Motor Vehicle Accident cause MS relapse?

[Suze2]

I was the driver of my van when a guy in a car blew through a stop sign and t-boned my vehicle, which resulted in having my vehicle written-off.  I was in shock at the time of the accident and was injured...lower back and knees and a wicked case of whiplash.

I was fine before the accident.  I never took a sick-day at work.  I was active and busy all the time.  But I couldn't get better after the accident.  

I recently discovered the possibility of having MS when the Neurologist wanted to send me for MRI of the brain and spine.  I had the MRI's done this past Wednesday and will be given my results in a couple of days.  

My question is:  Would a traumatic experience cause a Multiple Sclerosis Relapse???  

I didn't know I had MS, if I do.  The insurance company is trying to get out of taking responsibility for my current condition.  

If anyone can shed some light on this topic for me, please contact me at your earliest convenience.  

Thank you!

Suze2

[karryon55]

Hi there & welcome to the MS community.

I am really sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with MS but I guess at least you know what you are dealing with now. You have found a wonderful community of people with MS or in limboland who are very informed & have good knowledge.

I'm not sure if you noticed but you are on a thread that was started in 2007 & I don't want your questions to be missed. If you go to the top of the page & press on the orange tab that says "post a question" you could introduce yourself & ask your questions where they won't get missed.

Welcome again & take care,

Karry.

[Prismara]

Hi Suze2!

I was in an accident in 2010 and symptoms started that day. Numb tingling & headaches all the same exact stuff you mention. I was diagnosed with MS almost 3 weeks from the accident and the nurse who was under that doctor told me I was born with it. Which is bullcrap so I went to two other doctors for other diagnosis. I'm going to a new doctor now and finding out more tuesday about what I can do. Is anyone here on Gylenia GO program? I can't seem to find anyone as of yet on it to talk to about that, as I don't like needles and won't go that route.

Thanks!

[mrsb1710]

Hi,
Hope you can help, I've read all of your posts on your health problems.  I had a whiplash injury over a year ago where I came down a water slide akwardly.  Since then I have had a lot of n and neck pain.  My gp sent me for a ct scan which showed lesions on my brain, ms waßomething they mentioned.  Went to see a neurologist who wasn't much help, not sure I its ms. Now waiting to go for a mri scan. Could the whiplash have caused these lesions on my brain.

[Tthorny]

I went to a Dr. Before I had been in a car accident, with symptoms like numbness in hands and feet, electric currents goi g down legs, loss of muscle control in legs, sciatic nerve problems and they told me I had fibro myalgia. A year and a half after accident and getting whiplash I have had neck, shoulder and arm pain and spasticity; trouble swallowing ; more severe back of the neck headaches. I want to go see a neurologist because I really think I have MS and accident just made it way worse, but if I get diagnosed with MS and it shows on my medical records as possibly being there before accident will that wreck my lawsuit? I wonder. My pain Dr.s of course told me not to go to neurologist yet to hold off, but would you hold off knowing it could be MS and get worse as time goes by?

I too feel your pain about family and friends not wanting to believe you or listen to you anymore.  I feel so different now and nothing gives me joy anymore, only pain. Hugging and massages are even painful. How do you tell your kids not to touch you or your husband without it hurting them and screwing up your relationships.

This accident has screwed me up so much more and they find nothing to solidify the answers as to why? That's depressing. To think it may screw up everything if I do find out its ms is nerve racking, at least then I will have the answer. I was a lot more active and only mostly hurt lower level of my body, some headaches and finger numbness, after accident whole upper body doesn't work long, if I work to hard my arms shake uncontrollably and my headaches have moved to all over head especially back of the neck, have worsened are more frequent .

[maestro1959]

I am also one of those people who was totally fine before a trauma, and now have MS.  I was perfectly healthy except for well-managed diabetes.  I was subbing in a classroom while working on my masters degree in teaching.  I was assaulted by a student who was angry because he was required to give me his cell phone for texting in class.

He threw me into a wall head first trying to retrieve his phone.  Within minutes I had a severe headache followed by continued neurological deficits.  An MRI showed many lesions, and a diagnosis was given.

Before this I was a long distance cyclist.  Only three weeks before I had ridden a 60 mile ride with absolutely no complications.  Now I cannot ride a bike.  I was also a high school sports referee, and very active in that, too.

