Possible MS?

[RamsInfiniti]

Hello.  I am a 28 y/o male and definitely worried that I might have a major neurological issue.  I know that my problems don't seem to be near as problematic as some of the people posting here, but I am still concerned ...

I am relatively healthy, but have gained about 60 lbs over the past 3 years and my exercise level has decreased ...

About one month ago, I developed parathesias in both hands and feet, followed by muscle weakness on the right side two weeks later.  The muscle weakness is not a typical type of thing, as it like a dull aching pain in my neck, shoulder, arm, hand, and right leg.  More like a burning fatigue type sensation.  Not having any vision problems or any problems with clumsiness or decrease cognitive abilities ....

I seem to be alot better at rest.  The paratheisas and pain begin when I am active in just about anyway.  Heat does not seem to make it worse.  Had an MRI done on the neck, and there were no problems.  I am really worried here ....

[SwampSwan]

Hi, all.  I've been reading the posts here and want to offer a little encouragement. I had the exact same symptoms for many months, years really, but months of steady progression to the point that I had to face the fact that I was not suffering from "nervous tension" but something was physically wrong.  As a medical worker, I was well-aware that my symptoms seemed to point to MS.
My GP had X-Rays done (didn't show much - just a little degeneration, quite normal for a middle-aged lady) then sent me for nerve-conduction studies (that checked out) and finally, on to a neurologist who ordered MRIs of my brain, cervical spine, thoracic spine, & lumbar spine.
The first thing the neurologist told me after he'd read my MRIs was "No Lesions!" (he also was concerned about MS, obviously)
Turns out I had 2 herniated cervical discs and my spinal cord was deeply compressed in two places (by the herniated discs), causing the pain, weakness, numbness, etc.
Four weeks ago today, I had surgery (ACDF C4/5, C5/6) to remove the herniated discs & several bone spurs; he placed "plugs" of donor bone in the intervertrebral spaces, and affixed a titanium plate w/screws to my anterior spine to provide stability while bone fusion is in progress.
So far,  I have had great results. Fusion has already begun (had X-Rays one week ago) and range of motion is returning.  Had to wear a horrid rigid neck brace for two weeks but hey...it was do-able!  I suffered from neuralgia in both arms & hands for a couple of weeks, but was prescribed Lyrica for the short-term and am already off of that.
I've read a lot of horror stories about ACDF surgery.  Luckily I work in surgery and knew who to go to in order to get the best possible surgical team.
My advice would be to get MRIs done, to rule out MS, and then proceed from there.
Waiting too long for disc issues to be addressed will only lead to needing surgery, eventually...if I had addressed my issues instead of "toughing it out" for so long, I may have prevented a lot of pain & expense.
As of now, I am still off work for a few more weeks; have numbness in my right forefinger; have some occasional neuralgia in hands & arms but it's NOTHING like the all-over body pain I dealt with for so long.
The first two weeks of recovery were not pleasant but I did pretty well.
One other suggestion: If you need spinal surgery, go to a NEUROSURGEON--not an orthopedic surgeon.  Take my word on this.  The difference in surgical technique is astounding. The Ortho guys have their place and they do a fantastic job on joints and bones....but leave the spine to a Neuro guy.
Good luck to all of you, I truly hope you're able to pinpoint the causes of your pain very soon.  

[Maggie1234]

HI, I AGREE WITH SHATTERED.  I WENT NUMB ON MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE EVEN MY FACE.  THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A STROKE BUT THAT WAS RULED OUT.  THEN, THEY TOLD ME I HAD AN ATTACK OF MS.  I DID NOT HAVE MS JUST AN ATTACK.  THEN, LATELY I HAVE BEEN FEELING LOUSY, MY LEGS ACHE. MY VISION IS BLURRED AND I WALK WITH A CANE. I WENT TO ANOTHER NEURO WHO SPECIALIZES IN MS AND HAD AN MRI.  HE TOLD ME I HAD LESIONS BUT I DID NOT HAVE MS.  WHAT????? MY FAMILY DOCTOR TOLD ME I HAD IT AND THIS NEURO SAYS I DON'T.  IT IS SO HARD FOR THEM TO SAY THAT WORD.  I AM SO CONFUSED MY HEAD IS SPINNING.

[Neuro Forum]

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 your doctor.

It sounds like you have been having several symptoms, including weight gain, decreased energy, parasthesias in the hands and feet, and right-sided weakness. It sounds like your symptoms worsen after exertion.

Without the ability to take a full history and examine you, I can not assess whether or not you have multiple sclerosis. However, I will give you some more information about it and how it is diagnosed. Other conditions that cause weight gain, muscle aching, and easy fatigability include thyroid problems and depression, among several others.

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. In patients with MS there is a phenomenon whereby exertion, over-heating, or illness may make already-existing symptoms or deficits worse.

MS is thought to be autoimmune, meaning that the body's own immune system attacks myelin, the substance that surrounds nerves fibers and protects them.

MS is more common in women than in men, and can (but does not necessarily) run in families.

