Lumbar Puncture ?

[lsmelvin]

Starting Sept. 2004 I had a sudden vision problem. I was in a store and thought a light had blown out as there was a shadow to my right. When I went outside the shadow was still there. Went to an eye doctor (for the 1st time ever) and was told my right side vision was diminished and that I had very large optic nerves, which could be normal for me. Eventually the vision returned. I have had episodes of blurred vision in right eye lasting only 2 days. Sometimes I see "smoke" off and on through out several days.
MRIs showed bone spurs, protruding disc, but no lesions.
I have had people ask me why I am limping, but I was not aware I was limping.
I do get shooting pains that shoot from my foot up my leg. This seems to go in spurts, lasting weeks and disappearing. It can wake me from a sound sleep. Once woke with leg pain so bad I called out. Then limped for several days but no pain.
Shooting pain also occurs in my chin and other random spots.
Often lose my balance and walk into door jams. Difficulty maintaining balance in grass or uneven  areas.

I get what I can only call little "earthquakes" in my head. These can occur any time. Once occurring  for 39 days straight, many times a day. It literally feels as if something shook my brain.
My primary doctor wants me to have a lumbar puncture. I am not sure about this.
My questions are this:
What can a lumbar puncture show and is it a reliable test?
What test do you think would be helpful in order to get an accurate diagnosis?
I have tested positive for Lyme's disease in that past, aren't my symptoms normal for chronic Lyme's disease?
Thank you for your time, it is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Laura

[Guitar_grrrl]

Oh! And I was diagnosed with a negative LP.

[Guitar_grrrl]

LP may or may not get you any closer to a diagnosis.  A repeat MRI could, though, especially when compared to your baseline MRI done in 2004.  This could satisfy the DS/DT criteria.  If your neuro is a good listener, and does a thorough neurological exam, you should have answers, soon.

Keep us posted!

[lsmelvin]

Thank you to everyone who posted!
I was hoping one of the doctors would give some input, but I guess not.
I have watched many of the procedures I have had done. When they put a pic line in for me when I had mastoiditis (twice) I watched that while they were doing it.

[jenphilly]

The fluor is much like the x-ray, when you're done and are moved, you can literally see the screen which will show your back and the needle...  kinda cool if you have a strong stomach :)   I found it interesting!!

Jen

[michelleric]

For me, my ms neurologist, decided not to do the LP.  She said she rarely orders them, as they have a large incidence of false negatives.  She didn't want to "waste" my time and money to have a negative test.

[lsmelvin]

Thank you for the reply. I don't limp all the time, just when I have the earthquake sensation in my head.
Yes 2004 was long ago, but I still have times my vision is bluurred or I see "smoke" all around me but every one else in the room sees nothing. I have trouble seeing in the dark, certain lights, like in wal-mart cause my vision to act up. (I think it may be the fluorescent lighting)

[lsmelvin]

Thank you for your reply. I will ask for the fluoroscope, I didn't know about that.
I wonder if it is similar to the ex-rays they do when they do Injections in my spine? I am not afraid of the LP since I have had many spine injections in the past due to arthritis in my back. I am glad you have found the answers so that you can be treated.

[jenphilly]

I can only share my experience...

Based on bloodwork, MRIs, presentation and the fact we have horses, my first neurologist was just so so positive I had CNS lyme...  So positive that he got me started on rocephin.  But my primary doctor and the infectiuous disease doc they sent me to had the reaction that if it was all lyme, it was the most impressive lyme ever seen.   It was the infectiuous disease doc that literally begged me to have the LP done.  

Yes the test has some risk, but so does getting in a car or on a plane...  If they need you to have an LP to help with clarifying things, then demand they do the LP under fluoroscope....  under fluor allows the neurologist or whatever doc is doing the puncture, literally looks at your spine and places the needle in the exact and safe spot..  

The LP is what cleared up things for my case...  and honestly it was a blesssing for me to have it done because they did the picc line for the rocephin at the same time as the LP.  I was on rocephin about two weeks and had the worst side effects, almost ended up in the hospital over it.  The day I went in (about 10 days later) my results happened to have just come in and showed the bands.  

Having an LP is not needed for everyone, but in some more frustrating presentations (like me), it was the key to the puzzle.  I had 6 bands for past  but only 1 for current presented in bloodwork, which many doctors will say does not confirm lyme in the system.  The LP also included a lyme PCR (think that was the name), which tested for actual lyme DNA in my system and there is none...  so I am truly lyme free and all this was always MS...  

No one can tell you yes or no about having an LP, its a very personal decision and you need to weigh the pros and cons for you specific situation.  I am only sharing how it helped with me...  

I wish you the best in finding an answer....  

Hugs,

Jen

[Gio77Italy]

you could do EMG to the legs, since you're limping.

Lumbar Puncture is a invasive test it is not risk-free. it can give the Doctor some hints on what the problem might be but likely not to give definitive answers.

2004 is a long way back. what are you experiencing now and when did current problems begin? what blood tests did you take and what were the results?

[kwarendorf]

I can only speak about what LP's can show in relation to MS. Typically they are looking for oligoclonal bands to be present in the cerebral spinal fluid but not in a blood sample (serum) taken at the same time. O-bands are a type of protein organization. If they appear in the CSF and not the serum they can confirm MS. I'm not sire how CSF is used in conjunction with other disease diagnosis.

Kyle