I have bi-laternal footdrop, and my legs have continued to weaken.  I am now in a wheelchair.  My primary care physician stated to me that she believes the MS was probably there and dormant, and the trauma triggered it.  She is willing to testify to that.  Her contention is that it may or may not have ever come about.

I believe trauma can trigger MS.

Beth

[Lulu54]

Hi sicntiredmom,  Welcome to the forum.

I would like to ask a favor and have you copy your post here and start a new discussion.  Many people will not read these older threads and this one datesback to 2008.

Also, when you do this, please break it up into smaller paragraphs.  A number of people here have vision problems and are unable to read a solid block of text like this, no matter how much they want to.

Welcome again - I'm looking forward to reading your story and I'm sure others are as well.
Lulu

[sicntirdmom31]

I FELL ALL YOUR PAIN...LITERALLY!!! I was 28 years old when I was rear-ended by a completely irresponsible kid at a yellow light on his 21st birthday.  My accident occurred on Dec 6, 2007... Since day 1 I have been sufferring severe dibilitating headaches that last for days..I have a difficult time speaking, it's not the talking, it's the finding the right words for what I want to say, My memory is horrible (and it's causing problems in my marriage), my vision has gotten foggy and nite time driving you can forget it.  I've been thru 2 neuropsychologists who have given me something called an "impact test" which I completely failed and indicated I was a 7 year old, however neither doc believe my responses were truthful..one actually had the nerve to say I had a drug problem (but i've only been given torodol for my headaches which doesnt work anyway so I dont take it)  I have one doc who has been treating me since day 1 who is nothing but a sports injury doc, but has been saying all along that I have nerve damage and post concussion...of course who believe a sports injury doc...nobody!!! I've had one Neurologist discharge me as his patient claiming he exhausted all his treatment methods and didn't know how to help me, and I've had one actually have the nerve to call me the day prior to my 1st appointment and tell me He's NOT going to do anything more than what the first one did, so he cancelled my appointment and refused to see me. I've been thru 3 different physical therapist who want to insist on ICE AND HEAT as the only solution, and a Chiropractor was started out great, but once the insurance company refused to pay...dropped me as her patient.  As for Intercourse..I dont even know what that is anymore..I haven't been able to get intimate, physically or emotionally with my husband since my accident...the pain is unbearable!!!  Even when I'm not having a headache...( I regret ever using that as an excuse when I wasn't in the mood)...I think I covered EVERYTHING...  FInally about a year ago I found 2 great docs, one is a brain based injury eye doc (only few in u.s.) in Marquette, Mi by the name of Heidi Johnson, the other is a well-known Neuropsychologist in Traverse City, MI by the name of Glenn Johnson.  He wrote a very informative giude for us TBI sufferrers...you can find it at (www.tbiguide.com).. After a horrible 8 hour session with him, I was diagnosed with something called "POST CONCUSSIVE SYNDROM" which is the reason for all my headaches, memory and speech problemsI .. A few months later I seen the eye doc, and after 3 seperate sessions was diagnosed with something called "POST TRAUMA VISION SYNDROM"  Add that with the PTSD, we might have all the acronyms covered!!! I have yet to get an accurate diagnosis for my pain in my neck and shoulders, the sparatic tingly sensations down my left arm/hand/both feet, and balance issues..oh and I too get this sharp shooting pain above my left eye that radiates to my ear and left cheek (but that just started about 6 months ago).  I have been to literally 7 IME exams for both my auto insurance company and the other party I am suing.  Their docs flat out said I was narsistic and completely healed of all my injuries pertaining to this accident.  Now it is Aug 18, 2011...Have yet to receive any treatment (still waiting on insurance co. approval) I'm now 31 years old and Recently started having totally different symtoms..... Last Thursday, as I was sitting in my recliner just watching TV with my husband..out of the blue the room started to spin, that lasted for about 10 mins...then i got really ill feeling like a hangover, so I got up to walk to the bathroom and Within seconds I was completely paralyzed from the neck down, my body was shaking severely and my speech was completely slurred...All I felt was the overwhelming tingling run through my entire body starting with my hands down to my feet, it felt like i was being electricuted ( it even felt like the space around me was tingling..that doesnt even make sense)...my chest and stomach felt like it was beintg sqeezed from the inside, my eyes hurt to open..the only thing i could do was breath and swallow..i had no control over anything...this lasted for about 45 mins..of course it would lighten up as soon as the ambulance arrived.  Which they took their sweet *** time with me, even stopping to drop off a pizza at their home on the way to the hospital.  So I get to the hospital, and as usual you dont get a real doc anymore, but a student..and he tells me im fine and sends me home with atavan.  He even told me I WAS NOT HAVING SEIZURES!!!  I end up back in hours later, admitted and sent home the next day.  They actually called the Psychiatrist to evaluate me for a mental disorder, which was shot right down.  Since then I have had over 20 episodes and been turned down by 3 different hospitals.  I am now going back to my original doc (yup..you guessed it..the sports injury doc) to have a complete work-up done with all necessary testing.  He thinks my symptoms sound like MS.  I have no idea what is happening with me, ALL I know is nobody cares and nobody believes me... EVEN MY HUSBAND IS STARTING TO DOUBT MY HEADACHES!!! What kind of **** is that?!?!?!?  So, I hear you all loud and clear...We need to all stick together and stand by eachother for support...It's so sad that family and friends can't be there for you, but total strangers can!  THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, I'M JUST SORRY IT'S UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES...And i just happen to find this because it's 3:50 in the morning and I can't sleep, so I was doing the usual...researching online.... I WISH ALL OF YOU GOOD LUCK AND HAPPIER FUTURE WITHOUT PAIN!!!

