Could I have a brain or nervous system damage?

[jr991]

For the past 8 years or so I have had some very troublesome symptoms which have really impacted my quality of life.

My symptoms are as follows:

• Constant 24/7 spaced out feeling, or "in a fog"
• Concentration is terrible, brain fog all the time
• Slight dizziness, lightheaded, off balance feeling
• Trouble concentrating
• Eyes feel weird all the time, like I'm staring off in a daze
• No energy, yawning all the time
• Anxiety, periods of depression

These symptoms continued to get worse over the years and then a little over a year ago I developed new symptoms

• Eye floaters
• Eye pain
• Light sensitivity
• Seeing After images (image burn in)
• Tinnitus
• Dull ear ache feeling off and on
• Muscle twitching, weakness and pain

Maybe there are different causes to all these symptoms but the biggest thing I keep thinking about is it possible that I have a brain injury or damage to my nervous system?  When I was younger I used to huff gasoline and I had no idea how dangerous it was.  I don't need a lecture on how stupid that was.  I also have a history of alcohol and benzodiazapine abuse.  I have been totally off all medications and alcohol for over a year now but no improvement in any of these symptoms.

I have had a CT and MRI of the brain and it says everything is normal.  Is it possible to that my stupidity when I was younger has damaged me and is causing these problems.   Also, if that is the case should this symptoms have shown up right away or could they develop years later.  Can such damage continue to progress or would it just stay the same?

Since I have had a clean MRI, is it still possible to have a brain injury or something... how would I get tested for a brain injury?

Thank-you.

[jr991]

Thank-you Dr Sharma,

My neurologist ruled out MS because of the clean MRI and in the report back to my doctor said that all my symptoms were dillusional in nature.  I should really get a second opionion.  I wonder is a lot of my symptoms have built up over time because of major anxiety.  Just not sure what would cause this never ending spaced out feeling that I've had for so many years.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. You will need an MS evaluation. MS is a chronic demyelinating disorder where the disease phase is characterized by active phase and remissions. It has multiple symptoms and signs and is a diagnosis of exclusion. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are loss of balance, muscle spasms, numbness in any area, problems with walking and coordination, tremors in one or more arms and legs. Bowel and bladder symptoms include frequency of micturition, urine leakage, eye symptoms like double vision uncontrollable rapid eye movements, facial pain, painful muscle spasms, tingling, burning in arms or legs, depression, dizziness, hearing loss, fatigue etc. The treatment is essentially limited to symptomatic therapy so the course of action would not change much whether MS has been diagnosed or not. Apart from clinical neurological examination, MRI shows MS as paler areas of demyelination, two different episodes of demyelination separated by one month in at least two different brain locations. Spinal tap is done and CSF electrophoresis reveals oligoclonal bands suggestive of immune activity, which is suggestive but not diagnostic of MS. Demyelinating neurons, transmit nerve signals slower than non-demyelinated ones and can be detected with EP tests. These are visual evoked potentials, brain stem auditory evoked response, and somatosensory evoked potential. Slower nerve responses in any one of these is not confirmatory of MS but can be used to complement diagnosis along with a neurological examination, medical history and an MRI in addition, a spinal tap. You also need to be checked for small vessel ischemic disease, cerebral ischemia etc for these MRI lesions. Therefore, it would be prudent to consult your neurologist with these concerns. Hope this helps. Take care.