ms or Rheumatoid arthritis

[Lenna]

Thank you in advance for listening to my story and offering any insight. Over a year ago I noticed floaters in right eye and was told that 90% of time it was of no consequence. However, they found a scar from a hemmorage on the retina. The terms vasculitis and uvetius were used. The opthalmologist ran every test except MS and Lupus as I had no symptoms, so we took the watchful approach. In November I began having carpal tunnel like sensations in wrists, which didn't alarm me as I play guitar and work on a computer.  Within 6-8 weeks it was in every main joint and the little ones of hands and feet too. It felt swollen and pulsating. I had extreme fatigue. In the last few weeks, parenthesis has set in. The pain in joints subsided somewhat, but still have in fingers, elbows, hips. The pain migrates and is on both sides of body. The only constants are sharp pain down right leg, and, recently, sharp pain down right arm.Hands tire easily when being used. The strange sensations worry me. I also bruise easily now and takes long to heal. Had more blood work, only thing that showed was rh ractor and low calcium. I am having mri to test for MS or Sarcoidosis of spine. Seeing rheumatoligist to check for RA. Ra and MS run in family. I was wondering most about vasculits and the connection to   RA or Lupus. I have read it is fatal. The only neurological symptoms I have at this time are the parenthesis sensations and burning pain. Should I worry about CNS involvement? or is it peripheal nerve involvement? I am very concerned. Any thing sound familiar? Any imput is greatly appreciated.

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

Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Most of the symptoms you report are pain and paresthesias that are present diffusely throughout your body. Both RA and MS are possiblities especially if you are a young woman. However, nothing stands out particularly for something going on in the brain (except for perhaps the eye problem if it was misdiagnosed). This is NOT to say that you definitely don't have MS and that lesions in the brain can't produce these symptoms, just that migrating pain is difficult to localize to the brain OR the peripheral nervous system.The MRI and rheumatologist should be a good start. Consider a neurological exam also. GOod luck

[Lenna]

I should mention that the pain runs down left arm not right in case it is respect to a certain nerve?

Thanks, Lenna

[GOLDEN DENNIS]

I have been diagnosed with vasculitic neuropathy which was found via a sural nerve biopsy.  It does not effect my joints but rather the muscular areas of my feet,legs,hands,arms and lately tops of shoulders and base of neck. Vasculitis, as I have read and I am not a Doctor, can be, as I recall, associated with RA. Also, lupus and some other diseases. In my case the T-cells and Leuko something or another cells are goofing up the blood flow to the nerves and thereby causing the problem. One article referred to it as "mini-strokes". Yes vasculits can be fatal if it attacks any of the major organs. My Dr. suggested Prednisone, a steroid treatment, on a long term basis, but what I have read of the major side effect, osteoporosis(sp?), I won't do it.  He also suggested cyclophosphamide which is even worse as to the possible side effects, a definite no as far as I am concerned.  It is interesting to note that my right leg and foot is worse than my left. Whereas my left arm and hand is worse than the right, similar to your condition. If you are interested in vasculitic neuropathy, search for the web site:www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic392.htm.  Don't let it scare you, just let it inform you. Good Luck To YOU.

[Lenna]

Thank u for your insight. I went to that site, and I do have many of the symptoms. It is very frightening. I see a rheumatoligist at the end of may. Now I can bring this to his attention. It seems depending on what type you have and where it is has a lot to do with mortality rate. I have just had swelling, tingling, burning, sharp pains and some muscle fatigue from the work out. No other balance or cognitive problems. I have been so busy worrying abour MS and if it is this instead it could be potentially worse. I guess I just have to learn to take things one day at a time.:@) Thanks again.

[Lenna]

Doctor, thank you for your response. I had the neurological exam and nothing stood out so far, but I am going ahead with mri of the neck and brain. It will good to finally have some real answers.

[bwave]

Sorry, I was trying to post a question but it wouldn't let me! I have just been diagnosed with MS.  I am bwaves daughter for some reason I couldnt change the name for my own use.  but any way
Im 19yrs old  and just got diagnosed, so i really havent accepted it yet i havent even ever talked to anyone else with it or who understands and im having kind of a tough time dealing with my symtoms i dont even know if i have a specific question except  will anybody talk to me and maybe share stories or even just listen?  thanks

[zoltanvarga]

Hi bwave, I'm Anne sorry you haven't been well. At least you know what you are dealing with. If you need someone to listen then post more on this thread and I'll listen. It helps to talk, especially to strangers who don't know us. I check in with this site everyday and I promise to listen and will reply too. Keep your chin up! Anne

[bwave]

Thank you for your reply. I'm really kinda freaked out about this whole thing. Now I am having BAD cramping or spazams(?). I had one yesterday and to explain it, I was sitting in the front passengers side, started to spaz, if you can picture this my head was in the back seat on the floor, yet my feet were still in the front on the floor. Crazy hugh? Well, I am trying to get ahold of my DR to see if he can call in something for this, and the fatigue. Whew! That is bad too! I know it helps to talk to someone. This puter frustrates me cuz it is low on memory and my mom has to upgrade it. So it's slow, freezes, exc. This is why I don't get on it often. My Mom has been pressuring me to talk to someone and she had found this site. She has HCV and is very sick. She goes to that part of this site and it has helped her a lot. She thought I might find some peice of mind here too. Do you have MS? Would you e-mail me? Like I said, I am so frustrated it's hard for me to go through all of this but I can check my mail anywhere. If you wouldn't mind, I do need to talk to someone. My E-mail is dagnadragon@aol. Thank you sooooo much for your reply, it meens a whole lot to me:)Robyn.

[zoltanvarga]

Hi Robyn, sorry your not feeling so good. Hope your doctor can find a cause soon . It's a lot easier to deal with some thing when you can at least put a name to it! No I don't have ms although my docs and I all thought it was I had all the symptoms except eye problems. I have a tumour on the spine pressing on the chord. I just found out last week! A bit scary but at least I know what I'm dealing with!! I'm waiting for an appointment to have an op to "take it out!" They don't think it's cancer probably begnin(sp) Just as well I've three kids to look after! In saying that my husband is real good with an iron ect ( he'd kill me for telling anyone! hahaha! I'll send you an e-mail monday if that's ok! Take care of your self and your mum  ANNE

[zoltanvarga]

Hi Robyn I have sent you an e-mail hope you get it ok. I won't be on here for a while go into hospital monday (tomorrow for my time zone!!!) Take care I'll catch up with you soon  anne

[jkm]

Hi, I am up at nearly 2am PT and have these burning sensations in my head.  Feels sort of hot. Also, some warmth like feelings in hands and arms. Even my teeth feel a little weird. I have a lot of fatigue. A few weeks ago I woke up all sore in my upper extremities. I also had an RA test and it came back high.  After two weeks they retested me and it lowered by 24 pts. Went from 59 to 34.  Dr. said that was good, but they like to see it about 20. Also have a little nausea. My Dr. gave me anti-axiety pills? I doubt this is anxiety, although I have been under a lot of stress. But I just don't feel right. Dr. Thinks I may have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I keep thinking I have symptoms of MS and meet with a neuro on Friday.  My head just does not feel right. I do not know how else to explain it.  But I have a lot of heat like feelings and then maybe coolness sometimes or burning?  I am 33 with a six year old and 10 month old and am very worried.  Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Julie

[zoltanvarga]

Read your post and wondered how you got on with your neuro, hpe you got some answers.  regards Anne