stroke or ms?

[nette573]

I am a 50 yr old female.  Back in May. I went to the er with face numbness arm and hand numbness foot and leg numbness.  I also had aching in those places.  They did a catscan of head and found nothing my labs were good except a uti.  They told me to go to my pcp.  She sent me to get a mri and some labs.  my labs were good.  My mri showed two tiny foci of increased signal intensity on flair images demonstrated within the subcortical whit matter of the right parietal lobe.  Everthing else looked good.  my pcp sent me to a neurologist.  They sent the radiology report to him.  Well, he wanted to do a sleep study.  I have been seeing for 3 months doing sleep diary.  He put me on a antidepressant.  He is very rude I ask him about if I had a stroke or not and he said he did not know that he had not seen my mri just the report - I didnot even know I was suppose to get it. At 4 months I took my mri to him and he did not see any signs of stroke. I asked him if it could be ms and he said no. and stupid me asked "how do you know?"  and he answered very rudely because the mri does not show it.  I am so depressed I do not know what to do.  I am still numb and have aches. I would like to know what is wrong with me.  I thought maybe ms since my aunt had it.  My whole right side is affected even my ear.  Any sugggestions on what my next plan is?  Thanks, nette

[nette573]

I am very frustrated.  I cant think of words sometime and answer quickly.  I am having numbness on my right side head, face, arm, hand, foot and leg.  I am very tired all the time aches and pains.  All this happened in may on mothers day weekend.  All your advice is great. I thank all of you for and I will get another neurologist.  I am getting very frustrated.  I guess I better get ready for a long time in finding out what is wrong with me.  Thanks, again, nette573

[sllowe]

Hi Nette573,

Welcome, I'm glad you've found the forum, and I hope you've been able to read some of the posts here.  I'm going to back f-fish and say, "find another Neuro." There are a lot of things that will need to be checked based on what you are experiencing.  Write down everything you can, as it has happened and start your timeline.  It will be important when you go to the next Dr. so you don't forget anything.  Also, I suggest you do not go alone, bring someone who can explain everything back to you as it was stated, and one that can also chime in, if you forget something.

I wish you well, and hope you find some relief soon,

SL

[fishyfish]

Welcome to the forum!  Sorry you've been having trouble.  Ditch that neuro!!  Where does he get off being so dismissive?  Geez.  Definately find a new one and get a different opinion.  MRIs alone do not definitively prove MS or not MS.  There are a lot of different tests good neuros will do - MRI's with and without contrast of head and spine, NCS/EMG studies, evoked potential tests, lumbar punctures, and lots of blood tests to exclude mimics like Lyme and other disorders.  

Are you still having the numbness?  Do you have any other troubling symptoms?  We're here to listen and give support, so keep us posted!

Fishyfish

[AussyRose]

I had a rude neuro once.  Now I don't.

That's the best I can do to help you out, as I am fairly new to all of this.  i think having a compassionate doctor is of the upmost importance.  Many of us on here have had more than one!

Even if you stick to the one you've got, best of luck.