Neurological Symptoms??

[Justme32]

Hi,

I'm a 32 yo female, healthy, with 3 young active children.

I was taken to the ER by ambulance a few months ago. I woke at midnight with Central Chest pain and a burning feeling when I breathed. I had a shooting pain that shot across my back to my left shoulder and under my ribs on the left side.

Waiting for the ambulance the left side of my body went numb quickly (left side of my face, tongue, arm, hand, body, leg and foot.

In the ER I had:

ECG x 3 - Normal
Blood Tests x 3 - Normal
Chest X-ray - Normal
CAT scan Chest - Normal.

I was also lightheaded, dizzy, mild headache, lost ability to put thoughts into words. The 'episode' or left sided numbness lasted 6 days. I did present at the ER on Day 3. They did a CAT scan of the brain, which was normal and blood test - Normal.

I saw a Neurologist:

MRI - Normal
Blood Tests - Normal
Exercise Stress Test - Normal

I still have numbness in my little pinkie finger and altered sensation - side of my face.

The neuro. ran a tissue across my face. I couldn't feel it on my left side, only right side. He used a pin thing. I couldn't feel anything on my left side of face, only right.

The neuro. put this vibrating metal thing above my forehead in the middle and I could only hear it in my left ear.

He got me to close my eyes, arms out, palms up, fingers apart and I had shaking in my left hand.

I've saw my neuro. again just prior to Christmas due to an episode, again on my left side of face,with facial drop. This improved within a few days.

I've started getting a weird numb, tingling, vibrating feeling in both my feet and legs below the knees. This lasted a few days.

I had issues with weakness in both legs ( it was like I was carrying my son) A heavy feeling of the legs and right arm - with some mild numbness.

The neuro. wants to arrange another MRI, but decided to wait him again in a few weeks.

Any ideas? Why all these random sensory and neuro. problems. I've never experienced anything like this before.

Thanks,

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

Most of your problems appear to be peripheral nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy).  These can be caused when viral or bacterial infections invade the peripheral nerves.  You should be checked for infections like HSV, Mycoplasma, etc.  to see if these might be causing the problems.

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

Your condition is certainly not the usual s/s for MS.  As I mentioned in a previous post, your peripheral neuropathies may be due to a chronic infection.  These often cycle and become better and then worse again.  Although MS also has a relapsing/remitting cycle in many patients (as compared to progressing without remitting), this is also typical of infections when your immune system is up and down, which can happen for a number of reasons. You should consider getting a second opinion.

[Justme32]

Thanks for your reply.

I saw my neurologist last week. I updated him with the issues I'd been having since our previous appointment.

He did a quick check of my reflexes, which he said were brisk (unsure what this means)

He wants to 'sit tight' and doesn't need to see me again. He did say to come back if I have significant problems. I'm unsure what would be significant?

I'm unsure what I should do now?  Leave it be. Get a second opinion?

Does any of my problems indicate MS? I realise without my history and being able to examine me it's hard to say.

Thanks!