Anxiety or MS?

[renschwa]

Hello-

About a couple months ago I had a really sore, swollen calf with spasming. Was sent to the ER b/c the fear of a clot but it wasn't one. A couple days later I had pains in my hamstring and glute. While this seems like sciatica I do sometimes have tingling/pain in my fingers. But I've been a nervous wreck, have a ton going on and do suffer from anxiety also. Was wondering if any of you experienced symptoms like this in the beginning stages of MS? I do not have numbness or tiredness at all right now. Having an MRI tomorrow just of the lumbar spine. Kind of wish he ordered a full spine MRI. My ortho doc seems to think it is a herniated disc though.

Thanks!
Renee

[Quixotic1]

As you began your last post, I immediately thought of Lyme Disease also.  The traveling and symmetrical pain and the burning quality really suggests this to me.  I suggest that you also wander over to the Lyme Disease Forum and tell them your symptoms and exactly how they feel.  I suspect you will have a lot of comrades.

They also can advise you on the best testing procedures for Lyme.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Lyme-Disease/show/148

quix

[renschwa]

Hello again-

So I've had some other symptoms pop up... Seems my pain has now traveled up to my neck/shoulders. I have burning pain in my shoulder/neck. Along with the shooting and occasional aching pain in both my hands, occasional shooting pains in both my calfs, Even some occasional tingling/pain in my face. I also have a hot spot feeling on my right ankle. I'm having an MRI of my neck on Wednesday to see if there is a pinched nerve/herniated disc. My ortho says if that shows nothing then I should next see a neuro. I'm beginning to think it is a neuro issue too, maybe MS or Lymes? (I live in "Bucks" County, PA. Deer hang out in our yard! though I did not see a rash). Just wondering if any of you have experienced such wide ranging symptoms. Starting to wonder if I'm going nuts!

[renschwa]

Thank you Quix! I'll let you know what happens...

[Quixotic1]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.  Alex gave you the best advice.  I agree with what she said.  We do see things happen on both sides at once, but they are almost never the same on both sides.  This sounds confusing, but if someone has tingling in both hands, one side might be more the fingers and another might be just the side of the hand or some such thing.  The two side rarely are identical in the weay they feel.

The description of what happened to your leg sounds like somthing localized in the leg, some infection or local injury or possibly a nerve root irritation.  I don't disagree with checking out your lumbar spine first.

If your hands are tingling then you should also be checked for the things that can cause this - like diabetes, Vit B12 deficiency, carpal tunnel and such.  If they continue to be tingly and nothing is found, then that is the time to broaden what they look for.

But, what you tell us does not sound much like the beginning of MS.

I hope this helps.

Quix

[renschwa]

Thanks Alex!

[HVAC]

I am no Doctor but swelling is not usually a part of MS it is Neurological.  Also MS is usually unilateral on the left or right side of the body. Symptoms bilaterally point to something else.

My symptoms started with different sensory things predominantly on my left side. I have brain stem involvement so I get some symptoms on the right but not even with the left.

Good Luck,
Alex