[BronxJewels]

As I sit here I am crying. Was in a terrible car accident rear ended by a tractor trailer. Was taken out of car and rushed to the er. Had knee surgery shoulder surgery and been going to pt for back and neck pain along with numbness and tingling in arms hands and fingers. They tell me it's from the herniated disk in my neck and that is causing the nerve pain. Lever mind I can't sleep and get migraines. Now On my way! To the doc yesterday and I start to get pins and needles in my forehead cheeks and chin. It was a awful feeling. So of course they want a brain scan. Which I already had done. Series of blood work to rule out all diff things. Waiting on results but that does not help my pain. Yes my 1 st doc said I can't do anything more for u. I'll be happy just to find the light on the other side. Yes I do believe it is accident related. Cause before this I had no health issues at all

[LGaut]

I see your original post was a long time ago but here goes anyway : ) I, too, was in a car accident in August of 2007, and then later diagnosed with MS. Before the accident I was fine, no symptms, no problems. My accident happened when a guy tried to make a left hand turn in front of me and t-boned my car. He hit me so hard it broke the front axle, I lost control of my car and hit another car (totaled that car) then jumped the curb and ran into a brick wall, well, through a brick wall, and into a tree. I broke the C2 vertebra and suffered herniated discs in my neck and lower back. I was also bleeding from the brain. I had a MRI at the hospital (with contrast because of the bleeding) and 2 small lesions were discovered. I was surprised because I had never had migraines, or any MS symptoms. I experienced lots of pain, numbness, tingling, etc, that everyone else mentioned as a result of the accident and went to physical therapy for a little over a year. After the physical effects of the accident had started to wane I started having new, cognitive symptoms. I had a hard time with my memory, forgetting simpple words, confusion, etc. I woke up one morning and could not walk because both legs were numb. That's when I started worrying about MS. I began getting a clinical workup from a nuerologist and was diagnosed with MS in January or 2009. The interesting thing for me was that my white blood cell count started to climb immediately after the car accident and my orthopedist told me he that many times in his practice he saw MS show up after a severe trauma to the body. He thought my WBC count was rising because my body was trying to fight it off. Well, evidently I lost that fight. My MS diagnosis was long in coming, partially because I never developed any more lesions and it wasn't until January of 2009 that the definitive ogliconal bands showed up in both my blood and my spinal fluid. I absolutely believe the accident brought out my MS. I hope it all worked out with your insurance company, I hope your MS symptoms are tolerable or in remission, and I hope you are well.

[Sparkysarah]

Wow this was an interesting post and I just wanted to say hi to you and several other new faces and names who I have not come into contact with before.

I also had a traumatic accident 2 years ago when I tripped over a fork lift truack and ruptured all three ankle ligaments. I do not think this caused MS (as I think it had been lingering for asome time before this) but I do think that the stress that happened afterwards knocked me and certainly did not help my immune system.

I think that there are many possible triggers for MS but without any scientific evidence to base my own feelings on, I just think there are lots of potential reasons and it is going to be a long time before anyone can fit all the tiny pieces of the puzzle together.

