Neuro symptoms w/heat

[Anon__0__0]

    
      Re: Neuro symptoms w/heat
    


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Posted by CCF Neuro MD# on February 23, 1998 at 10:24:34:

In Reply to: Neuro symptoms w/heat posted by Anon on February 23, 1998 at 09:55:49:

: What neurological diseases can cause a severe worsening of symptoms with exposure to heat, such as a warm bath, hot car, etc?  I have never been sensitive to heat, in fact I was always comfortable when other people were complaining.  Now, however, I am rendered nearly incapacitated in the heat, and carry a gel ice pack with me all summer and take cool showers.  Symptoms are balance and speech problems, extreme weakness, all made far worse - feeling like I can't move, and blurred vision sometimes.  I know this happens with MS, but I don't have MS.  All I can find in regard to exacerbation of symptoms with heat have to do with inability to sweat and excessive facial sweating, etc.  This is not my problem.
  So my question is what disorders can cause this, if MS is ruled out?  Thanks.
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The phenomenon you describe is known as Uhthoff's phenomenon and is very
well described in MS, there is in fact very little correlation with other
neurological diseases, a literature search from 1966 to the present
yielded only two other conditions in which this was reported, these were
neurosarcoidosis and postural hypotension  (where dilation of blood vessels
in the skin due to flushing leads to a drop in blood pressure and symptoms
of borderline syncope / fainting ).
You would probably have other symptoms in between periods of heat if you
had neurosarcoidosis and might have dizziness on standing up abruptly if you had postural hypotension,
You should be very sure that MS has been definitely ruled out by MRI as this symptom
is so strongly associated with MS, if this has not been done to your complete
satisfaction I would suggest a second opinion.