Ms and spine problems

[Deb999]

I am in the throws of going through all the testing for MS and what a long and winding road it has been to get here!!!
My problems started in Feb 2009. I had a hernia operation last August and it was found after tummy pains happened that the mesh had shattered. I have to let my body absorb it now they said, lovely thought hey!!!

But when this was all happening, I started to get chronic pain in my neck and back and my right eye started to hurt and have pressure pain in the surrounding area too. And then the blurred vision started to happen!!! It came on with a grey circle in the middle.

I saw two eye doctors and they both said sorry all is ok.. off you go!!! Then I went to and ENT as it was thought it could be due to a bad sinus infection as I flew two long haul flights with a cold. But all was ok so I was told... off you go!!!

I was at my wits end.. no one could help me with an answer to this problem and I was scared.
I was referred to a wonderful GP who took control of my situation and sent me for full blood works and a brain MRI.

Upon these results I was sent to see a nero doctor.
Multiple bright objects in the deep white matter where found it said on this report and further tests were needed.
My bloods came back where my cholesterol was at 240 and I was told I had to reduce this.
Seg Neutrophils was low at 30
Lymphocytes was high at 59
I was told not to worry about them!!! But they are not what they should be so why is that??? Again I was told not to worry.

I did tell the doctor that my glands on my throat were up, they were like two hard golf ball. The doctor felt them and it was noted but nothing was said.....why are they up I asked and again I was told it was nothing to worry about.

I had a VEP done and all was ok with that.
And a considered lumbar puncture was spoken about.

More bloods were done that the nero doctor wanted and they came back all ok. But I was still not well. So my lovely GP sent me for a spine,neck and another brain MRI.

This is what was found
Degenerative spondylopathy with chronic disc degeneration at various levels, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7 with prominent right sided disc osteophyte on C4-5 and C5-6.
Mild posterior displacement on the right C5 nerve root.
The right C6 nerve root may be impinged
The right C5 and C6 nerve roots maybe compromised
Disc bulging at C6/7
Questionable small hyperintense T2 lesion in the anterior aspect of the thoracic of the cord rostal to the C6-C7 disc space
Right sided T6/7 and T7/8 disc herniations with mass effect on the anterior cord surface and CSF space.
The right T6/7 and T7/8 nerve roots maybe compromised and clinical correlation is very important.
A focal area of hyperintence T2 signal in the anterior aspect of the cord surface just rostal to T6-T7 disc space. A focal myelopathic lesion cannot be excluded categorically. Demyelinative plaque?


The brain study demonstrated evidence of a multifocal deep white matter leukoencephalopathy in the periventricular and subcortical distribution
Some of the lesions are quite prominent especially on the right side.
Multifocal deep white matter disease in the supratentorial region maybe due to demyelinative or vascular pathology


The nero doctor saw the scan, as the report had not been drawn up by then and he told me there was nothing on there to answer for the symptoms I was having. He did say there was some disc bulging but again he said it wasn't the answer to my chronic back and neck pain, the tingling and numbness in my fingers, toes and at the back of my head or my leg weakness. He said the brain scan read the same as the last one so a lumbar puncture was to be carried out when he get back from his holiday. That will be carried out in about two weeks time.

So you can imagine my surprise when I pick up the written report and saw what was on there!!!! I made an appointment to see my GP immediately and he went through it with me.

I am now on at last... Arcxia 60mg once a day. Remember I have been in pain for nearly 3 months now, plus till this day,I have had no help for my blurred eye ( the pain has gone) that I still have that going on!!! The pills are not doing stacks for the pain as it is still quiet prominent. The doctor will revised the dosage after a couple of weeks he said. It just feels things are getting worse with each day that goes by at the moment even with being on the tablets. I am also having trouble swallowing sometimes now and my glands are still not yet back normal.

What do you think is going on here?? Do you think we are going in the right direction or do I need to change it and branch out to a couple of different doctors now with my back and MS problems?? Can the nero doctor do both for me???

Thank you for letting me burn your ear off here. I am just very tired now with trying to battle this 24/7 ( yes it keeps me wakes at night) and I am also tired from putting on a brave face in front of my family and friends.

Thank you for a wonderful forum where we can vent out our frustration.. it really is a great help.

Regards

[Lulu54]

Hi Deb,
Welcome to the MS forum at MedHelp.  You are perhaps are first UAE member here - so I'm very interested in how the health system there will take care of you.

It sounds like you have multiple issues going on, but I'm not a doctor.  I would defintely be talking about a neurosurgeon to check out the spinal problems.  And hopefully you can be treated by an MS neuro for your other symptoms.

I hope you will stay in touch here - hopefully someone with more concrete answers will come thorugh here and offer more advice that I am able to give.

my best,
Lulu

[KatsMom791]

The rad report you quoted indicates substantial difficulties in your cervical spine.  I am not a medical professional but had similar issues that needed surgical intervention on an immediate basis.  Please take your report to the nearest hospital with a university affiliation or get a stat appointment with a neurosurgeon specializing in the spine as soon as possible.  My issues created long term damage and the symptoms you discuss are quite similar to my progressive experience.  My best advise has been given...get a consult opinion from a neurosurgeon who works with these kinds of issues on a routine basis.