QUESTION ABOUT MS SYMPTOMS BOB OR ANYONE!

[mae1]

Hi,Iam new to this fourm I did post a qustion about a week ago under multiple sclerosis symptoms vs location of lesions but nobody has replied.here is a different qustion that maby someone can help me with,I was dx with ms in NOV. 2006 due to clinical,history,and mri. my spinal came back neg. but my neuro. said that was due to the early stage of the disease.HE said we should treat it guickly and aggresivly,so Im on bateseron. my question is does anyone else have symptoms that only last a couple of min. to a few days, when I told my neuro. this my last visit he said if it were the ms it would last longer and it was probably anxiety due to the fact I new I have ms. trust me I understand that the mind is a very powerful thing but I can promise you I have these symptoms when at times  ms is the last thing on my mind. example almost every morning I wake up with either a hand, arm, foot, or leg numb and or tingly, and it is not the way Im sleeping, it actuly wakes me up at times. I went out of town this weekend on business and again had pain in my left eye only with movement but could see fine. He did tell me ny bladder problems is due to ms and the fatigue and spactisity. if anyone could share your experience or thoughts.
  thank you very much, sorry for the long post.
                                 mae1.

[tory2457]

MS is a clinical diagnosis!

MRI's seem to be the vehicle that is used primarily for a MS diagnosis these days...

As for spinal? there are lots of neuros that don't count on spinal results to diagnosis MS, and then of course Lyme Disease presents itself so similarily to MS...

Lyme like MS is also clinically diagnosed! on top of that the testing for Lyme is very flawed and most of us get a negative result due to the stringent criteria set by the CDC!  Most of us who have harbored the bacteria for more than a few weeks simply won't have at least 5 bands that are positive or 3 bands that are positive to make the "criteria". Hense we are told -Negative test result for Lyme- and we continue to be mis diagnosed.

The best to you on your road to health,
tory  

[kackyjellybeankelly]

Hi there,
Thanks for responding to my question.  I just talked to the nurse practitioner today about my results from my spinal tap. It is positive for ogiclonal bands but since I don't have lesions in my brain and only in my spinal cord they need to do a VEP study.  Based on your info how can they say that you have MS?  I thought there needs to be positive results based on your MRI, Spinal Tap and Vision eveoked potential test and history.  

[tory2457]

Hi I too have MS.
I'll try to answer your questions regarding lesions. yes, lesions in the brain and spinal cord is what leads to a clinical diagnoses of MS..along with other symptoms of MS.
I have lesions in both my brain and spinal cord!

Did you know that Lyme Disease can also cause lesions in the brain and spinal cord? yup, it's true. I believe that a bacteria is the "cause" of my MS, and because I became educated on the similarities of MS/Lyme I am now treating my MS with antibiotics and feeling better.

Lyme testing is very unreliable....an ELSIA test is only 65% correct. There have been people with a bulls eye rash and symptoms that tested negative with an ELSIA for lyme.

I recommend you get educated on the "cause" of MS. If you have agreed to begin a disease modifiying drug (Betaseron)...the only drug available to MS sufferers...than perhaps you shouldn't be afraid of a simple antibiotic that we give teenagers with pimples...My point is, dig deeper, the answers are there, and you too can begin the healing process!
Oh yes, one more thing. I believe you, I believe your symptoms come and go...mine do and have over the years. Lyme symptoms Wax and Wane...yet so many doctors tell us it's in our minds. No, it's a symptom of Lyme disease and the co-infections!

the best to you,
tory

[mae1]

thanks for your feedback, about the second opinion I was told there was no way around the mri results and clinical exam. my mri results are posted on this fourm on 4/09 if you would like to check them out.

                                                    thanks again!
                                                               mae1.

[cjzabel]

I looked at your other post, I had not read that before I posted before. I still hold true with my opinion of getting the second opinion. I do not know if you have read anything about the correlation between ms and Lyme disease but it could be something you could check into. From the sound of your symptoms if it is ms it does sound mild, there are so many new treatments out there, many people believe there will be a cure in the near future. If I were you I would also check into speaking with a nutrition specialist, many people have greater success treating the body as a whole inside and out, I would also look into a yoga or Tia- chi class to reduce your stress level. Painting also works well to put your mind in a positive state. I hope this helps.

[mae1]

thanks cjzable, appreciate you posting me back, and I will look in to these things.thanks for your time.
                                               mae1.

[cjzabel]

Hello I am very sorry to here about your symptoms, if I were you I would get a second opinion, some of the way you describe your symptoms does not fit what I know to be true about multiple sclerosis. I am not however a doctor. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of exclusion, I am saying I would look a little harder. Be strong everything will work out.