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Avatar universal

MS or something else?

I really hope that someone can help me!  I am 27yrs old and have always been a pretty healthy person.  About 3 1/2 weeks ago, I woke up and had tingling sensations in both of my arms (elbows down to fingers and only on the top side of the arm, not the palm side)  and in both legs (knees down to toes and again, top side only).  A few days later I noticed some strong neck pain right where the neck and head come together.  I have been seen by several physicians and I have an appointment with a neurologist in Sept.  Every physician that I have seen so far has run me through a series of tests to check my strength, eyes, coordination and balance and my ability to sense pain, hot, cold etc.  They even did blood work to check for diabetes, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiency and cbc.  An x-ray of the cervical spine didnt show anything.   Everything has been normal so far and none of these physicians seem concerned about MS.  Ive been seeing a chiropractor for my back.  He thinks its possible that I may have pinced off some nerve passages in the neck and that could be causing the tingling.  After a few treatments with him, the tingling has gone down some but has not completely gone away.  Within the last couple days, I have noticed some very mild tingling in the right side of my face (cheek to chin area).  I have been very stressed out and find it hard to concentrate on my family.  Could you please give me some sort of an idea of what this could possible be?  Everyone has said that I dont show symptoms of MS but possible symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.  Could this also be possible?  Any help you can give is greatly appreciated
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Avatar universal
I'm not sure if this is the correct time or place to post some questions that I have so please excuse me if I am out of line.  I know what your feeling of panic feels like.  I was diagnosed with optic neuritis afew days ago and have to wait for two weeks to see the optic nerve specialist.  I am pretty scared that I might have ms as well.  I do have the symptom of fatigue but do not yet show any of the others symptoms listed.  You mentioned that you were tested for thyroid disease.  I have hypothyroidism and am not sure if this could be the cause of the neuritis.  I saw in the post that 30% of optic nueritis patients go on to get ms.  I have seen #'s as high as 70%.  Any facts you can provide would be greatly apprecaited.
Tom
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Avatar universal
i don't have the answer, i wish i did i have some what the same thing knot in back next to shoulder below neck and tingling going down my arm and fingers
i have had xrays mri chiropractor treatmeants antiinflammatoids still no real relief
my email is ***@**** if you find out something positive
if you want to leave your email address i will let you know what we find out from a nerve conduction test which is coming next
thanks and God bless you
mf
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Avatar universal
Hi!  I have been scared also because I've been reading up on MS.  For the past few months I've had a tingling sensation in myt head.  It seems to really bother me when I hear something emotional.  And since I have been reading MS, the bottom of my right foot has started tingling.  I am seeing a neurologist in May.
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Avatar universal
Unable to Dx son

4/23/00

My 34 year old son has had progressive symptoms which culminated about 2 months ago after about 7months - one year brewing:
  Trouble Swallowing
  Severe headaches
  Left-sided weakness
  Chest pain
  Breathing difficulty
  Heartburn

Swallowing controlled by Reglan
Headaches controlled by Elavil-type med & Motrin
Heartburn controlled by Prilosec
Breathing:  CPAP machine at nite; Oxygen during the day, if needed

All tests have proven normal:  Brain MRI, Spinal Cord MRI, EMG, EMG of Phrenic nerve, blood tests, CT scans, etc.  His Neurologist is stumped while his breathing gets worse -- PFT tests -- 58% capacity.  Diaphragm weak.  Told to just get out there and walk.  

He tries to be as active as possible -- breathing becoming more difficult.  He joined a gym -- allowed by gym to work out 2 minutes per machine.  His blood pressure goes down - then spikes.  His heart rate goes down.  He is weakening.  He is tired.

Before all this started about 9 months - on year ago, he could bench 200lbs and play men's pickup ice hockey for 2-3hours at a time, worked two jobs.  He is about 206lbs.  So far, no weight loss.  Pulmonologist told him not to gain weight.

He is being followed by a Neurologist & a new Pulmonologist.  He is being sent for a second f/u Cardiology evaluation.  His neurologist is stumped but does not suspect ALS as he has gotten "objectively better".  Will be seeing neuro again next week.

