ms vs lupus/ctd

[jpace]

I HAD A NORMAL MRI 3 YEARS AGO.  I HAD A RECENT MRI THAT SHOWS SEVERAL WHITE MATTER LESIONS WHICH ARE NEW FROM STUDY OF 3 YRS AGO, ONE LOCATED IN THE RIGHT CORONA RADIATAA, ANOTHER ONE LOCATED IN THE RIGHT PERIVENTRICULAR WHITE MATTER, A THIRD ONE LOCATED IN THE BODY OF THE CORPUS CALLOSUM ON THE LEFT, AND A FOURTH LOCATED IN THE WHITE MATTER UNDERLYING THE LEFT ANTERIOR INSULAR.  I AM 33 YEARS OLD.  I HAVE NUMBNESS IN BOTH HAND AND LEGS THAT COMES AND GOES.  SOME DIZZINES--EYE PAIN AND SEVER FATIGUE. I HAVE HAD A VER, BAER AND SPINAL WHICH WERE BOTH NORMAL.  I HAD A POS ANA, BUT I HAVE BEEN TO 3 RHEUMATOLOGIST--ALL SAY NO LUPUS OR CTD.  ONE SAYS FIBROMYALGIA, BUT THAT DOESNT EXPLAIN THE LESIONS ON THE BRAIN.  I HAVE ALSO HAD A FUNNY TINGLING FEELIN DOWN MY SPINE ON AND OFF.  WHAT DO YOU THINK?   I HAVE A 2ND OPINION APPT IN JULY.  JUST GOING CRAZY WAITING FOR A DX.

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

As I have never personally reviewed your MRI nor have I examined you, I cannot make an accurate diagnosis.  What I can say is that there are only a few things that can cause MRI lesions in the corpus callosum, one being MS.  The spinal fluid should have had special studies called Tourtellote's looking for breakdown products of the immune system.  A routine LP won't tell you much.  If that was indeed done and the BAER and VER are normal, the diagnosis of MS will rely heavily on the MRI, history, and clinical exam findings.  I recommend at this point an MS specialist. Good luck.

[Andrea`s_mommy]

What symptoms did you have 3 years ago? Did they perform any other tests other than the brain MRI? I`ve had tingling, numbness, twitching, tendon tightness and eye pain for 9 mos. now. It all started after my daughter`s birth. So far all tests have been normal. I`m a 23 yr old married female. I wish I could get some answers..... Thanks.....

[jpace]

3 years ago i had migraine headaches with tingling in face and arm---sometimes leg.

[Andrea`s_mommy]

Did they do any other tests then? Like Evoked potentials, etc.?

[jpace]

YES THEY DID VER, BAER, SPINAL TAP AND A BUNCH OF BLOOD WORK.

[tlpounds]

I'm a 37 year old with a positive diagnosis of MS about 6 months ago.  I had several lesions, some in the corpus collossum and periventricular white matter - as well as others.  I have been told numerous times these locations are highly indicative of MS.  I definitely agree with the Dr. about going to an MS specialist.  That's what I did because I decided I wanted the best possible treatment for my MS, and a Dr. that knows the latest information about MS.  There are lots of support groups if you have MS, and lots of information out there.  Good luck!

[jpace]

did you have any other tests that were positive for ms also?    visual evoked, baer, spinal ?   all mine were normal except for the mri.

what symptoms do you have?

[tlpounds]

I had a spinal tap (for my peace of mind) although the doctors said the MRI and location of the lesions were enough for a positive diagnosis.  That was the only other test I had.  I did not have typical MS symptoms.  I had headaches which started becoming severe and did not seem to be migraine.  I had some mild tingling (felt like my foot was asleep) on my right foot.  I had a history of bladder problems, which I found out were all related to the MS.  MS is very different for everyone and there are no 2 people with the same symptoms.  Also, a person can have no lesions on the MRI, yet be positive for MS.  So, it is very difficult to diagnose - yet it's very important to have early treatment.  I'm by no means an expert on the subject - just a strong advocate of early treatment by the best possible Dr. (preferably an MS specialist.)

