OK now my cousin has similar symptoms as me and he doesn't have MS either?

[artspaz]

I don't understand it. My cousin didn't have the same exact symptoms but very similar. His optic nerve was inflamed, he had trembling all over his body, difficulty walking, vertigo, loss of periferal vision, his spinal tap was abnormal, they saw one or two lessions in his spin and non in his brain. When I first started this THREE YEARS AGO, I had vertigo, shaking vision, difficulty walking, tembling all over my body. The doctor thought he might have seen a lesion in my neck (same place as Kyle), but again nothing. I started by only having painful muscles spasms in my neck, headache and cramping in my leg making it difficult to walk once a month, but now without medication, it is every day, but intermitently. I'm on 5 different medications to treat this, 3 of them are listed on the MS society website to treat the disease. I was hoping that if he could find an answer, it might help me. He's frustrated, I'm frustrated, I wish I could help him, but I'm in the same boat.

[ewford]

Keep trying Pam.  They will listen sometime.  But I think pam might be right to look in that direction of Lyme and/or Mycoplasmas.  Since "nobody knows" what causes MS, and yet there are overlapping symptoms AND they KNOW what Mycoplasmas and Lyme disease can do, I'd look in that direction.  I have helped too many "MS" sufferers for it NOT to an accurate assessment.  You might want to get further testing done, like Pam suggests.  If not there is a possibility that you and yours will get worse.  Antibiotics can make it go away, but doctors wont tell you that.....

[LisaJF]

Thank god the pain medication is making it manageable...What ever happened to making it go away? :)

Sounds like fun with the botox injection.  NOT.  

Keep letting us know how you're doing ok?

Lisa

[artspaz]

Oh thank you. The pain meds make it manageable. I have my good days and my bad days. Lack of sleep, water and stress seem to make it worse. I'm supposed to get a botox injection into my shoulder pretty soon. We shall see.

[LisaJF]

Myofacial pain syndrome is no picnic that's for sure.  When do you go to see your Neurologist again? Perhaps you would want to ask him/her that question in regard to is this the diagnosis or final diagnosis you're giving me?

I hope in some way you're controlling your pain issues with this.  I'd  hate to think you're laying in bed crying out endlessly without any relief.

Please let us know how you're doing!

Lisa

[drsdonthelp]

I was in the same boat as you for quite some time as well. Having all of the tests and bloodwork done, MRI's clear, but EEG's and VEP abnormal. I had a numerous amount of symptoms that were almost identical to MS. I searched and searched and landed here on this wonderful forum.

After hearing from so many people here that there are other diseases out there that mimic MS, I started to dig alittle deeper.  Just recently, I went to see a LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Dr.) and am now being treated for Lyme Disease and two of its co - infections, babesia and bartonella. If you are noticing that you and your cousin could be experiencing the same symptoms, it could be possible that more than one family member could have Lyme. Do you live in an area that is endemic for Lyme? Have you and your cousin gone in wooded areas together? Do you have pets that could bring ticks into your home?
It is amazing how much MS and Lyme are alike! I hope you can find out as to what is going on, Limboland is the worst part, but when you finally get your answer, its such a relief :) If you get a chance, check out my journals of my timeline and Lyme symptom list.
I hope this helps!!
Good Luck,
Pam :)

[artspaz]

My new and third neurologist thinks it is myofacial syndrome, which basically is muscle cramping with pain. I'm not sure if this is my final diagonosis or not.

[sllowe]

Artspaz,

Not all lesions are MS, nor are all similar symptoms MS.

I echo Lisa's solid advice regarding testing, and asking the doctor for an explanation.

We have some great discussions on differential diagnosis. If you use the search feature and type the "differential"  you should find some of them.

Hope this helps...your aggrevation is understandable :)

-shell

[LisaJF]

Hi there.  I can see you've been on these forums for quite some time. You're a veteran.

It seems to me you've been suspecting MS but your Neurologist nor MS Specialist feels it is not from your older posts.

I read that your MRI's came back normal (brain/spine), your LP came back normal too.  You've had EMG and EEG and that was WNL.  

Did your Neuro do evoked potential tests?  VEP and BAER?  If so, what were those results?

Did your doctor(s) ever test you for B12 deficiency?  That could cause some peripheral paresthesias and as far as muscle cramping, lack of certain electrolytes can cause that too.  

There are many diseases that can mimic MS and it is your doctor(s) job and/or duty to find out what it is.

What have your doctors said in regard to your symptoms and the causes of them?  Do they have an explanation?

Sorry you're going through all of this.

Lisa