Aa
new here
just looking to see if you folks can help me. Please tell me if this sounds like MS. now mind you- I see a neurologist regularly for these symptoms......i'm thinking for my own reassurance, because she specializes in MS and neuromuscular disorders...and says "I will not run tests on you becuase i know based on clinical exam that you are ok, you do not have ms/als or any other disorder other then chronic worry and anxiety." I am quite the hypochondriac.
here are my symptoms----
tingling/numbness/prickly/itchy sensations---all over my body. it is not in one limb, or one spot, sometimes it will sit in one spot for an hour or two=--then one minute its on my leg, the next minute its on my neck...then face...then hand etc etc.....
also muscle twitching... all over.
my psychologist, neurologist, and gp are all saying anxiety/over active nervous system. I'm afraid they are missing a diagnosis, and are just shooing me off as "anxious/panic". i'm on a slew of medications that could be over reacting with eachother also, so im going to see a psychopharm. expert for medication management.
please help--- do theses symptoms sound like ms. ??
here are my symptoms----
tingling/numbness/prickly/itchy sensations---all over my body. it is not in one limb, or one spot, sometimes it will sit in one spot for an hour or two=--then one minute its on my leg, the next minute its on my neck...then face...then hand etc etc.....
also muscle twitching... all over.
my psychologist, neurologist, and gp are all saying anxiety/over active nervous system. I'm afraid they are missing a diagnosis, and are just shooing me off as "anxious/panic". i'm on a slew of medications that could be over reacting with eachother also, so im going to see a psychopharm. expert for medication management.
please help--- do theses symptoms sound like ms. ??
And yes lulu,,,, you really hit the nail on the head with that one! I like to be on the go more then resting because that is when I feel most of my anxiety and bodily sensations etc!
Yes, that is what they are basically looking at...(anxiety/psychosomatic etc). I JUST REALLY HOPE they are correct. I have heard ...stories on the internet (yes, googling is no good either lol)....that a few people were shood off as anxious or stressed out or whatever--and then ended up with a life threatening illness like als or something. *sigh*
oh well one day at a time i guess. thank you for your response, it was very helpful.
oh well one day at a time i guess. thank you for your response, it was very helpful.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome,
I'm a keep it real kind of gal, so i'll be honestly candid and hope you understand where i'm coming from and dont take any offence from my humble opinion.
You say "I am quite the hypochondriac" as in factual not tongue in cheek, that alone is rather an honest assessment of your self, I respect that honesty.
MS presenting in the manner you describe, would be so far out side of normal (for MS) that statistically an MS mimic IS much more likely than even a dx of atypical MS. What is much more likely is your self acknowledged health anxiety and I really do think that the more likely possibilities should be explored fully. You should not discount the possibility of the drugs you are taking for your mental health condition, as you say "i'm on a slew of medications" these medications could also be adding to your overall experience. What you describe are common enough sx of many mental health medications, have you looked at the side affects of the drugs you take, as well as the combined affects?
I'm really not attempting to be dismissive of your experience, that is far from my point. My own young son experienced tremor and an increase of anxiety whilst taking medications for anxiety, it does happen often enough to be a valid possibility. A young man close to our family experienced muscle spasms, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, cognitive decline, myoclonic jerks, dilusions, anxiety etc etc whilst on medication for depression, it all disapeared when his medications changed. I am not saying this is deffinitely your situation, just that because you are taking these type of medications it is a very high possible and it should be fully explored.
There is a mental health condition called conversion disorder, eg people with health anxiety when it is 'extreme', can experience say a headache and because of their health anxiety jump towards the conclusion that they have a brain tumor. The more they read about the sx of a brain tumor the more sx they get, which fuels their health anxiety even more. Test results that clear them of the serious condition, doesn't help them feel any better because their sx are being generated by their mental health or extreme health anxiety.
People with this condition often experience a few of the more serious medical conditions, with out ever getting diagnostic confirmation. What ever medical condition they fucus on has their full attention, their sx match that condition until their focus changes to another medical condition and the cycle continues. Now I am only bringing this condition to your attention because you should be aware that this extended type of health anxiety exists.
Health anxiety is a real problem, difficult to treat sometimes a lot harder when it is extreme (btw I doubt you are extreme) please try to give your self a break if your anxiety does turn out to have caused these problems and if its got nothing to do with it, then at the very minimum at least you have honestly explored and excluded the possibility.
Anyway, I hope you find the answers soon!!
HUGS.........JJ
I'm a keep it real kind of gal, so i'll be honestly candid and hope you understand where i'm coming from and dont take any offence from my humble opinion.
You say "I am quite the hypochondriac" as in factual not tongue in cheek, that alone is rather an honest assessment of your self, I respect that honesty.