Would appreciate some direction if you have some thoughts.

   many thanx!

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Avatar universal
I hope whoever you wrote your posting to has answered you.

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
I can't be I just read what I have been experiencing the last few weeks. I also had blood tests (looked o.k.) now i am going to see the nuerologist. The more I panick the worse it seems.
These symptoms mimick so many other diseases. Please reply to what you have found out. Your replys were from August 99.
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Avatar universal
Dear Brenda:

Your symptoms might be many different things.  I would see a neurologist and begin a thorough workup.

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
I am having severe lower back pain, with pain into the buttocks and weak leg's , also my neck is very painful, my eyes are blurred and i have a headache constantly.  I have muscle spasms in my right leg so bad I can not even hold my leg down with both of my arms. I also have muscle spasms in my right arm. Could someone please tell me if this could possibly be ms.

they have ran blood work, exray's and physical thereapy now for about 5 months, my condition is getting woarse instead of better

thank you
brenda
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Avatar universal
Dear David:

I would speak with your neurologist as there are some medications that might help you.

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
i feel isolated with my ms symptoms is there any treatment available to ease the numbness and tingling in my hands and feet

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Avatar universal
Doctor and/or Nancy
You've just described what I am going through.  I am so sorry that I didn't find this site much earlier.  Can you update me on your situation.  Let me know how the meds have worked.  My neurologist believes the symptoms will go away once the medication kicks in.  I am currently on Zoloft and T... something or other to help me sleep.  I am so anxious.  The neurologist has ruled out Tumour, MS and stroke.  But since I started complaining about the numbness and the tingling and burning sensation, he has opted to send me for evoked potential testing.  This of course has hightened my anxiety as well.  Any help you can offer would be great. Katherine
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Avatar universal
Tim
What happened to Nancy?
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Avatar universal
Dear Sharon:

Your symptoms are fairly non-descript for a particular disease process.  The short duration of your symptoms makes the diagnosis difficult to give a direction for you to think about.  I would see a neurologist.  Take the results of all your tests, get a good neurological exam and see what he/she thinks.  

sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
Approximately 5 weeks ago I woke up at night with severe pins and needles feeling in my right foot toe area.  It would occur every few nights.  Then a week later I experienced it while sitting and it would happen every night before falling asleep no matter how I lay.  I went to the doctor and she order blood work which showed normal results.  In the meantime I have been experiencing the pins and needle sensation in the left foot (not as severe) and tingling feeling in various areas of my body and headaches in the temple area.  I had an EMG 2 days ago which the doctor performing the test informally told me that it appeared that I didn't have any nerve damage in my feet. I do have some neck pain which I think is a result of a car accident 4 years ago and my right hip show early degeneration of the cartiliage which gives me hip pain.  Any ideas what could be happening?
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Avatar universal
I can't tell you why, sorry.

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
Dr. prescribed something for motion sickness. Called back and again nurse said Dr. prescribed prednisone pack for one week. No changed so called back and once again nurse handled it and said Dr. upped Prednisone dosage for next two weeks.  Still having some eye movement and loss of vision so called back and nurse said she knew Dr. would tell me to go see a eye Dr. that was an MD.  Neuro said was not Optic Neuritis as this was a painful condition and the center of your eye focus would be dark.