Love Sarah

[coffeeom]

  Thank you Red..Im sorry about your Ms diagnosis too....
Its Great we have sites like this  xoxo  Linda

[RedFlame]

WOW,  we really have alot in common, I am in denial phase too.  I think anger peeks it's ugly head at times too.  

Both of us have just been diagnosed!!

I was officially diagnosed July 27, just 4 days ago although they had been fairly certain before that date.

I'm so sorry you have MS!!!

Be good to yourself today


((((Hugs))))

Red

[coffeeom]

Hey  Red.. :)   I  hope I didn't come across wrong I didn't mean to.   Who knows if my Ms would have come out anyway...it just seems like the accident brought it out.

...I was just diagnosed July 22nd and Im still in the denial stage ..im sorry if I came across harsh.    :)  Linda

[RedFlame]

I'm sorry Linda!!  I should have read the thread more thorougly.  :-)  Red

[coffeeom]

ON 6-6-06 (Yes I know)  I had a bad car accident...  I had whiplash  and some disc problems,,and was treated for them...but never went back to how I felt before.

6 months later I woke up with half my bottom lip numb..which was the start of many more symptoms to come.

3 years later I am diagnosed with rrms....I had no problems or symptoms before the accident...so I really believe  if it was not for that accident I might never have had any problems with ms at all!

So yes I really believe a  traumatic experience can  cause a Multiple Sclerosis Relapse!!


hope you feel better Suze2 .....  :)    Linda

[RedFlame]

Accidents don't cause MS.

Sometimes when there has been an accident, the tests performed in the hospital may show lesions in the brain that are suggestive of MS.  This can and may lead to a diagnosis of MS.

But, there is no causative relationship.

[wall6545]

Appearance Of My Multiple Sclerosis:
On Jan. 24th 2009 another driver plowed into my car. I believe this was the traumatic event that caused my MS to surface. Although it may have been lying dormant long before this time no symptoms had been apparent until just after the car accident. Over the next six months I began experiencing numbness and pain in various parts of my body, severe fatigue, balance difficulties, depression, cognitive issues, unstable mood, sudden hearing loss, optic neuritis and dysarthria. Some of these symptoms have ceased while others remain or come and go. Demyelination was first discovered through a Spinal MRI just after my accident. I was then forwarded to a Neurologist who performed a Brain MRI and discovered that several lesions were present. I was diagnosed July 30th 2009 with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). I'm now taking SC Injections three times a week to slow the progression of the disease, as there currently is no cure. MS is truly a daily struggle!

[hopesp]

New research suggests a narrowing of jugular vein which leads to lack of blood flow to brain thus causing damage. could be possible that a severe whiplash causes an injury to this vein (only a doppler ultrasound could show this). I have also looked into DYSAUTONOMIA- damage to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves (cause can be from trauma to these nerves). I was one of those people that thought illness was mind over matter. Not so since experiencing it first hand. Didnt believe that something like a whiplash could cause all these symptoms- vertigo, balance issues, gastro, tingling, brain fog etc..Been piecing together the puzzle for the last year and a half. Finding the best medicine is support and understanding. Its a lonely road when others can only understand so much unless they experience it themselves.

[cassnbruce]

I so hear you on how people treat those of us who suffer chronic pain. I've even had ignorant doctors tell me lose some weight and the pain will go away. At the time of my accident and the beginning of my pain i was only 150 pounds and had just had my daughter 7 weeks before so i was just getting to my pre baby weight from her although i still had 20 pounds to go from having my son 22 months before her. Some doctors and even family and friends can be so heartless when it comes to us saying anything about our pain or that nothing is helping. I've been on morphine for almost a year and it doesn't help most of the time but if I say anything they all act like i am a junkie, which believe me i can live without it since it doesn't hardly ever work.

[moonwave]

Wow. I am so glad I found this place. I was rear-ended merging on to a highway a couple of months ago--by a 6000 pound Chevy Tahoe--and have not been the same since.

Right away, I had severe pain in my neck and back, and a headache from hell. The guy who rear-ended me brought me aspirin.

I was tested for MS a few years ago, so I know the insurance company won't cover the symptoms I've had since--bells palsy, bladder incontinence, pain everywhere, fever, chills, nausea. Been to a neurologist had 3 hours of MRIs done. No one can "find" anything.

