I'm cancelling my MS Neuro appointment.

[Guitar_grrrl]

You may have read in November my MS neuro is leaning more toward a Cervical Myelopathy as the source of my problems, and not MS.  

I saw my general neuro last Friday - the 76 y.o. guy who's seen it all.  The guy who diagnosed me in May 2009.  I told him what the MS neuro said, and he just rolled his eyes.  He said, "CSM wouldn't cause you the fatigue, TM, ringing ears, facial paresthesias, spasms, that MS hug, and occasional dizziness you have".

Fine.  That's all I needed to hear.

In the mean time, I'm off DMDs for a while.  I'm not a Copaxone candidate (easy hives, and I get SVT at the drop of a hat), or an Interferon candidate (depression).  This leaves Tysabri and Gilenya.  Ty worked fine at keeping flairs and progression down to a dull roar.  Ty also makes me nervous, just because I don't know my JC virus status.  Gilenya is just too scary to me, right now.

I'm still taking symptom management meds like Baclofen, 4-AP, occasional Valium, and MJ.

I'm calling to cancel tomorrow.

[Quixotic1]

I think your thinking is sound.  The MS Neuro isn't seeing the whole picture.  

Are the bulging discs really impinging upon the cord?? If so they con be contributing to some of the problem, but not all as so eloquently ennumerated by your general neuro.

I'm off DMDs for exactly the same reasons, plus I have less disability and progression than you.

Hang in there.

Quix

[Guitar_grrrl]

DV -

My MS neuro thinks my bulging discs are causing it.  Since I have no visible lesions on my C or T spine MRIs, and a neg. SSEP,  she's sure it's mechanical.  My MRIs don't show any major impingement on the cord.  My neuro exam, though, and my symptoms point to lesions in the C and T spines.  It's just that right now, they're not showing themselves on MRI.  I'm not willing to go through a myelogram.  I have explained this to my general neuro, and he says I don't need to because a MRI shows things even better than a myelogram.  I've always done my MRIs on a 3T machine.

Ufrustrated -
MJ calms my spasms quickly (within 10 minutes).  I can only do it at night, though, because I can't function well in the cog department while on it.  So I wait until I'm at home and stay put for the rest of the day/evening.

[anon07072023]

How your general neuro explained it to you makes perfect sense to me.  I'm glad you're cancelling your appt with your MS neuro.  Apparently, he's failed to look at your entire picture.    

-Kelly

[RedFlame]

good for you!  I don't know what it is with these MS specialists---but I would stay with your other neuro, I'm sure he has heard it all.

I would cancel too.  

[doublevision1]

I'm confused --- MS can cause cervical myelopathy.  If MS didn't cause yours, what does he think is the cause of it?

[Ufrustrated2]

dose the mj help much?

[Lulu54]

We all need that team member who we trust implicitly - I am so glad you have one of those in this doctor.  -Lulu

[HVAC]

I do not blame you. I hope your general does not retire anytime soon.

Alex