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Looking for insight on symptoms..
Hi there. I'm just looking for any insight on MS symptoms. I've recently been dealing with odd symptoms and while my family doc passed it off as anxiety, I went ahead and found a neurologist. I'm 33 and in the beginning of February, experienced sudden back pain that came around to my chest. EKG and chest xray were clear. The following day, my arm felt funny, it was not weak or numb, hard to explain almost achy and my hand started to tingle. I also had upper back pain. The tingling lasted for maybe 6 hours, the strange arm lasted a few days. I went to the ER during that episode and again EKG, chest xray and ddimer blood test for clot were all clear. This is when the ER doc starts talking about MS. So I follow up with primary doc who just dismisses me, and I then fine a neurologist. Meanwhile I started to have sensations of a needle pricking me. Only lasts a second and it was all over my body as well as quick painless muscle twitches all over. I continue to have these sensations just a handful of times a day. The other new symptom that started was my leg. Again it's not numb, not weak yet it almost feels like I'm wearing a sock when I'm not. It's my calf area and also both feet will get quick pains on and off. I also get an odd sensation maybe twice a day of cool water on my calf for a quick second.None of this is affecting activity as I am still able to jog and bike ride on a daily basis. My arm which originally was an issue has been fine until over the weekend I pulled weeds for hours and the achy feeling reappeared without the hand tingling. I had an emg done and do not have results yet, also lots of bloodwork that's all been normal. Neuro ordered mri cspine with and without contrast on a 1.5t machine which from reading I see can miss lesions for ms. While I have not heard results from doctor yet, I picked up mri report and it does indicate I have 4 bulging discs and bone spurs on my cspine. Odd part being its noted all cspine issues are on left side and my odd arm and leg are on the right side. I'm worried when I go back to the neuro he will also dismiss me...perhaps blaming it all on my neck. Not sure if I then push for him to do more testing? Do my symptoms warrant more of a search for ms? I'm just so confused. MS was really not on my radar until the ER doc brought it up. Just really want answers and not sure if I am on the right path trying to get more testing..sorry this is so long :) again any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
I didn't know that about mayo. That's unfortunate. My big reason for going there is to rule out malignancy where the brain lesions are concerned, as my doctors here have no clue what they are. But now I'm not sure I want to go!
I'm glad you brought this to my attention.
That said, I also have an appointment coming up at the ms clinic at Colombia U.
I've found out this year that many doctors and neurologists have limited experience with ms. Thanks again for the info on Mayo.
I'm glad you brought this to my attention.
That said, I also have an appointment coming up at the ms clinic at Colombia U.
I've found out this year that many doctors and neurologists have limited experience with ms. Thanks again for the info on Mayo.
Have you done some research about Mayo and its attitude towards MS? Not so encouraging, I'm afraid.
We've had lots of members go the Mayo route over the years, and only a few have been satisfied with the outcome. Different standards for diagnosis (compared with the entire rest of the US medical world); different ideas about who needs treatment, so that when early symptoms are mild, no treatment is offered; arrogant and dismissive doctors. We've had so many report what they felt was a big waste of time and money. Try the Search this Community box for many examples of what I'm saying.
Naturally there have been some good experiences, mostly for those whose cases were very straightforward and fairly serious.
Don't want to rain on your parade, but I did think you should be aware of Mayo's track record MS-wise.
ess
T
We've had lots of members go the Mayo route over the years, and only a few have been satisfied with the outcome. Different standards for diagnosis (compared with the entire rest of the US medical world); different ideas about who needs treatment, so that when early symptoms are mild, no treatment is offered; arrogant and dismissive doctors. We've had so many report what they felt was a big waste of time and money. Try the Search this Community box for many examples of what I'm saying.
Naturally there have been some good experiences, mostly for those whose cases were very straightforward and fairly serious.
Don't want to rain on your parade, but I did think you should be aware of Mayo's track record MS-wise.
ess
T
Hi Carlson. I'm sorry to hear of your symptoms. I am 33 also, and know how you feel.
This is a particular problem with MS, in that there are so many crossovers between spinal stenosis, bulging discs, herniation and other spinal problems. I've had mild disc bulging since my early twenties, and many of the symptoms you've listed sound like the symptoms I've had from bulging discs in the c-spine.
MS presents differently in everyone, but it seems like one across the board is a crippling fatigue. It's a kind of fatigue that's very hard to explain to someone.
When things got worse for me (bouts of vertigo and tripping on sidewalks) I began looking into MS. and other possibilities. Here's the thing about investigating MS: be prepared and gather your patience and reserve.
What I've learned from this process and through this forum is that it is often not a speedy or easy diagnosis, as I'm sure you already know.. Even after the MRI found a lesion/s in my cerebellum, I am still undiagnosed. Now I'm off to the Mayo clinic for further testing.
If you decide to go through more testing, I hope you can do so without stressing over it too much. The diagnostic process can, in itself, be just as bad if not worse than the symptoms.
Wishing you luck and answers.