There is not one test alone or one symptomt hat can diagnose MS, but there are well-established criteria that help neurologist 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.

When a neurologist is considering the diagnosis of MS, the criteria he/she may use include (1) evidence of damage in at least two separate parts of the central nervous system (CNS) (2) lack of another explanation for the damage (3) specific MRI findings (4) specific findings on CSF (fluid taken from around the brain/spine through a procedure called lumbar puncture) (4) results of visual evoked potentials (a test of how the nerve from the eye, the optic nerve, is functioning.

Again, I can unfortunately not tell you whether or not you have MS, but seeing a neurologist to obtain a history and full physical examination may help you with your symptoms and may lead to a diagnosis.

I hope I have answered your questions, good luck.

[shattered229]

I also have the many symptoms mentioned here, as well as alot of others. MRI  shows lesions in white matter of brain. It's all been a waste of time. It's impossible to get a doctor to say ms. I don't know if it's insurance or what but for 2 years now no treatment or help, and now it's summer again, heats already got me messed up. If you think you have ms your on your own.

[melos]

My mother had an episode 5 years ago that to this day is inexplicable,  She had an mri, physiotherapy etc... after they had ruled out stroke, heart attack. At one point they told her she had a virus. Now these were her symptoms: numbness on rightside of the body including paraysis in the face, vertigo to the point that she had to sleep sitting up at the kitchen table because she would vomit from dizziness otherwise. She could barely walk or eat, was feverish, clammy and white as a ghost. Her right side was numb so she had to be in a wheelchair for the first 24 hours. Physio did help her regain some feeling. But it took her two years before the weakness she was inflicted with disappeared.  She was forced to retire because she just couldn't perform the same. We feared what we did not know she had.  Now three more years have past, totalling 5 and she is slightly better. Her obesity is an issue to consider as well. But I wonder if it isn't a neurological problem. We joke about the three of us (mother and daughters) having extremelysensitive bodies regarding our nerves. I remember a moment when I was seven and I put my foot in the scalding hot water and I couldn't feel a thing. Recently I had a back problem and went for acupuncture and the dr  practiced moxa a technique involving a charcoal stick being burnt in close proximity to you skin and I got a second degree burn from it because I could not feel a thing. Could all this point to a neurological disorder?

[RamsInfiniti]

I just got back from a five day trip to Disney World in Orlando.  The heat didn't really seem to have much effect on my situation.  Also, my legs and arms didn't seem to tire really anymore than normal.  I was able to walk around the parks in 90 degree heat all day and night, with little more than my feet hurting.  That is typical since I have 100% flat feet ...

I got back home and started feeling like ****.  Makes me wonder if I am not having severe anxiety problems.  I have always had anxiety issues, problems with sweating alot in even the slightest of tense situations.  I've had alot going on lately, and I wonder how much that is contributing to my problems ...

Other than that, no other significant news.  I might go back to my GP and see if he'll run some tests for Lyme, Lupus, etc ....

[haveaquestion111]

Have you heard any more progress to your situation. I went to the Drs last week and was just sent for X-rays (arm and leg)...not sure that would show up there.

[haveaquestion111]

I am also experiencing these same symptoms:
Stiffness in both wrists - only left
Feelings of tension in my forearms -left side
Sharp tingling patches on my inner forearms and underneath my wrists - left
Stiff ankles and minor stifness in my upper calves from time to time - left leg.

I am worried about MS aswell. I am f/26 and in good health. Keep me posted on ur progress. I hope everything works out ok.

[interphase]

I'm in the same position as you, and equally worried. In 34, and woke up about ten weeks ago with numbness in little and ring fingers on each hand. I'm a guitarist of 17 years, and knew the second my hands weren't working as I'd played a full 2hr set the night before, and on that morning found it hard to even hit chords correctly. I managed to get a doctors apppointment a couple of days later, was told I had carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand only, and dismissed. I wan't happy with this so was offered glucose and thyroid tests, which came back fine. The symptoms got worse, with the fingertips on my left hand going numb (and they still haven't quite recovered now, despite up and down days). I had tests for B12 deficiency, and a full blood count and those came back perfectly normal too. I was eventually offered an appointment with a neurologist in ten days or so,

Since then I've had:

Stiffness in both wrists
Feelings of tension in my forearms
Sharp tingling patches on my inner forearms and underneath my wrists
Stiff ankles and minor stifness in my upper calves from time to time
Feelings of weakness in my neck as the day goes on
Reduced ability to focus in my right eye (the extent changes constantly)

There are other symptoms but I think I can put those safely down to anxiety. On thinking back though, I realised I'd had a couple of minor attacks of Nystagmus in the past year, but always under exactly the same circumstances - it's late, I'm working on the computer, and the brightness of the screen triggers a left-right motion in my sight. Looking away stops it instantly.

At the moment I'm extremely worried that this might be MS, moreso because it came on so quickly and the symptoms have been more or less present since day one. Unfortunately my doctors seem remarkably unsympathetic, and the moment I said it was worrying me, stress became the number one candidate...