dizzy/blurry, pain in arm, burning sensations, pins and needles but clean MRI. Could it be MS?

[JoeHolmdel]

I am a 42 yr old male.  For 7 months I have been suffering from dizziness, blurriness, nauseous, pins and needles in my hands and feet, pain in my right arm, burning sensations throughout my body, fatigue and initially experienced a weakness on my right side.  My symptoms seem to me to be classic Multiple Sclerosis.  However all of my tests have been negative.  I have had MRI's of Brain & Spine, Visual Evoked Potential, SER, BAER, and all shorts of test to rule out my middle ear.  My DR's haven't been willing to treat me for MS because so far they do not see any lesions.  However They also do not offer any other possible explanation for my problems.  My condition seems to have gotten worse over the last 7 months and I feel like the DRs are waiting for a bigger attack before they treat me.  Am I alone out there?  Does anyone have any suggestions for me?  

[StrictlyTopSecret]

Have you explored the possibility that your symptoms are a manifestation of a tick borne illness (e.g., Lyme disease)?

Lyme disease mimics MS very, very closely.

If you live in a lyme endemic area, and/or could have been exposed to a tick bite, you would be well served to have your blood tested by a lab SPECIALIZING in the dx of tick borne disease. The best is Igenex, IMHO. Two others include Bowen and MDL. Request a western blot (both IgG and IgM). Do not accept a "lyme titer" or "ELISA" test - they are virtually worthless as screening instruments.

Best of luck,
Michele

[StrictlyTopSecret]

p.s. Considering the burning sensations in particular, you might also want to check for Bartonella.

[JoeHolmdel]

Thank you for your thoughts.  I have been tested for Lymes 3 times incuding 1 from Igenix.  The only test I havent done is the lumbar puncture and scheduled it for next Tuesday.  

[que03]

Really, I don't know what is better.  An agressive neuro who treats right away without lesions or one that just waits and sees.  3 years ago I would have said jump on the wagon and get treated just as I did.  But now I question every day that I take a shot if I am doing the right thing.  I felt like I was stopping things with interferon in the beginning but as time passes feel like might be adding to situation.  I have found IVIG to be helpful though $$$$.  Get another opinion from a neuro.  Dont read into your symptoms too much.  Let them evaluate you.   If you are in panic mode than get two different neuro opinions but again let them evaluate.  The one that truly seems to listen and follow your answers with note taking, asks you questions, that is the one to listen to.   Quix ,another responder, said something about T3 MRIs being much better for lesions.  Find out if you can have this type of MRI maybe.  My neuro ordered an MRI with a double dose of GAD and was suppose to be much more sensitive at picking up lesions.  It was almost funny when the radiologist read out a brain tumor.  In reality it was nothing--Like I said earlier, I don't know which is better-- An aggressive, indefinite approach or wait and see--Good Luck!  DO NOT waste your time on just any neurologist.  Ask around for suggestions.  

[JoeHolmdel]

Thanks for your thoughts

[Quixotic1]

I was interested by your comment that you found improvement with IVIG.  Do you have a diagnosis of definite MS?  If it is a iffy diagnosis then do you know if they have considered CIDP?  (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculopathy) This is an inflammatory and auto immune disorder of "peripheral nerve demyelination". Many symptoms are similar to MS, including fatigue and heat intolerance, but more severe symptoms f weakness and pain inthe legs and arms.  Sensory involvement is also possible.  MRI's are more often negative or inconclusive, but the LP cvan show elevated protein and the Nerve Conduction Studies usually provide the most info.  It is considered pretty rare.

I bring it up, becasue it does respond to IVIG where as that has not been helpful in MS as a rule.  Other treatments include steroid and plasmaphoresis.

It's late and I didn't look up any of your old posts, so I hope I'm not out of line.  If you have MS or suspect it, you are welcome over on the MS Forum.

Quix

[Quixotic1]

To anyone who read my last post above.  I APOLOGIZE.   There is plenty of data supporting use of IVIG in RRMS.  I did not do my research carefully enough and must of misremembered or been told wrongly that IVIG was not useful.  If I confused anyone, especialy you, que03, I am terribly sorry.

Quix

[Pearl Gulliver]

Hi, i had same symptoms for 3 years before having lumbar puncture which showed high protein level.Diagnosis was transverse myelitis a rare demyelinating condition similar to ms which affects only spinal cord .Hope this helps ,Pearl.

