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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Urge incontinence, tingling, hand pain
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Urge incontinence, tingling, hand pain
by MontanaGirl, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
Greetings,
I am a 31 y.o female w/ multiple SX's for past 3 mos - poss.MS? March: after miscarriage (at 7 wks) experienced migrating tingling in left arm, face & legs-lasted 4 hrs. April: woke up w/ numbness on left side of face (around eye & check area)-lasted 1 day. Days later experienced upper back ache, fatigue & shooting pain headache. HA's occurred 3-4 times w/in week & lasted 10 secs ea. W/in same week, tingling sensations all over body & hyper-sensitivity (drops of water on skin or scratching itch). W/in days: achey (achy) arms and hands w/ finger pain. Hands felt uncoordinated and stiff for 5 days. Legs felt weak, jerky, not fluid. Fingers: jerky movement. Right eye became achy & minorly blurry-for 5 days. Urinary incontinence-1 day. All Sx's occurred at same time over 2 wks. MRI brain/thoracic-normal.Bld tests-normal. 2 Neuro exams-normal. Said "no MS, it's anxiety-no more tests necessary." Other symptoms (tingling, twitching, joint pain, chronic hand pain) continued for another month. No visible muscle weakness. Now experiencing urge incontinence (& leaky bladder after exercise or hot shower-4 diff. times), tension HA, rigid legs & blurry eye w/ heat & exercise.
Questions: Can this REALLY be phys. SX's of stress or does this sound like MS? Doc's say it is uncommon for such diverse, numerous SX's w/onset of MS. Heat & bladder probs have me concerned. Do you rec. further testing &/or visit to major med. center? I have anxiety about this, but feel that it came after Sx's began. Perhaps anxiety is masking something else?
Gratefully, MontanaGirl
I am a 31 y.o female w/ multiple SX's for past 3 mos - poss.MS? March: after miscarriage (at 7 wks) experienced migrating tingling in left arm, face & legs-lasted 4 hrs. April: woke up w/ numbness on left side of face (around eye & check area)-lasted 1 day. Days later experienced upper back ache, fatigue & shooting pain headache. HA's occurred 3-4 times w/in week & lasted 10 secs ea. W/in same week, tingling sensations all over body & hyper-sensitivity (drops of water on skin or scratching itch). W/in days: achey (achy) arms and hands w/ finger pain. Hands felt uncoordinated and stiff for 5 days. Legs felt weak, jerky, not fluid. Fingers: jerky movement. Right eye became achy & minorly blurry-for 5 days. Urinary incontinence-1 day. All Sx's occurred at same time over 2 wks. MRI brain/thoracic-normal.Bld tests-normal. 2 Neuro exams-normal. Said "no MS, it's anxiety-no more tests necessary." Other symptoms (tingling, twitching, joint pain, chronic hand pain) continued for another month. No visible muscle weakness. Now experiencing urge incontinence (& leaky bladder after exercise or hot shower-4 diff. times), tension HA, rigid legs & blurry eye w/ heat & exercise.
Questions: Can this REALLY be phys. SX's of stress or does this sound like MS? Doc's say it is uncommon for such diverse, numerous SX's w/onset of MS. Heat & bladder probs have me concerned. Do you rec. further testing &/or visit to major med. center? I have anxiety about this, but feel that it came after Sx's began. Perhaps anxiety is masking something else?
Gratefully, MontanaGirl
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Jul 02, 2005 12:00AM
It is very important to look for a structural neurological problem in your case, as your doctor seem to have done correctly
It is difficult to localize your symptoms to one area of the nervous system. This does not mean its MS though, and you do not fill any diagnostic criteria for MS as this time. Other more generalized disorders may need to be looked into such as thyroid dysfunction, arthritic disorders, electrolyte disorders etc with some simple blood tests.
Stress can also produce the above symptom constellation and may be more likely if all your tests are negative. Stress is a very powerful influence on the body and can produce all kinds of symptoms without you necessarily feeling anxious (it is an outward physical rather than mental manifestation of stress). This may be related to the psychological stress you sufferred after your miscarraige. So you have done the right thing in seeing a neurologist and having the tests done, but you need to seek the care of a professional psychologist or psychiatrist who can help you with the stress side of things
Good luck
It is difficult to localize your symptoms to one area of the nervous system. This does not mean its MS though, and you do not fill any diagnostic criteria for MS as this time. Other more generalized disorders may need to be looked into such as thyroid dysfunction, arthritic disorders, electrolyte disorders etc with some simple blood tests.
Stress can also produce the above symptom constellation and may be more likely if all your tests are negative. Stress is a very powerful influence on the body and can produce all kinds of symptoms without you necessarily feeling anxious (it is an outward physical rather than mental manifestation of stress). This may be related to the psychological stress you sufferred after your miscarraige. So you have done the right thing in seeing a neurologist and having the tests done, but you need to seek the care of a professional psychologist or psychiatrist who can help you with the stress side of things
Good luck
I am not sure if you check these comments, but I do still have some concerns.
Although I understand that this could all be stress-related (which is fascinating), at this point I am still concerned that something more serious is going on.
Do you think further testing for MS should be considered (evoked potentials, spinal tap, etc.)? Or should I consider getting a second opinion from a major medical center? In your opinion, can MS ever present like this at the onset?
Thanks -this is an incredible service that you provide, especially for those of us no where near major medical centers.