Do I have MS

Hello,  Twenty years ago, I was stung by a yellow jacket bee.  For 6 months,  I suffered fatigue, numbness and/or burning in limbs, confusion, enlarged right pupil.  Negative for lyme, lupus,Hodgkins, had  MRI for MS, no lesions.  I slowly recovered  to about 90%.  But since then,  these problems rear their ugly head every  year or so.   Then most of the above symptoms occur.  I also have to add trigeminal neuralgia, double vision and/or blurred vision. About 5 years ago,  I had seen a physical therapist for minor hip complaints.  While showing me exercises, he asked me why I had not told him that I have MS. I told him that I did not have MS, and he said I certainly did.   He referred me to neurology. Again, an MRI was negative for lesions.  No diagnosis.   I have done quite well since then....until two weeks ago.  
     I was picking stones from the creekbed of our  farm to use in a fireplace I have designed and am in the process of building.  The next day I awoke with blurred vision and muscle complaints, no balance, unable to hardly lift my feet, let alone a stone and a trowel.  I live an enviable life, great marriage, very  little stress, financially well-off, our church organist,  and at a loss as to the cause of these problems.  I am the optimist always looking for the best,  but wondering if it is time to seriously look at MS.  Since these latest problems have gone on for two weeks, I plan to see a neurologist again.  Should we be looking at more than MS?  Thank you for any advise!

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that primarily affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves from the eye, the optic nerves). Symptoms may be mild to severe, ranging from tingling and numbness to paralysis. There is not one test alone or one symptom that can diagnose MS, but there are well-established criteria that help neurologists make the diagnosis. These include taking a thorough history, doing a thorough physical exam, conducting an MRI of the brain and sometimes the spine, and sometimes ancillary testing such as lumbar puncture and evoked potentials. If an MRI of the brain and spine is normal, the diagnosis of MS becomes highly unlikely.

I agree that you should follow up with a neurologist for evaluation.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.