I am so exhuasted. People have about a 3-month tolerance level for you talking about your physical pain, I've noticed, even if it's for 5 minutes in conversation. This is so frustrating. Do you know how many times I've spent an hour listening to girlfriends moan about a guy they dated for 3 weeks? Aaah! But talk about the pain shooting through your head and abdomen and no one wants to hear it. Even the energy healer I go to told me it was just "ego attachment." Really helpful.

The truth is that there are people who have experienced chronic pain and illness and those that have not. The people who have not almost never "get it." I think it's important to seek out people who have and can support you!

[cassnbruce]

I too am a car accident victim suffering severe back pain that shoots down through legs, numbness in my hands and feet, and muscle twitching. I was hit in 3 directons, first the guy who ran the stop sign hit me in the drivers side front panel,which pushed me into a telephone pole head on, then he did a 360 and slammed into the rear end of my car. I had just had my daughter 7 weeks before my accident and had lost the baby weight by the time of the accident. Since then I have gained 20 pounds and some of the doctors that i have seen seem to either think it's because I am a little heavy or just wanting the drugs. I did however find a great pain management doctor after a few years of arguing about how bad the pain really is. My doctor put me on 45mg of morphine a day and that too isn't completely helping with the pain. I have 2 kids ages 3 1/2 and 5 who unfortuneately don't get much play time with me and were in the car with me along with my niece who weren't hurt badly thank god. My son just ended up with a huge bruise on his forehead which the ER didn't even check his brain for bleeding which his pediatrician screamed at them for when I took him into his office the next day because he was screaming in pain all night. I too will probably be losing my job because after 3 years of suffering through the pain and then breaking my arm in January my employer decided 3 weeks into working with a broken arm that I couldn't work til my cast was off, since then my doctor has kept me off because of the severe pain in my back because work won't let me come back with any restrictions whatsoever. Never mind the fact I worked with one arm as a nurses aide taking care of residents that required full care so they wouldn't be short! Instead once i could actually use my hand some they laid me off and took all my vacation days, sick days, and FMLA days away when they did it. I honestly think some employers get a kick out of screwing their best workers that don't call off all the time, slack, and go above and beyond for them. I've come to the point that i don't care if they let me go or not because my sister said she'd hire me at the Gertrude Barber Center taking care of the MR in residentual homes. My husband and many around me don't realize that just because I don't sit around and complain non stop that I am truely in excrutiating pain and am not faking for the drugs. I was very hesitent on taking the morphine until my doctor advised me that i can't be overdosed on it as long as I am having pain and he started me out on only 15mg. after trying all the other possible drugs for pain other than the hard ones like OxyContin. I did suffer severe whiplash from my accident also, at one point I felt like i was on fire all the time because it was so bad in my neck, then a chiropractor helped ease it, although I do still have some neck pain at times also. My doctor thinks that i have nerve damage around one of my discs which is causing the majority of my pain. However last summer I started having tremors and my actual family doctor sent me for a MRI and found a white spot on it but didn't seem concerned and didn't request a follow up like your supposed to in one year to rule out MS. And they didn't figure out what was causing the tremors, they're not as bad as they were, but i do still seem to get small ones at times. I do believe that they will some day figure out that it's more than just nerve damage in my spine and may find out that i ended up with MS as a result of this accident. When I go for my next physical I am going to try talking them into a follow up brain scan just to make sure whether or not i have it. My lawsuit for my accident is still pending due to the doctors still trying to find out what all is wrong and what they can do to help me with the pain, hopefully it'll be closed soon though because I have a family to take care of and unemployment only covers the bills.

[Momzilla]

Hey, Mister!

Welcome to our forum!  I'm glad you stumbled upon us, but I'm very sorry about the accident which lead you to us.  When you're body isn't quite up to par and others in your life don't quite understand this,it can feel isolating.  We all understand this, and can be here for you.

What an awful accident, and subsequent health troubles!  I am a migraine sufferer, too, but only lately, myself, in the last few years.  They are terrible headaches to have.  I take Topamax, too, as well as another medication, Verapamil (for 'complex migraines," but that is another very looong story).  Topamax can be hard to tolerate at first, but is cinsidered a very, very good preventive drug for migraines.  I hope it ends up working for you.  Did your doc titrate it up slowly (increments of 25mg every two weeks) for you?  If not, ask him/her to try that instead.

Spasticity is a pain in the butt -- sometimes literally!  Someone will correct me if I'm wrong here, but it means something is wrong in the spinal cord.  There has been some damage or compression by injury or disease. Your doc should prescribe physical therapy to stretch your muscles when you're ready, or muscle relaxants, like Skelaxin, or Baclofen.  (Do I sound like a doctor, or what?)

