Helping my wife with anxiety/ms questions

[KenMendip]

Hi there,

About eight weeks ago my wife started complaining about strange pains in her arms and legs. She was describing them as 'shooting' 'tingling' and then 'stabbing' pains. Sometimes she would say that she'd just felt a shooting pain and if you looked at her hand there was a reddish area where she stated the pain ended. These pains continued on and off never getting any worse but still there so about four weeks ago she went to the doctors. The initial diagnosis was possibly cervical spondylosis. However this wouldn't account for the pains in her legs so she went for a second consultation and the second doctor was concerned about exaggerated reflex reactions and suggest seeing a neurologist. Asking why the doctor said because of possible MS.

At this point my wife started reading about MS and the symptoms on the net. To cut a long story short she convinced herself she had MS. At this point she was panicking and in a real state. After visiting a neurologist for an  examination he stated that her results were normal and he did not believe she had MS. An MRI followed and that also was negative yet my wife still does not believe the results and is convinced that her symptoms are MS. It's a fortnight until we see the neurologist again and my wife is panicking because she still has the symptoms now including occasional muscle spasms. Is it anxiety? What else could it be? Are all the symptoms anxiety related if so what about the initial symptoms? She had a full blood test and the results were negative.

Prior to the the initial symptoms she had terrible period pain and suffers with endometriosis. A half cousin has MS.

She's stressed, I'm stressed. Any thoughts appreciated and welcomed.

[km_house]

After reading about MS she could be having psychosomatic symptoms.

"She had a full blood test and the results were negative." Negative for what? There are no blood teast that can confirm a diagnosis for MS. I have never heard about seeing a reddish portion where the pain would begin or end. And Usually when I have would have my numbness/tingling it would be permanent for the length of my exacerbation. Maybe she has a pinched/bruised nerve?

When I was diagnosed with MS I was in a state of elation, NOT panic!!! I finally had a reason for feeling the way I did!!! It sounds very ODD but I truly did have a BIG sigh of relief!!! Even if she does have MS tell her what my Neuro told me "This is Not a Death Diagnosis", it will be taxing on her at times but if she does have MS a POSITIVE mental state will do Wonders for her!!! I live next door to an Easter Seals residence and can see that there are other peoiple who have it MUCH Worst than I do!!! I am thankful that I still have the use of my legs. They are slowly on the decline but I have vowed that I WILL use them while I still got them!!! LOL!!! Chin UP!!! ;-D

[JonM]

Well she should feel comfort that her tests, particularly the MRI are negative.  One thing about MS is that it typically comes on quickly (the exacerbation) and remits over several days to several weeks.  If her symptoms last for months its unlikely MS, particularly with that negative MRI.  I'm not a doctor, just someone who has MS so take what I write with a grain of salt.  There are many other conditions/diseases that this could be.

One thing you said caused me to pause, the part about a "red spot" associated with the pain.  I have never heard of red spots (other than from treatment injections) with MS.

Has she had any optical issues, brain fog, or weakness in the limbs over the last several years?

Jon

[tonyad]

Hope your wife is feeling a bit better.

You CAN have MS and have a negative MRI. Especially in the very begining. Sometimes it can and a lot of the time does take a couple years to rear its ugly head enough to get a dx.  While your wife may have some anxiety over the possibility of having MS, that does not mean that she is not having symptoms of something.
Let's face it no one wants to be sick or have MS and NO ONE wants to hear the dreaded words of "Its all in your head".

I think your wife has a right to be concerned about her health and to find out what is going on in her body.  She knows her body better than anyone else and what is normal for her and what is not. Now, I am NOT saying she has MS  I'm just saying that she has the right, as does anyone, to investigate and not be pushed off as a hypochondriac w/ anxiety right out the starting gate. I wish you both well.

Take Care,
~Tonya