Can anyone answer some questions??

[Boggle81]

Hi
I'm new to the forum so I'll explain what I'm experiencing with a brief history
Im a 30 year old man, weight is 13 st 2lb height 5"10' and was fairly active. About 5 years ago, I slipped my l5/s1 disc, which healed all by itself after about six weeks. The same disc eventually went again about 3 years ago and I have a discectomy to remove part of the disc.
Last August I started getting the signs of a sliPped disc, so pins and needles in my left leg down to my foot, and in my right leg to my knee, in december I had an MRI which showed no disc damage, Dr sent me for a cortisone injection and prescribed Tramadol (200mg twice a day, pregabalin 150mg three times a day) with an MRI after 6 weeks, again this showed nothing.
Since December I've had several other symptoms appear, firstly I occasionally get blurred vision that last for about 5 minutes where I can't focus at all, I also get pins and needles on the left side of my head lasting for about an hour, I'm completely impotent and when I urinate I end up dribbling about 2 minutes after I've finished, nothing major but enough to cause me embarrassment, and I constantly feel fatigued. This morning I woke up with a constant throbbing pain in my right arm (feels like I've been I've been in the gym doing some big weights!)
I've been to my doctors alot recently and feel like I'm wasting his and another patients time so wanted to know if these symptoms are possibly MS as this was the most common response when I put any combination of symptoms into google!

[Boggle81]

Teenyturner....thanks, you're right I need to keep at my doc! Made an appointment for next week so will keep you posted
Threewheelmobile....the MRI was done with a gadolinium contrast but the only cross section they looked at was the l5/s1 region
Supermum_ms....I've already checked side effects, first think I do when I'm prescribed new meds, the only thing I would say is that I've had the symptoms when I've been off the meds and they would have metabolised out of my system?!
Kwarendorf....true, but I just wanted to hear from people on here before I started to really nag, I suppose it's a bit like being an ostrich!
Also guys, and this has never happened before I had twitches in what I can only say was the top of my bladder on my front and in my left thumb/index finger, both last for about 20 seconds, then go away before happening again in about 5 minutes! Any ideas??

Thanks

Nick

[kwarendorf]

It seems to me that in order to find out what may be going on they need to look at the other end of you spine :-) MS for example is much more likely to present in images of your c-spine (and brain) rather than your l/s-spine.

I had my first symptoms when I was about your age. They went away but came back last year, 20 years later! I would find a neurologist...

Kyle

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome, when ever anyone lists the medications they are taking, I always research them to see if their sx could be drug related, yours both do list your sx as side affects. see http://www.drugs.com/sfx/tramadol-side-effects.html and http://www.drugs.com/ppa/pregabalin.html

"Adverse Reactions [for pregabalin only partially listed]
CNS
Dizziness (45%); somnolence (28%); ataxia (20%); headache (14%); tremor (11%); abnormal thinking, balance disorder, neuropathy (9%); abnormal gait, fatigue (8%); asthenia, confusion, euphoria, speech disorder (7%); amnesia, disturbances in attention, incoordination (6%); twitching (5%); memory impairment, myoclonus, vertigo (4%); abnormal feeling, hypesthesia (3%); anxiety, depression, disorientation, drunk feeling, lethargy (2%); depersonalization, hypertonia, paresthesia, stupor (at least 1%); nervousness (1%).

EENT
Blurred vision, diplopia (12%); abnormal vision (5%); pharyngolaryngeal pain (3%); eye disorder (2%); conjunctivitis, nystagmus, otitis media, tinnitus (at least 1%).

GI
Dry mouth (15%); constipation (10%); increased appetite (7%); flatulence, vomiting (3%); abdominal distension (2%); abdominal pain, gastroenteritis (at least 1%); diarrhea, nausea (postmarketing).

Genitourinary
Urinary incontinence (2%); anorgasmia, impotence, libido decreased, urinary frequency (at least 1%).

I would discuss this with your dr as a possible causation, or to at least be considered and investigated.

Cheers............JJ

[Threewheelmobile]

Did you get a second opinion? I'd go to another doctor for a second opinion.
If he has done an MRI of your discs he will not see anything unless he uses contrast fluids to lighten up the situation. Or a exray that lightens up the disc area.
Needless to say they won't be able to do much for you !
Have you been to a manuela physical therapist ?
Do not let the doctor walk away from this situation it is serious!
Make him to the proper investigations or seek another doctor for a consultation.
O agree with Teenytumer. This is one time in your life that you are intitled to be a pushy nuisance.

[teenyturner]

Just a warning......you need to take this seriously.

Keep going to your doctor until your signs/symptoms are explained.  Do NOT be put off by any doctors dismissal or belittling of your problems.  Doctors are often not willing to take subjective symptoms seriously and you, more often than not, need to be a pain in their backside to ensure you have everything investigated thoroughly.

Good luck and keep hanging in there.  This is one of those times in your life when you have to be willing to be a pushy nuisance.

[Boggle81]

Forgot to say, I also have balance issues mostly losing balance and going to the left and I'm getting a bit forgetful, nothing major, just little things like remembering to phone someone or walking into a room and wondering why I went in there!! My girlfriend things this is quiet amusing!?!