Aa
Lost and Frustrated, what happened to my post?
Hello,
I will try this again. It seemed to only posted a little bit of my post.
I am grateful to find this community. I feel a lot like previous poster's. So here is my story. I know you may all be tired of hearing them, but one more can't hurt!
In March 2011, I subluxed my shoulder on a call. I am currently a Paramedic, but I'm on light duty. After I injured my shoulder I completed my 24 hour shift and went home. I figured it would heal on its own. I live a little over an hour away from my job and 10 minutes before reaching home my left arm went completely numb. I was placed in an immobilizer because I had reset the injury myself on the call, so they did not need to reduce the injury. The orthopedist was a jerk and I still continued to have numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength, tremor and a searing sensation down my left arm which progressively got worse. I participated in 2 months of physical therapy without improvement. I also developed, what I believe, is trigeminal neuralgia after the injury. They equated all of these injuries to the incident in March, as did I. I was referred to a neurologist for my continuing symptoms. I saw him once and he prescribed Neurontin for nerve pain and sent me home. He did do a very thorough neuro eval. The second time I came to see him I advised him that the Neurontin had not helped my facial pain, headaches, or left arm issues. He then did another thorough physical exam. He found hyperactive reflexes on my entire left side. He even apologized for having to test them so many times (I think he was shocked at how active they were). Also, he had me hold a full glass of water from the bottom which reproduced my tremor in greater detail (The exam room floor was soaked from sloshing). I called my nurse case manager into the room and advised me that he thought I may have a lesion on a nerve in my shoulder but my nerve study came back normal; therefore, he believes that I have MS. He said the lesion must be higher and would be in my brain. He was so bold as to say he could diagnose me with MS without an MRI due to my symptoms.
Yesterday, I had a MRI of my brain which showed no lesions. I understand the percentages of having MS and no visible lesions are very low. However, my progression of symptoms is very worrisome, and I would love some answers or insight. Complete lists of my symptoms are: left hand tremor, left arm spasm and fasciculation’s, left arm tingling/numbness/searing pain/reduced grip strength (65lbs on right hand, 18lbs on left hand). Complete motor function loss in left arm with return of movement within the same day. Extreme headaches, scalp fasciculation’s/spasms on the right and left side of my face, memory loss, cognitive function delays, poor balance, urinary frequency/urgency, SEVERE cramps/spasms/weakness in thighs, calves and arches of feet, fasciculation’s to same areas. To date, I have had motor function difficulties with my left leg once. It was hard to move, and I actually injured it and did not feel it until the next day. Spasms/cramps/weakness in my mid and lower back, also around my shoulders area. Stiffness/spasms in my Achilles tendons to an alarming degree. I feel as if I am a child just learning to walk. The symptoms have been progressing very rapidly over the last MONTH. This is one reason I am so concerned. Does anyone have any idea what could be going on? Thank you for your time; I know it is a lot to read.
Elissa
I will try this again. It seemed to only posted a little bit of my post.
I am grateful to find this community. I feel a lot like previous poster's. So here is my story. I know you may all be tired of hearing them, but one more can't hurt!
In March 2011, I subluxed my shoulder on a call. I am currently a Paramedic, but I'm on light duty. After I injured my shoulder I completed my 24 hour shift and went home. I figured it would heal on its own. I live a little over an hour away from my job and 10 minutes before reaching home my left arm went completely numb. I was placed in an immobilizer because I had reset the injury myself on the call, so they did not need to reduce the injury. The orthopedist was a jerk and I still continued to have numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength, tremor and a searing sensation down my left arm which progressively got worse. I participated in 2 months of physical therapy without improvement. I also developed, what I believe, is trigeminal neuralgia after the injury. They equated all of these injuries to the incident in March, as did I. I was referred to a neurologist for my continuing symptoms. I saw him once and he prescribed Neurontin for nerve pain and sent me home. He did do a very thorough neuro eval. The second time I came to see him I advised him that the Neurontin had not helped my facial pain, headaches, or left arm issues. He then did another thorough physical exam. He found hyperactive reflexes on my entire left side. He even apologized for having to test them so many times (I think he was shocked at how active they were). Also, he had me hold a full glass of water from the bottom which reproduced my tremor in greater detail (The exam room floor was soaked from sloshing). I called my nurse case manager into the room and advised me that he thought I may have a lesion on a nerve in my shoulder but my nerve study came back normal; therefore, he believes that I have MS. He said the lesion must be higher and would be in my brain. He was so bold as to say he could diagnose me with MS without an MRI due to my symptoms.
Yesterday, I had a MRI of my brain which showed no lesions. I understand the percentages of having MS and no visible lesions are very low. However, my progression of symptoms is very worrisome, and I would love some answers or insight. Complete lists of my symptoms are: left hand tremor, left arm spasm and fasciculation’s, left arm tingling/numbness/searing pain/reduced grip strength (65lbs on right hand, 18lbs on left hand). Complete motor function loss in left arm with return of movement within the same day. Extreme headaches, scalp fasciculation’s/spasms on the right and left side of my face, memory loss, cognitive function delays, poor balance, urinary frequency/urgency, SEVERE cramps/spasms/weakness in thighs, calves and arches of feet, fasciculation’s to same areas. To date, I have had motor function difficulties with my left leg once. It was hard to move, and I actually injured it and did not feel it until the next day. Spasms/cramps/weakness in my mid and lower back, also around my shoulders area. Stiffness/spasms in my Achilles tendons to an alarming degree. I feel as if I am a child just learning to walk. The symptoms have been progressing very rapidly over the last MONTH. This is one reason I am so concerned. Does anyone have any idea what could be going on? Thank you for your time; I know it is a lot to read.
Elissa
I know! I have insurance that I can't even use, ridiculous. Thanks for the suggestion; I go see him the 16th and will definately bring it up. Maybe throw a spinal tap in there for good measure.
Insurance sure makes this stuff even less fun! If you can convince him, I'd get the c-spine pictures. It's the other area where MS lesions can appear.
Hey Kyle,
Well hopefully they wont have to read them twice. Imagine my shock when I walked in looking to get a second ortho opinion and walked out with MS. The MRI was with and without contrast. I've had no MRI of c-spine. I am not sure why both weren't ordered. I had to call the neuro office every day for a week just to get the doc to sign off on medical records. I'm really in between a rock and a hard place. Because of my original injury at work I'm still under workman's comp. So no other neuro will see me because my insurance will get denied.
Well hopefully they wont have to read them twice. Imagine my shock when I walked in looking to get a second ortho opinion and walked out with MS. The MRI was with and without contrast. I've had no MRI of c-spine. I am not sure why both weren't ordered. I had to call the neuro office every day for a week just to get the doc to sign off on medical records. I'm really in between a rock and a hard place. Because of my original injury at work I'm still under workman's comp. So no other neuro will see me because my insurance will get denied.
Hi Elissa, welcome! Looks like both of your posts did show up.
It sounds like some of your symptoms might suggest MS, although I've not heard of a neurologist that is willing to dx without the usual suspects; 2 or more attacks with at least a month in between, lesions in brain or c-spine of different ages, > 5 oligoclonal bands in CSF etc.
You didn't mention an MRI of your c-spine. Did you have one? Was the MRI of your brain done with and without contrast?
Kyle
It sounds like some of your symptoms might suggest MS, although I've not heard of a neurologist that is willing to dx without the usual suspects; 2 or more attacks with at least a month in between, lesions in brain or c-spine of different ages, > 5 oligoclonal bands in CSF etc.
You didn't mention an MRI of your c-spine. Did you have one? Was the MRI of your brain done with and without contrast?
Kyle
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