N
This is a particular problem with MS, in that there are so many crossovers between spinal stenosis, bulging discs, herniation and other spinal problems. I've had mild disc bulging since my early twenties, and many of the symptoms you've listed sound like the symptoms I've had from bulging discs in the c-spine.
MS presents differently in everyone, but it seems like one across the board is a crippling fatigue. It's a kind of fatigue that's very hard to explain to someone.
When things got worse for me (bouts of vertigo and tripping on sidewalks) I began looking into MS. and other possibilities. Here's the thing about investigating MS: be prepared and gather your patience and reserve.
What I've learned from this process and through this forum is that it is often not a speedy or easy diagnosis, as I'm sure you already know.. Even after the MRI found a lesion/s in my cerebellum, I am still undiagnosed. Now I'm off to the Mayo clinic for further testing.
If you decide to go through more testing, I hope you can do so without stressing over it too much. The diagnostic process can, in itself, be just as bad if not worse than the symptoms.
Wishing you luck and answers.
N
I've got the exact same issues happening. My hand and arm feel like I'm wearing a glove of sorts, and they tingle non stop. My shin is numb, and my foot either tingles or is numb. I get muscle spasms during the day in my thigh. I've seen 3 neurologists, and 2 have said its not MS. All tests, IE: MRI's of neck, brain and back show no lesions. A nerve conduction test was normal. The 3rd neurologist just ordered a spinal tap insisting this is MS. It's intermittent also. All of this is on my right side only. Also my face is numb. Glad to hear im not alone! :)
I've got the exact same issues happening. My hand and arm feel like I'm wearing a glove of sorts, and they tingle non stop. My shin is numb, and my foot either tingles or is numb. I get muscle spasms during the day in my thigh. I've seen 3 neurologists, and 2 have said its not MS. All tests, IE: MRI's of neck, brain and back show no lesions. A nerve conduction test was normal. The 3rd neurologist just ordered a spinal tap insisting this is MS. It's intermittent also. All of this is on my right side only. Also my face is numb. Glad to hear im not alone! :)
Bump. Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom to add here?
Do I understand correctly that you do have a neurologist? I think some of what you mention may be attributable to back/spine issues but it's really hard to say without further investigation.
Have you had a brain MRI yet? This would be perhaps the most standard diagnostic tool used to point to MS, though the diagnostic process is a bit of a minefield of tests and physical exams etc.
Perhaps someone else will chime in with more input. Nothing's 'screaming' MS to me, but then MS often forgets to speak up in obvious ways!
Do I understand correctly that you do have a neurologist? I think some of what you mention may be attributable to back/spine issues but it's really hard to say without further investigation.
Have you had a brain MRI yet? This would be perhaps the most standard diagnostic tool used to point to MS, though the diagnostic process is a bit of a minefield of tests and physical exams etc.
Perhaps someone else will chime in with more input. Nothing's 'screaming' MS to me, but then MS often forgets to speak up in obvious ways!
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"Hi there. I'm just looking for any insight on MS symptoms. I've recently been dealing with odd symptoms and while my family doc passed it off as anxiety, I went ahead and found a neurologist.
I'm 33 and in the beginning of February, experienced sudden back pain that came around to my chest. EKG and chest xray were clear. The following day, my arm felt funny, it was not weak or numb, hard to explain almost achy and my hand started to tingle. I also had upper back pain. The tingling lasted for maybe 6 hours, the strange arm lasted a few days.
I went to the ER during that episode and again EKG, chest xray and ddimer blood test for clot were all clear. This is when the ER doc starts talking about MS. So I follow up with primary doc who just dismisses me, and I then fine a neurologist. Meanwhile I started to have sensations of a needle pricking me. Only lasts a second and it was all over my body as well as quick painless muscle twitches all over.
I continue to have these sensations just a handful of times a day. The other new symptom that started was my leg. Again it's not numb, not weak yet it almost feels like I'm wearing a sock when I'm not. It's my calf area and also both feet will get quick pains on and off.
I also get an odd sensation maybe twice a day of cool water on my calf for a quick second.None of this is affecting activity as I am still able to jog and bike ride on a daily basis. My arm which originally was an issue has been fine until over the weekend I pulled weeds for hours and the achy feeling reappeared without the hand tingling.
I had an emg done and do not have results yet, also lots of bloodwork that's all been normal. Neuro ordered mri cspine with and without contrast on a 1.5t machine which from reading I see can miss lesions for ms. While I have not heard results from doctor yet, I picked up mri report and it does indicate I have 4 bulging discs and bone spurs on my cspine.
Odd part being its noted all cspine issues are on left side and my odd arm and leg are on the right side. I'm worried when I go back to the neuro he will also dismiss me...perhaps blaming it all on my neck. Not sure if I then push for him to do more testing?
Do my symptoms warrant more of a search for ms? I'm just so confused. MS was really not on my radar until the ER doc brought it up. Just really want answers and not sure if I am on the right path trying to get more testing..sorry this is so long :) again any thoughts are greatly appreciated!"