As for having MS, it sure sounds like you've been right about your body so far!  But, I wonder if you might have shown some kind of evidence of MS PRIOR to the accident which would have indicated a sign or symptom.  It's absolutely true that a traumatic experience will bring on an exacerbation or relapse of MS, but it will not cause it.  Most patients will, after having a traumatic experience or injury, look back and say, Oh, yes, I did have vertigo and tingling or numbness for years, and thought nothing of it until the accident.  Is this the case with you?

I wish your mother wasn't so dismissive.  Loved ones can be that way.  Sometimes it is because they just don't want something to be wrong with the people they love.  Like in the case with your blood clots.  Try not to let it hurt you.  Easier said than done, I know...Believe me, I KNOW!!

Please let us know the testing goes, and what your neuro says.  I'm so happy you found a good one!

Feel better!

Momzilla*

[mrmoose123]

I can sooooo relate to your problems and I am sooo glad I just read this string of blogs before I head off to bed.  It has been a while since you wrote what you wrote but I guess you just never know when things will help a stranger.  I have been living in pain since a car accident I was in on January 26 2008.  I am a 36 year old extremely active, single woman who works full time and has never broken a bone or been in an accident in her life.  And the day before the accident I ran a little under 6 miles.  I have not run since.  I was sitting at a stop light and rear ended by a woman who was simply "not paying attention" as she put it where I then proceeded to smack the person in front of me, causing me to have a double impact.  I was in total shock, had horrible whiplash and have a herniated disk in my neck.  I was out on medical leave from work for 3 months.  Was just about to go back to work and found out I had contracted blood clots in my legs which kept me bed ridden for another month or so.  All the while experiencing on going migraines which I never experienced since January and quite frankly used to make fun of the people who said they had them... I used to think they faked it to get off work.  Now I get it.  I had ALOT of apologizing to do.  I get about 4-6 a month as well neck and nerve pain running down my left arm.  I now have new nerve pain running all through out my body which I am guessing is MS.  Have not gotten the official diagnosis but I have become my own doctor and have gotten so good at this having alot of time to do research and learn through others experiences and by listening to what my body tells me each day in all of its misery.  As it fights through its battle and side effects of the many drugs it's trying to break down.

Since my accident, I TOO, have had sooo many problem, pain, numbness, tingling, sensitivity, shooting pain in left arm into hand , numbness in fingers, shooting pain in forehead right above right eye, travels down along left side of face into jaw into ear, shooting pain in lower leg where clots are, forget words, stiff and can't sit or stand for too long, don't know about the orgasm thing- yes i know, but hard to get a date when you're feeling like **** and whining all time- but I have heard that orgasm just increases the pain ALOT- and blah blah blah.... I have alot of great friend but many have just gotten so sick of it and slowly have drifted away from me.  I get it.  Oh well.  I can't expect them to understand.  But what a shame that we have to be the ones to experience this.  Yep, I could go on and on too....
I am to the point that I sit here and stare at the phone and have no one left to call because I just think, they all must think, how on earth could she still be in pain after 7 months?  
I have a lawyer.  I am so glad that God put some great people in my life that gave me some great advice right away and I just took action right when this all went down.  I had all my ducks in a row and long before I started to lose my sanity and feel depressed.  
I am on Topamax now currently on 100 mg.  I have mixed feelings about this drug.  It has some major side effects.  But I have only been on it for 3 weeks and yes I have slept ALOT but I want to give it a fair shot because I have great things about its long term advantages.  So for now I sleep alot and act alot like a ditzy Paula Abdul, it's pretty funny.  But it's getting better.  I just keep thinking hey, this is a hell of alot better than that rip roaring migraine.  And I'm losing weight.  I'll give it another day.  3 months I'll give it.  
So Monday I go back to my Neurologist who is just awesome.  I wrote all my pain and symptoms down.  I have been doing this since the day of my accident.  Im kind of thorough like that.  I just know how this stuff goes down.  I can see someone trying to tell me I'm making this stuff up.  And it may be too soon to really say, but my guess is going to suggest running some tests for MS.  Now I've already had 4 MRI's and a CT scan.  But at the time I think they were looking for different things.  So my best guess is another scan of some kind.  And something to treat my spasticity.  Which is another thing I self diagnosed.  It is this muscle contraction that I am doing unconciously (especially while I sleep) and it causes me so much pain) all part of the nerve damage and the MS.  My mother thinks I'm crazy.  She thinks what I am experiencing is just side effects from the drugs.  I told her its not, its something bigger than that.  I diagnosed the blood clots.  She laughed so hard when I suggested it.  The next day they admitted me into the hospital.  I called her tonight and she said "there's no way it's MS" I said, "You'll see".  And I'm not upset.  Honestly, I'd rather just have an answer that is difinitive instead of saying "well it might be"  this wishy washy **** is what keeps me losing hope.  I try to stay positive.  I think its humanly impossible even for the most positive thinking person to be joyful and hopeful at all times... especially when you are in pain.  For me, my bad days (pain-wise) outweigh the good, and i'm sorry, but it is so hard to just grin and bear it when your body there's reminding you you feel like ****.
Weee hooooo
Midnight  off to bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Suze2]