[Andrea`s_mommy]

My symptoms started 9 mos. ago, 2 weeks after the birth of my baby. My symptoms have been slight tingling, numbness, twitching, mild intermittent eye pain, abnormal sensations all over, ankle tendon tightness. I tingle bad after exercise. I had a brain MRI and C-Spine MRI about a month or 2 after the symptoms started, in about Oct. `02. Both normal. Nerve conduct. test- essentially normal, blood- normal, evoked potentials lowers- normal, 3 neurological exams- normal. 2 different neurologists said they don`t know what this is. The last neurologist I seen wants to just monitor me now. He and the previous neuro said they doubted MS. I have an appointment in 3 mos. I really don`t know what to do, except wait. I don`t wanna get a spinal tap. I`ve heard a lot of times they come back normal, and you have even more problems afterwards. I had an epidural after giving birth that had to be placed 3 times. Did your problems start around anything particular, such as stress? Thanks...

[Andrea`s_mommy]

I messed up in my last post about the epidural. I meant, it had to be placed 3 times before I gave birth! It didn`t seem to work all that great either, but it did help w/ a lot of the pain. I threw up and it slowed my labor.

[jpace]

HOW MANY LESIONS DID YOU HAVE? I HAVE 4 OR 5.  I AM SCHEDULE TO SEE AN MS SPECIALIST JULY IST IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA.  
DOES HEAT AFFECT YOU?  IF SO WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS DO YOU HAVE?  WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAD BLADDER PROBLEMS--WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU MEAN.  I CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM 5-6 A NIGHT AND FEEL LIKE I AM NOT EVEN CLOSE TO EMPTYING MY BLADDER.  I ONLY ONCE THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY BLADDER.
ARE YOU ON COPAXONE, BETA-SERON OR AVONEX?  
DO YOU HAVE ALOT OF FATIGUE?  I BET I COULD SLEEP THREE DAYS STRAIGHT AND STILL BE DOG TIRED.

[LMar6282]

I 've been having alot of the same symptom and I live in Charlotte- What doctor are you seeing?

[jpace]

DR. MICHAEL D KAUFMAN AT THE MS CENTER.  HE IS WITH CAROLINAS MEDICAL CENTER.  MYERS PARK 1350 S. KNIGS DRIVE
HAVE YOU HAD A MRI? OR ANY OTHER TESTS?

[tlpounds]

e-mail me at ***@****  Sounds like you have a lot of similar problems that I've had and could use someone to talk to besides on a forum like this.

tlpounds

[joeynoah]

Hi,
I have just read your comments on this site and what you have described is exactly what is happening to me.  
About 6 weeks ago, I was driving my car and felt a funny tingling like sensation down my back.  It was not painful, but I had never experienced it before.  This continued on and off.  I then began to experience tingling in my hands and feet.  I also felt kind of dizzy, but more of A "foggy" feeling.  
I saw my neurologist and I am waiting to have an MRI. I went to have my bloodwork done and I am anxiously awaiting the results.  He stated that my neurological exam was entirely normal.  I am just wondering if this is not ms or lupus, what else could it be?  Some people I have spoken to tell me that it must all be in my head.  I know that it is not.  I would appreciate any comments you may have.  Thanks.

[jpace]

