Conditions that mimic Multiple Scelrosis

[Kneedown]

I wonder if anyone can help me ?..... About 6 years ago I collapsed at home and was taken into hospital. I was given an MRI scan to try to evaluate what was happening, as well as a lumbar puncture. The MRi scan showed up areas of " De-mylination" which showed itself as white patches. I was informed at the time that this "could" be the on-set of MS.

In the end, I was informed that I had had an infection of the brain which had caused me to collapse.

All was going well until about 7 months ago....I started noticing a reduction in strength in both arms....as this continued, I strted experiencing pain in both feet....slurring in my speech and occasional choking.

I was referred back to the Neurogist who I have to say was very thorough. At the time he said that I may have MS but he wanted to carry out a few tests. He sent me for a further MRi and a lumbar puncture, bit of which came back clear ?.

I have now been told that I probably do not have MS........ My question is what is happening to me ?....are there any conditions that mimic MS ?..... My symptoms have all but cleared up now apart from a slight weakness in both arms and a slight lack of motor movement in both hands....

Any answers would be most definately appreciated...many thanks !!

[Kneedown]

Thankyou very much for replying. I have an appointment within the next 2 weeks to see my Neurolgist. I'll post the findings on here for you to see. Many thanks !

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. The conditions that could mimic multiple sclerosis depending on the clinical suspicion for other causes of your symptoms and the exam findings are B12 deficiency, thyroid deficiency, autoimmune panel looking for diseases like lupus, inflammatory markers like sedimentation rate, lyme disease, and RPR for syphilis. All of these can mimic MS.  Other tests that can be helpful include somatosensory evoked potentials especially if numbness and sensory change in the limbs are prominent symptoms. The normal MRIs and spinal tap are reassuring. Hope this helps. Take care.

[Kneedown]

Thanks for that...hope that isnt the case for me !

[sudio47]

Hello,
your symptoms sond exactly like mine. I was scared and going crazy becase all at once it would come over me, The weakness, my legs "going out from under me' but they would eventually come back. Just to lose them again. My handwriting was horrible. My memeory was bad too. My DR said it was Celiac DISEASE. Not sensitivity. The sensitvity I had ignored for so many years had causeed the vili in my lower colon to dye and I wasnt getting nutriants. I was starving even though I had recently put on 30 pounds. this was causing "problems" including demylation. My blood was also suffering and he suggested a few immunoglobulin infusions to help get things back on the right road while I get a ntrionist to help me start a completely gluten free diet. He also recommended me to a neourologist for a lower intestinal biopsy for insurance so they will pay for the II .(Immunoglobulin Infusion.) An Immunoglobulin Infusion is a bag od white cells by IV. It takes ONE THOSAND bags of red blood for one bag of white cells. They cenntrifuge it and take the cells from the plasma. Very costly. Many doners. Imagine 6 or 7 treatments? thats 6 or 7 thousand people helping just YOU. I am waiting for my appt with the neourologist and in the meantime have accepted the fact that I am in the 6% of Gluten sensitive people who react neurologically from gluten. I CAN NOT HAVE GLUTEN. The easiest way to avoid it is to avoid flour and sugar, and that is not funny. I have to eat healthy! not fair! There is my husband with a lean pocket and the pancakes, and I had a hanfull of peanuts and a gluten free blueberry bar. (not my 1st choise). Since I started a walking regime at my cono's gym (20 minutes 3x/week) and went gluten free, I have been symptom free. Its like I tought my legs a messege by walking on the euliptical. combined with no gluten it seems to be working...the thing is If I eat gluten, I will get worse, to the point of a wheelchair and a brain that is fried from malnutrition. from what I understan, If I am consistant and really really god about this the villi in my colen can come back in 2-3 years. Then I wont need II or IV bags of nutrients. My body isnt breaing down vitamins anymore either. I also use enemas to defacate going on 8 months now because of the neoropathy this caused. (Thats why we cant walk)...I cant even poop! the colon wont contract. scary. I cant say for sure you have this but you have MY SYMPTOMS. good luck!