"Pressure" Sensation in Spinal Cord

[Babet]

  Hi
  At present, I am still considered a "possible MS" case. A recent MRI of the brain was normal, as was a LP done last year, but according to one dr. "the pattern and symptoms would suggest MS". I have several symptoms, which include, memory loss, occasional slurred speech, numbness/tingling/weakness in right arm, to name a few. My main complain, however, are my legs.
  I have noticed a "pressure" like sensation in my lower back, in the spine.The best way I can describe it, is to say, it feels like a fist pushing into my back. It is NOT painful at all, but when its present it is accompanied by extreme leg weakness, a "heavy feeling in legs, and frequent urination. The weakness and urination problems are always present but are far worse when "pressure" sensation is present. I have had an MRI of lumbar spine done (last year), it too was normal.
  My question is, would this be consistent with MS? or is some other disease process at work here?
  Thanks in advance for your help!
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Dear Babet:
Arm, back, leg, and urinary symptoms could conceivably arise form a single lesion in your cervical spinal cord. MS could be a cause of such a lesion. MS could also cause some of your cognitive and speech troubles. A normal brain MRI coupled with a normal spinal fluid (analysed, I hope, to look for typical features of MS) considerably reduces the likelihood of your having MS. The possibility of having a spinal cord problem (of another type e.g. from a tumor) at either the cevical or thoracic levels still exists. The lumbar spine MRI does not cover these areas of the spinal cord. Your neurologist may want to check these out if he or she thinks this is clinically indicated.
Good luck!