What can I do?

[justicea]

I've been struggling with numbess and debilitating exhaustion.  I had an MRI which showed one lesion, on the left side of the brain. In March, I forgot about the numbness in my foot.  I got up in the morning and rolled on the top of my foot and broke it.  I have recovered from the break but my three middle toes have recovered only a little feeling and movement.  In May, my left hand went numb and it has yet to recover.  It is not always numb but it is extremely weak.  I can't do small things like cut my nails, brush my teeth, etc.  It is hard for me to do anything that requires the dexterity of my finger tips.  I am becoming concerned because the numbness is creeping over to the right side.  One morning, I woke up and for several hours, I was unable to do anything with either hands.  My right side has since recovered but my left side is perpetually weak.  I am also having problems with heat and exhaustion.  I have an appointment with another neurologist in Ocotober.  Is there anything I can to help him make or find a diagnosis?  I don't want to end up in a wheelchair before they figure out what is wrong with me.  What diseases have these symptoms?

[frankiefaye]

A word of encouragement packaged in a discouraging veil.  I have had various neurological problems for 18 years.  Initial diagnosis ran from stress/tension to neurosis.  Later, MS was the diagnosis.  Now, the diagnosis may change again to different neuro/demylanating disease.  I have ridden a long and loopy roller coaster.  But, HERE'S THE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU:  Most doctors do the best they can.  Find a doctor you trust.  Get informed.  No your own medical records.  You can cope with more than you think--remain strong and in control of your choices.  AND, remember that in neuro-science, there's a lot of "gray matter."  This is both a pun and true in the metaphorical sense.  There are many things in neurology that doctors can't expain or can't fix.  Your ultimate hope may need to be found somewhere else!  Blessings.

[Demiguise]

I read your past posts of 7/2,7/4. You are exactly right about
med-schl. It's often missed if it's not the norm. I had a tumor
that they called `infection' for 8yrs. I bought a plot, wrote my
will. I then got angry & had 3 re-reads of my films. Radiologists
said off-record, they're wrong. Ea. read though, came back quite
different in description? In short, I had an attack while plan-
ning my next move. 4 surgeries later, pathology showed multiple
tumors w/ local cancer cells & bone destruction from infection.
It's a rare type & missed unless the Dr. thinks out-of-the-box.
I've mentioned my condition to 5 Dr's. & ea. one never heard of
it. I gave them a print-out from the net. They say NOT! I then
hand them pathology & post-op report. I now believe my head, neck & nerve/pain problems are from the multiple procedures. Perhaps the csf-flow too. I'm alive but I sense what they know,
they won't share. C5,6,7,8 affect the deltoids, biceps, wrist,
triceps & hand (pain/numbness). T1 starts the thoracic-nerves &
affects the chest/stomache. Edema/inflammation triggers them.
Spine flow or pinched off nerves act like a physics project.
Action/reaction. I'm learning to `suggest' things I heard from
people talking! They play doc & I stay or move on. I have an
appt. next wk. w/ a neuro from China. He was in research 15 yrs,
not a surgeon & new to U.S. He already ordered my past films to
review. Maybe? Anyway, I tried Neurontin & low-dose messed me up.
Prednisone long term can affect immune/bones. Ibuprofen long
term hurts the stomache. Don't take all 3 in the same day. I'll
stay in touch & I hope Ann will get back to us too. Good luck to
all of us!

[azurerain]

I'm thinking your problems are mainly cervical, as I have many of the same problems and I only have ONE bad disc C5-6. Your cervical problems sound pretty extensive. I do get dizzy and confused. I've had two doctors tell me that the cervical disease can't cause that, but I'm not so sure. (If you read these boards here and others where cervical disc disease is discussed, dizziness is brought up by most sufferers as a fairly common symptom.) Inflammation goes both ways (up and down) from the lesion, and if there is blockage of CSF flow that could cause brain problems also. My C-spine MRI did not show blockage, but I had very little symptoms on the day that they did that one. My brain MRI, which is the only one that was done when I was severely symptomatic, showed dilated ventricles which could indicate a problem with CSF flow. I only get the dizziness and confusion when all my other symptoms (neck pain, "chest" pain and predominantly right-sided numbness) are really severe. I had a full cardiac workup (echo, cardiolyte stress test , and coronary angiogram) which ruled out cardiac causes of my pain. The ONLY thing evidently wrong with me is the disc, and it is very frustrating to have several doctors tell me that it can't be causing my problems when all indications are that it is. One university neurologist and my physical therapist have both said that the disc probably IS causing my problems, so I am at a loss to find a surgeon who agrees. I have been suffering from this for 3-1/2 years, and I just want that disc out.

[Demiguise]

I'm curious about your condition. I've had a lesion in the left
brain since 2000. Faint to sub-cm to 1.2cm. My rt hand goes mild
to severe numb off/on. Sometimes scribbled writing or can't hold
pen or anything. Foot goes cold/numb. Fingers sometimes feel like
they have lots of cuts on pads when not as numb. Drop alot of
things. Many Dr's have said possible autoimmune but doubt lupus
or MS. Head gets confused on windy/rainy days. Finally got a GP
to order a C-spine. Now have appt next wk. w/ another neuro. MRI
showed disc bulges @ C5 through T1 & Tarlov or CSF cysts at T1-
T2. C7-T1 shows moderate narrowing of rt. neural foramen w/ disc
protrusion. The GP says it's Cervical if it's numbness to extrem-
ities. My confusion & scribbles could be the lesion. Suggestion:
make sure MRI is w/ dye & get MRI of C-spine. Ck. blood wk. for
ANA w/titer & elevated SED-rate. ANA is autoimmune & Sed is for
inflammation. I think I have 2 problems & haven't heard of a
lesion causing numbness. I've seen/heard many opinions. See a
neuro soon but get copies of all MRI/Blood reports. Start a Hm-
health file & follow yourself. Most will give you copies nicely.
I have extreme fatigue. I think it's because I push to move!
Stay in touch.

[justicea]

My instincts have been telling me that waiting until October is too long. Your comments only confirm that I should try to get in to see someone as soon as possible.  The symptoms are persisting and the incidents are coming closer together.  I could have a couple of more episodes before October and each episode is causing residual damage that I am not recovering from.  And yes, the MRI was done before these new symptoms.  Thanks for your advice.  I will contact my family doctor tomorrow.

Ann

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

Your symptoms are very complex, and it is impossible for me to render an accurate clinical diagnosis over the internet. That being said, you symptoms could be do to many disorders. The causes for these symptoms could include vascular, autoimmune, complicated migraine, and metabolic abnormalities. Autoimmune disorders include things such as multiple sclerosis and lupus. Metabolic disorders include B12 deficiency and mitochondrial dysfunction (mitochondria produce the energy we utilize in our body). To assist the docotrs in making a diagnosis, simply keep an accurate list of symptoms, inlcuding duration and severity.

If the MRI you mentioned was performed prior to the symptoms you described, then it should be repeated. Also, a test such as an EMG may be helpful to document if the peripheral nerves are injured. The remainder of tests can be checked on your blood.

Certainly, if your symptoms have persisted and are getting worse, waiting until October to see someone is not appropriate and you should see someone sooner.