thanks to all of your responses, this is really helping, I'm glad I found this forum =)

[jensequitur]

I would run far away from any neuro that said your symptoms were because of stress.

I was diagnosed in August 2007 with MS.  Since then my gait has been stumbling, jerky, and lurching.  Sometimes it gets better and I can walk down the hall like a normal person.  But MS is a relapsing-remitting disease, so it's logical that it would get better and worse.

[Wobbly]

Sorry to hear you had such a rotten appt.  That very common around these parts and you are now in Limboland, not a fun place to be.  Alot of people go through LL, before they find answers.

Have you had other tests done for autoimmune Dx...bloodtests?  Have you seen a Rheumotologist?  Did this Neuro refer you to another Dr?  Or say to come back in a few months?

Your not alone in LL.. I was there for a few years before I got a Dx. Some people can get Dx right away, but many have to go through alot of tests and time...changes on the MRI will show things to the Neuros as well.  


have you checked out the "Health Pages" the link on top right side of this page...there is so much info there for you to check out.

let us know how things go
take care
wobbly
dx

[lovemy6monkeys]

I am very new to the MS world (still not diagnosed with anything) but you are 100% right in finding a new doctor! I hope you can get in to see a new doctor soon.

((hugs)) and good luck!
~Jess