MS presenting in the manner you describe, would be so far out side of normal (for MS) that statistically an MS mimic IS much more likely than even a dx of atypical MS. What is much more likely is your self acknowledged health anxiety and I really do think that the more likely possibilities should be explored fully. You should not discount the possibility of the drugs you are taking for your mental health condition, as you say "i'm on a slew of medications" these medications could also be adding to your overall experience. What you describe are common enough sx of many mental health medications, have you looked at the side affects of the drugs you take, as well as the combined affects?
I'm really not attempting to be dismissive of your experience, that is far from my point. My own young son experienced tremor and an increase of anxiety whilst taking medications for anxiety, it does happen often enough to be a valid possibility. A young man close to our family experienced muscle spasms, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, cognitive decline, myoclonic jerks, dilusions, anxiety etc etc whilst on medication for depression, it all disapeared when his medications changed. I am not saying this is deffinitely your situation, just that because you are taking these type of medications it is a very high possible and it should be fully explored.
There is a mental health condition called conversion disorder, eg people with health anxiety when it is 'extreme', can experience say a headache and because of their health anxiety jump towards the conclusion that they have a brain tumor. The more they read about the sx of a brain tumor the more sx they get, which fuels their health anxiety even more. Test results that clear them of the serious condition, doesn't help them feel any better because their sx are being generated by their mental health or extreme health anxiety.
People with this condition often experience a few of the more serious medical conditions, with out ever getting diagnostic confirmation. What ever medical condition they fucus on has their full attention, their sx match that condition until their focus changes to another medical condition and the cycle continues. Now I am only bringing this condition to your attention because you should be aware that this extended type of health anxiety exists.
Health anxiety is a real problem, difficult to treat sometimes a lot harder when it is extreme (btw I doubt you are extreme) please try to give your self a break if your anxiety does turn out to have caused these problems and if its got nothing to do with it, then at the very minimum at least you have honestly explored and excluded the possibility.
Anyway, I hope you find the answers soon!!
HUGS.........JJ
No, it doesn't sound like MS nor did mine (just a horrid backache which is still here today). So just because the symptoms don't match MS doesn't mean it isn't. However, I do know from experience that anxiety can make pain worse...much worse. Are you on any medications for it?
A Neurologist can tell a lot from the basic neurological exam. They can tell where damage is in the Central Nervous System. The tests just back what they see from these tests up.
If feel in your gut something is wrong by all means get a second opinion. MS is hard to diagnose and no one can guess over the computer if you have it or not.
It is not fatal, except in extremely rare cases. Many people live pretty normal lives.
My basic Neurological exam, reflexes and such showed right away something was wrong.
Good luck.
Alex
If feel in your gut something is wrong by all means get a second opinion. MS is hard to diagnose and no one can guess over the computer if you have it or not.
It is not fatal, except in extremely rare cases. Many people live pretty normal lives.
My basic Neurological exam, reflexes and such showed right away something was wrong.
Good luck.
Alex
Hi Willy and welcome. You have done a very good job of describing you symptoms and the doctors' responses.
The all over sensations are not consistent with MS. we get those numbness/tingling/jumpy sensations in the places where the nerve signal transmissions are disrupted.
Our bodies are incredibly noisy machines. When you lay down at night, turn off the lights and shut off all the external stimulus and noise, you might be surprised what you hear and what you feel in your body. When we become aware that something unusual might be happening to us, these body noises become even more noticeable to us. That might be what is happening to you.
I'm no medical expert, but what you describe doesn't initially sound like MS. Please talk to the doctors about treating your anxiety and see if that gives you relief.
Feel free to come back if you think of additional questions.
be well, Lulu
The all over sensations are not consistent with MS. we get those numbness/tingling/jumpy sensations in the places where the nerve signal transmissions are disrupted.
Our bodies are incredibly noisy machines. When you lay down at night, turn off the lights and shut off all the external stimulus and noise, you might be surprised what you hear and what you feel in your body. When we become aware that something unusual might be happening to us, these body noises become even more noticeable to us. That might be what is happening to you.
I'm no medical expert, but what you describe doesn't initially sound like MS. Please talk to the doctors about treating your anxiety and see if that gives you relief.
Feel free to come back if you think of additional questions.
be well, Lulu
Yes, i had an mri 10 months ago,,,"unremarkable" all clinical tests at the neuros' office were perfect, good reflexes. I'm stumped...but my drs are not, they claim anxiety/over active nervous system/med side effects. does MS ususally present ALL OVER like this? so many sensory issues at once all over..subsides certain amounts of the day...but is always back.
SORRY for all the replies LOL--- but i know ms is hard to diagnose...is my neuro being incompitent by not running tests?? even tho she is a MS specialist should i get a 2nd opinion??
also, i must mention--that 8 out of 10 mornings, i wake up with stiff, sore ankles and heels....not sure if thats spacisity?
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