Went in to see my long time eye phys. who is an MD and a surgeon and he said the nerve  on my left eye was creamish colored which to him indicated ON but he was confused as my right eye also showed this.  I told him why my Neuro did not think it would be ON as I had no pain and center of vision was not black and he said ON does not have to be painful nor the center of vision black.  Why do most Neuro's say this????
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Avatar universal
I have a definite visual  diff. in my left eye from my last exacerbation that has lasted 3 months.  Fatigue, weakness, imbalnce, lack of leg control for a few moments but often, left eye see's like looking thru a sunglass and things are much more blurred, dimmer i. e. colors,clouds are gray in left eye but white in right etc.  Neuro has been treating me thru his nurse thru the phone, put me on med for stomach due to lack of balance
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Avatar universal
couldnt get through to you on your email address.  So far everything is testing out normal.  My neurologist states its not a neurological problem as far as hes concerned.  A brain MRI showed up normal.  In the mean time, my symptoms have gotten worse.  I now get tingling and burning sensations throughout the body, and sometimes my right arm will feel really heavy and can cramp.  The doctors think it my be anxiety so they have put me on zoloft and Ativan.  I go in for a EMG next week and then I see another neurologist in 2 weeks.  Send me your email address again.  Thanks for staying in touch
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Avatar universal
How are things going? Do you have any answers yet? Just checking in. YOU can email me at Z_I_L_C_H***@**** (this is an anonymous email address)
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Avatar universal
Dear Nancy:

It is almost impossible to tell you the wide range of things that can give you paraesthesias as you describe.  You need to sit down with your neurologist and person-to-person have your situation explained to you.  The internet is really made for this sort of thing as without actually doing the neurological exam, getting a detailed history, seeing the work up, it is impossible to tell someone they have a particular disease.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
I am nearly off of the higher dose of Prednisone and starting to realize just how bad off I am now because with the Prednisone I feel so much better!  Wonder what does this?  I have had three Avonex shots so far but this visual exacerbation was already in progress when I started.  

I posted on MGH forum and got a reply that  "Predisone is not recommended for On as it is suggested that oral predisone increases the risk of a repeat ON.  Recommended that one take IV Solumedrol."

Is there anything to this?
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Avatar universal
Nancy,
I hope you read my previous post.  I can't offer an explanations for your symptoms, but I really can empathize with your anxiety.  If you would like to email me, I'm at ***@****.  It might help to talk to someone who has experienced the anxiety and the waiting -- I know how hard it is.  Please feel free to write me.
Robin
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Avatar universal
Im having an extremely bad day today.  My arm and hands as well as my legs and feet are tingling really bad.  My head and right side of my face are also tingling (kind of a burning sensation)  What could possible be wrong with me?  Right now I am so scarred!  I dont see a doctor again until tomorrow and then my CT scan is scheduled in the pm  I think they are ordering the CT scan just  as "ruling out" test.  If these arent signs and symptoms of MS, the what could possible be wrong with me?!?
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Avatar universal
Nancy,

I know it is hard to maintain yourself when things start happening to your body that you dont understand.  I fully can relate to that.  I have been in the process of diagnoses now for 1.7 years.  I have myasthenia gravis antibodies and a borderline single fiber emg.  I have lost my lower reflexes and have a small amount in the arms.  Recently, I found out that I lost my gag reflex.  I have pins and needles in feet, lower legs, and hands.  I have had muscle weakness, which didnt start until April 99.  I have had right sided hemiparesis, and episodes where my gums went numb along with areas of my face.  I am currently experiencing numbness in my gums and face again.  I have numbness in my lower legs, feet, inner thighs, outer left buttocks, inner buttocks and upper to mid level back. Oh, not to forget the ice pick feeling that I have experienced in my lower right calf since Sunday.  I have asked for a temporary treatment of mg to see if that would help, but my neurologist will not, until he gets a definitive diagnoses as he feels two processes are going on and does not want the other process to be masked by medication.  So basically I have been living a nightmare with at least some definitive test answers regarding the mg, but not for the other symptoms that are not classic with mg.  What I have learned and am still learning, is that unless you get a grip on yourself, you will just keep stumbling and causing yourself more anxiety that you should not have to deal with.  It is hard not to worry, I know, worry is my middle name, but there has to be a stopping point, otherwise, it is going to affect your symptoms and your health in a negative way.  Let them do the tests, and let them rule out and rule in anything that they find from them and your clinical examination.  It is hard for the physicians on here to determine much more than what symptoms you have, which direction to go in based on symptoms and possible the results of your tests. Please give your doctors time, as sometimes those neurological illnesses can just baffle the life out of any doctor.  You will be in my thoughts Nancy.
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