Can it be MS

[FrankieT]

Since the MS forum is not accepting new questions, I am desperately adding my question here hoping it gets picked up from someone.

For several years I have been living with tingling in the arms and legs, burning sensation on the thighs, inside of knees and feet. I also get extreme heat feeling on feet (as though my foot is next to a very hot heater), arm tremors, leg tremors, hip pain (right side) and now recently, a line of pain that stems from my right eye to the bottom of my right foot. I can no longer stay out in the sun for more than a half hour without feeling sick for the rest of the day (and of course I live in the desert), fatigue sets in everyday before the end of work day, and the vision in my right eye blurs out quite often, with tunnel vision and a feeling of pressure. Sometimes, my arm or leg gets the weird feeling that it just has to move and then spasm out for a minute (this is quite embarrassing at times) and on really bad days, speech is hard to get out in linear context. Simple words I cannot grasp for minutes, sometimes days and remembering the year and month is an aggravating event (sometimes). I have been to the dr and have had Brain MRI, Brain MRA, Neck MRI, Neck MRA, Neck CT and Neck Ultrasound. All they have found is a left carotid artery 30% blocked, and a straightened cervical spine. They say that since I am a 39 year old with small children that all my symptoms are probably stress and to eat better and get more sleep. The neurologist did send me to a PT in which I am receiving traction on my neck which seems to be doing nothing. They thought it may be slightly possible that I have a pinched nerve in my neck. I don't have neck pain or back pain outside of just tiredness. I have MS in my family and that is why I am asking about it. My family is equating many of my symptoms to my family member who had MS. She is no longer living, so I cannot talk with her. But here is my real question. Should I be more aggressive with my doctor to further test for MS, or am I more than likely barking up the wrong tree because the brain scan came back negative? I don't want to have MS, I just want a path of clarity so that I can work hard to have the best quality of life.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[bumblebizto]

Hello FT, I post on these boards here and there but mainly just read them for advice and insight.
I've gotten the "you're young. It's probably just stress!" from primary care docs before - that is SO aggrevating. But my PCP has since given me a referral for a nuero work up, which I have in a week. My symptoms read like yours (burning thighs, some sporadic tingling), which is interesting.
A) I'm not "young: and B) I don't walk around in a state of stress, so I really don't want to hear that from the neurologist next week. I dont know if the pains and sensations I have a random, but I am pretty sure that it's not due to posture, the change in the weather, lack of sleep, diet, etc, or any folksy advice I get from doctors. We are beyond that and into the realm of the brain here... Male, early 30s.

[FrankieT]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to write to me. I can't tell you how much better I feel just having this contact. I did find out that my initial brain MRIs were done on machines that had a maximum Tesla? of 1.5, so I think I am going to go back to my primary and see if I can get a higher quality scan and a T-Scan. Thank you all for your empowerment!

[Wobbly]

Welcome to the forum, boy do you have alot of symptoms that sound so familiar.  It can sometimes take quite awhile to see anything on MRI etc, but you could have symptoms.  How long have you see your Dr.. and does he/she know how long you have had these symptoms?  

do you have copies of your MRI, etc..?  if not, I would ask for a copy of the CD as well as the written report from the radiologist.  It might give you some ideas of where you stand.  

I know it took me 4 years of symptoms and seeing quite a few Neuros to finally get a DX... it can be frustrating and confusing.  

listen to your body, if it's saying something isn't right....then pursue this with your Dr and ask to see another Neuro.  

When did you have your last MRI, you should also have a full spine MRI.  

let us know how things go
take care
wobbly
dx

[jensequitur]

What Lulu said is very good advice - I would continue to push for some sort of diagnosis with your neurologist.

With the paresthesia in your arms and legs, I would recommend a T-spine MRI.  

[Lulu54]

Hi FrankieT,.
Welcome over here at the MS forum - you must have tried to post on the inactive MS Expert forum - they are currently hunting for a new expert to help out.  In the meantime we are the next best thing to an expert - and actually some of our members are BETTER than any neuro out there when it comes to understanding this disease.

Your symptoms sounds very much like they could be neurological, and with your family history of MS, I would be more persistent in looking for an answer.  

Unfortunately it sounds like you are going to spend lots of time wiating for more definite symptoms to appear - often sxs are apparent before the evidence shows up on an MRI.  Also, you should see about having a thoracic MRI done.    Brain, C-spine and T-spine mri's are all necessary when looking for MS.  

We have lots of great information here in our health pages (yellow icon, upper right side of this page) that explain more about how an MRI can be negative and you still have MS.  Take some time to learn more about this disease and how it works.

I hope you will come through here often and spend some time with us.

be well,
Lulu