Undiagnosed and questioning: normal MRI, but troubling MS symptoms?

[Hazeldell]

Hello, all!  I realize that this question has been asked before, but I'm hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction.  

I am 34 yo female with a busy life and some of the big life stressors in the last two years.  Three months ago, I had an episode of tremors in my right hand and arm.  I have some strange numbness and pins and needles in both arms and my left leg.  There is occasional weakness in my hands, but my gait is fine and I've passed all of my neuro exams.  I'm exhausted and have had some recent cognitive "fuzziness". I have trouble urinating.  My vision has been blurry and I suffer from vertigo. These symptoms happened in May and then again two weeks ago.  I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis ten years ago and my mother and grandmother have severe autoimmune disorders (grandma with MS and mom with lupus).  I eat really well, exercise, meditate, see a therapist, have a happy marriage and good friends- all of which manage my stress.  

My PCP sent me to a neurologist who did a nerve conduction study on my arm and didn't find anything.  He sent me for a MRI, which was normal.  He told me not to worry about these symptoms- that I needed to reduce stress. He gave me a prescription for Ativan (!), but told me to come back in three months, because there's no good explanation for my symptoms.  He suggested maybe a B12 deficiency, although my diet is excellent (and contains meat and a daily multivitamin.)

I am trying to figure out if this is similar to anyone else's experience?  Does this sound like possible MS?  Is it possible that I could have these symptoms, but a normal MRI?  If this isn't MS, does anyone have other ideas?

Thanks for your help.  I appreciate your time.

[cheesymum]

Hi and welcome!  I have what I (un)affectionately call UWS - undiagnosed weirdness syndrome - but it behaves an awful lot like MS.  I'm currently seeing a neuro to determine what it truly is.  I have had clear MRI's of both the brain and the C-spine.  I have not have the T-spine MRI or the LP yet.  Those are coming.

I wanted to point you to this health page:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/How-Can-a-Person-with-MS-Have-a-Negative-MRI/show/161?cid=36

if you have not read it yet.  Our health pages here at the Forum are a phenomenal source of information.  I have read them all at least a couple different times.  I would suggest you check them out, too.  :)

Again, welcome!  

[patientnurse]

Hi! I recently posed a smiliar question on here too. I have been in neuro limboland for over a year now, with no clear cut diagnosis. We go back and forth between is it Lupus, is it MS? I can tell you that getting a MS diagnosis is one of exclusion of all other disorders/diseases. So you would have to go through a pretty extensive workup to rule EVERYTHING else out. And even then you still may not get a clear cut answer.

I also have clear MRI's and a negative LP, but SO SO MANY neuro symptoms and abnormals on my neuro exams. Recently added the memory and cognition problems,vision issues, and inability to stand. So maybe I can get an answer now.

Don't give up! Ask that they do every test in the book. And also ask that your MRIs are done according to MS protocol. I'm sure others here can help you more, that's just my two cents.

Best Wishes,
Chanda

[Hazeldell]

I should also add that the MRI was done on an .7t open mri, which might make a difference?  Thanks!