I KNOW THAT IS IS FUSTRATING FOR PEOPLE TO TELL YOU IT IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD.  I KNOW PEOPLE TELL ME THE SAME THING. I USED TO THINK IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD OR ANXIETY, BUT THE MRI SHOWED 4-5 LESIONS, SO SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH ME , JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT YET.  MY NEUROLOGIST ISN'T CONVINCED THAT IT IS MS AND I HAVE BEEN GOING ROUNDS WITH DOCTORS SINCE 1995 ABOUT LUPUS, WHICH ALL THREE DOCTORS THAT  SAW TOLD ME NO LUPUS.  WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING SOUNDS LIKE MS TO ME, ESPECIALLY THE BUZZING DOWN THE NECK, BUT I AM NOT A DOCTOR SO I REALLY CAN'T SAY.  I DO KNOW THAT IT CAN TAKE YEARS TO GET A DIAGNOSIS, WHICH I THINK IS WORSE.  I HAD RATHER JUST KNOW THAN SIT AROUND AND DO THE WATING GAME.  WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR MRI RESULTS?  WHAT OTHER TESTS HAVE THEY DONE? THE SYMPTOMS YOU ARE HAVING ARE VERY SIMILAR TO MINE, HAVE YOU LOSS ANY WEAKNESS OR STRENGH IN ANY EXTREMITY OR HAD ANY DOUBLE OR LOSS OF VISION?

HOPEFULLLY YOU'LL GET YOUR RESULTS SOON.

GOOD LUCK

[LMar6282]

I've had MRI head/ spine, spinal tap, EEG, EMG, Nerve conduction and lots of blood work-  all negative.  I'm having another MRI head/spine next month since my original is a year old.  All my symptoms started after having a baby last May.  Dr Putnam at CMC (part of Charlotte neurology clinic) says he sees symptoms like this after viral infection/trauma and it eventually goes away???  I'm going the holistic/alternative approach now with supplements and B12 shots.

[Mysterious Stranger]

THis is for the many posters on this board who report variations of peripheral neuropathy and MS-like symptoms, especially the many who are frustrated that conventional medical testing and workups have left you without solutions, or even diagnoses.
In people who report sensory and/or motor disturbances, tingling, numbness, and other unusual sensations in BOTH upper and lower extremities, and/or the face, the cause is most likely not a localized lesion, nerve root entrapment, or other focal problem. These types of complaints smack of a systemic problem, one attacking the body's entire nervous system and possibly the cardiovascular system as well. Environmental exposures, namely chemicals should be suspected, especially when there is a history of such exposures.
For at least some of you folks with these types of symptoms, I would strongly suggest you ask yourself whether you consume aspartame in your food. I would bet that many of you use diet products, especially "sugar-free" lines of products containing the now ubiquitous aspartame artificial sweetener (sold as "Equal" and "Nutrasweet"). The two amino acids making up 90 percent of aspartame are neurotoxins/excitotoxins in large enough doses, which themselves can cause problems with the nervous system. But the most harmful constituent of aspartame may be the 10 percent of the product that binds the two amino acids together -- methanol (wood alcohol). That substance breaks down in the body into first formaldehyde (used in embalming) and then formic acid (the poison in ant stings).
Methanol is a powerful neurotoxin, one that may slowly be pickling your nervous system. The damage may be permanent, but you can at least halt the progression of methanol poisoning by halting your intake of the poison. There are, on the other hand, many instances of people having improvement in their symptoms upon eliminating aspartame from their diets.
I certainly understand anyone being skeptical that aspartame is the cause of their problems, but there is an easy way to prove this suggestion wrong. Simply eliminate ALL aspartame from your diet for 60 days, and see if your symptoms improve. If you need artificial sweeteners in your life, there are at least four or five others that are available.
Many of you have expressed great frustration at the inability of the medical profession to even identify the cause of your problems, let alone treat your illnesses. What do you have to lose by trying my suggestion?

[exploring all angles]

I am dealing with similar problems.  Neurology is looking at a nerve problem.  I am suspicous of thyroid involvement.  Look into Hashimoto's Enphalapothy. Symptoms are similar and doctors are hesitant to diagnose.

[exploring all angles]

I am dealing with similar problems.  Neurology is looking at a nerve problem.  I am suspicous of thyroid involvement.  Look into Hashimoto's Enphalapothy. Symptoms are similar and doctors are hesitant to diagnose.

[Samije]

You mentioned thyroid involvement - Hashimoto's Enphalapothy.  I searched the web and cannot find anything.  Do you have any references that I could research?  Any help is greatly appreciated.  My e-mail is ***@****.