I went to see my neurologist for results on the MRI's.  She told me there was only one white spot on the brain MRI and everything was normal on the spine MRI.  She wouldn't say anything about her findings, except that she wasn't concerned about finding just one spot.  She's sending me for an EMG--to test the nerves in my hands and feet.  I'm waiting for someone to call me with the appointment date and time.

The car accident happened in April of 2007.  I know I'm lucky to be alive, because during the accident I thought to myself, "this is it, I'm not going home".  The other driver claimed full responsibility and the police charged him.

I'm 43, going on 44 years old--in January.  I'm 5'8" and weigh about 146 lbs.  I was physically fit when I was in the car accident.

Here's a brief history of the health problems I've had over the years:

1970--at the age of 6--hit by a drunk driver when I was crossing the road
1978--tonsils taken out
1981--apendix taken out
1983--1st baby born
1986--2nd baby born
1992--severe dizziness, vertigo, unable to stand; diagnosed with a virus
1993--3rd baby born
1995--4th baby born and severe vertigo, etc, including vomitting for 7 months
1996--diagnosed with Meniere's Disease
1998--dizziness came back for 3 days
2000--severe lower back pain came out of no where
2003--diagnosed with degenerative disk disease (yeah, whatever)
2004--convinced my OBGYN to remove my uterus and cervix and was better within a few months
2007--car accident; shock, injured lower back and both knees, and really bad whiplash, etc.

Over the years I've had many different little problems with my circulation; couldn't even play tennis without blowing out a blood vessel, etc.  

I was physically well after the hysterectomy and before the car accident.  I was strong.  I wore ankle weights to work nearly ever day and wore them throughout the day out into the community.

As a result of my current condition, I was terminated from my position--because my employer felt with my injuries I would not be able to do my job anymore.  (That's another issue--wrongful dismissal)

If anything--I think I had more babies than my body could handle.  On the last one my OBGYN told my husband he was getting fixed, because he didn't want me to go through it anymore.  

Since the accident I've had so many problems....lower back pain, numbness and tingling in both hands hands, more severe numbness and tingling in both legs--knees down to bottom of feet, left foot feels like it's tied up tightly, super sensitivity and pain with orgasm (sorry!), vision blurry, memory foggy, night vision problem escalated, sit too long and I get severe musle cramping from my feet to my head--literally in my head above right temple.  I could go on and on, but I'm tired of complaining.  I just want these problems to go away.  

The insurance company made me go see their doctor (independant medical examiner) the day before my MRI's.  Due to the fact that I was working fulltime before my accident, I am paid 80% of my wages--I have a feeling they're trying to find a reason to stop paying me, by trying to find something that was wrong with me prior to the accident.  I am unable to function in my current condition.  I will not be able to find work, let alone do it.  Our family cannot afford for my benefits to be taken away.  

If I've forgotten to mention something, please remind me.  

Thank you so much for your input!!!!

Suze

[TonkaSpirit]

For sure any traumatic event can trigger MS symptoms.  I was involved in a car accident in June and am still fighting off balance issues, speech problems, and numbness/tingles throughout my right arm. I keep forgetting simple things also, but the worst part for me I think right now is my speech problems.  I am starting to get embarrassed about it now, and am avoiding talking to people besides my family.  I feel really dumb when I cannot say or think of the right word, or worse that I say the complete wrong word in its place.  I know that I am not dumb inside, but it's like things are mis-firing
from my brain outward.  My body is over electrified, overly sensitised.  Good luck to everyone.
Terrie