[frann]

I am 54 years old  RN and have been having multiple symptoms for several months to years including dizziness, light headedness, weakness, occasional blurry vision, extremely sensitive to sun and heat, numbness in both hands & feet, strange pain & sensitivity to touch in right thigh that extends to the the back of the calf, difficulty with organizing my thought processing, some memory loss, gait and balance disturbance. II feel like a weeble-wobble.I have had several falls beause of my balance problems & dizziness. I have been under the care of a neurologist & have seen a ENT for the vestibular disturbances, received vestibular therapy which really did not help much. I had a negative brain MRI but neck & back show signs of disk degeneration. I have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy & antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. I have a history of 2 DVT's before being diagnosed with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.I am taking neurontin, plavix & aspirin. I have seen a neuropsychologist for my memory loss and difficulty with my thought processing. In fact this posting is taking me forever to prepare because of this problem.It has been very frustrating and I have really no answers. I am not getting better, in fact I feel at times I am getting worse. I read one of the comments regarding CIPD and it sounded similar to my symptoms. What do you think? Thank you for your assistance.God Bless.  

[slowbrain]

Your symptoms sound almost identical to mine. I have no diagnosis or answers. This has been going on for a year of misery. They can't tell me what's wrong with me. I catch myself on the doctors office walls before I fall and they still tell me they don't know or I'm normal according to testing. I will say I was on Neurontin at one time and my symptoms were even worse especially memory problems and loss of co-ordination.

Any answers out there for these symptoms Frann has would be appreciated by many I'm sure. Actually, to find out what is wrong with me so I would know what my options are would be a true gift.

[slowbrain]

I am grasping at straws here.

My daily headache is in the back-side of my head and neck pain along with it. I have multiple other symptoms. Memory problems, lack of co-ordination ect. ect. I won't list it. It makes people think I'm just "CRAZY." I won't go there.

My question is, Has ANYONE ever heard of a condition where someone is heat intolerable and cold intolerable.......For instance a cold breeze on the back of my neck, my head or spine makes me not feel anything; like my brain is shutting down. My pulse drops to the high 50's. My skin feels like it's on fire in my face and torso yet the back-side of my head, my hands and feet are freezing. My head is hurting and I go into confusion. I feel no feelings. I am severely slowed down. My skin is white as a Ghost!

Anyone heard of such a thing? Am I crazy?

Please, HELP ME! Anybody out there that knows what I'm looking for to get well?

[joelski]

I have had similar symptoms. Started as numbness/tingling last year. Progressed from just legs and arms to shoulders and back and pretty much everywhere. Now I have burning in my legs pretty much all day long, and balance problems, feeling fatigued, have urinary issues and my eyes burn all day. It's horrible.

The Doctors did all sorts of tests last year (MRI, blood tests, LP, EMG) all came back negative. I have waited to see if the symptoms would subside and they have just grown worse. I have a very, very strong feeling it's MS or something like it but we will see, I have an appt sent up next week with a Neuro.

Oh, and just about the worst part of this is having to hear people say that it is probably just something mental (like it's stress). It's not... it's something serious, and they just haven't found out what yet. Just because they are invisible symptoms doesn't mean it's nothing.

[patsy10]

Ditto what you said above joelski.  I have all this horrible stuff too.

[racked]

a few months ago i woke up in agony with pain behind my right shouder.. towards the arm pit.. i didnt feel unduly well.. just racked with pain.my Dr sent me for xray.. on the shoulder.. then for a chest xray.. the shoulder xray showed some artheritis.. but not enough to cause this pain.. so my Dr said.. he gave me pain killers and a heat rub.. neither gives any relieve.. i wake up loads of times in severe pain.. and have limited movement when i firststart to move my arm..
           Over a period of time the pain has got much worse during the day.. and has spread into the upper right arm muscles.. itis not constant..but itis daily.. my Dr keeps asking if i have a cough.. i have a tickle but nothing severe..
           Now i keep feeling really dizzy.. i feel i am going to topple over.. and my head feels full of dizziness  if you know what i mean..
           Does anyone else have these symptoms.. and what an earth could it be.. i work as a cook.. which involves alot of heavish lifting .. and occupational health will not let me go back to work until this is sorted..
           Either my dr is not telling me what itis .. or he doesent know.. surely they do know.. i am awaiting an appointment for physiotheraphy.. god i wish the pain and dizziness would stop..

[debmcdonald]

A related discussion, debmcdonald was started.