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MS Symptoms?
Hello,
I am a 34 year old female who has recently been overcome with symptoms that have cause much pain and worry. Two years ago I began noticing a numb left leg and fatigue. The doctor did a lower back MRI and said it was from a bulging disc. Six months ago my left arm started going numb and became achy. A little over a month ago the left side of my face started going numb. A couple days after this all heck broke loose. The first thing that I noticed was that I thought I was choking when my food got caught half way down my throat when I tried to swallow. From there I have had SEVERE arm, throat, ear, chest, stomach, inner thigh, and calf pain on my left side. My left eye has lost focus from time to time as well. I went to my doctor and he suspected MS and put me on an oral steroid as well as gabapentin. I immediately felt some relief. I then went to one Neurologist who said my brain MRI was clear of lesions and said I did not have MS, but rather Spina Bifida with Hydrocephalus. I did not agree, nor did my family doc. with his diagnosis, so I went to another neurologist who also said my brain mri was clear, but I might have MS. He said he wanted to wait and see and do another scan in 6 months. My chest pain on left side around to my back is daily along with my ear and throat. Sometimes I am worried I am having a heart attack? My question is could it be cardiac related? If it is MS, should I be waiting 6 months to find out? I am seriously confused and very frustrated. It feels like the doctors are not listening. Everything I have read on the MS community fits my profile.
I am a 34 year old female who has recently been overcome with symptoms that have cause much pain and worry. Two years ago I began noticing a numb left leg and fatigue. The doctor did a lower back MRI and said it was from a bulging disc. Six months ago my left arm started going numb and became achy. A little over a month ago the left side of my face started going numb. A couple days after this all heck broke loose. The first thing that I noticed was that I thought I was choking when my food got caught half way down my throat when I tried to swallow. From there I have had SEVERE arm, throat, ear, chest, stomach, inner thigh, and calf pain on my left side. My left eye has lost focus from time to time as well. I went to my doctor and he suspected MS and put me on an oral steroid as well as gabapentin. I immediately felt some relief. I then went to one Neurologist who said my brain MRI was clear of lesions and said I did not have MS, but rather Spina Bifida with Hydrocephalus. I did not agree, nor did my family doc. with his diagnosis, so I went to another neurologist who also said my brain mri was clear, but I might have MS. He said he wanted to wait and see and do another scan in 6 months. My chest pain on left side around to my back is daily along with my ear and throat. Sometimes I am worried I am having a heart attack? My question is could it be cardiac related? If it is MS, should I be waiting 6 months to find out? I am seriously confused and very frustrated. It feels like the doctors are not listening. Everything I have read on the MS community fits my profile.
THANK YOU for getting back to me so quickly. The past few months I have felt like no one is listening, nor understands what is going on.
Neither one of the neurologists that I have been sent to were MS Specialists. I tried to get into one, but my primary doctor didn't send enough information in the referral therefore I was told by the MS Clinic I didn't qualify. As for the MRI, I did have contrast, but I do not know what strength the machine was. My brain was imaged a little over a month ago. I was not familiar with the cervical and thoracic spine MRI being a necessary part of diagnosing MS until I started reading the articles on Medhelp. I'm really doubting the doctors I have gone to after reading some things on the MS community site. The doctor I saw first that said I had spina bifida was the first to ever tell me that. My family doctor and other neurologist I saw said this was not a correct diagnosis. I could have told them that. :)
The chest pain scares me. I am currently wearing an event monitor after complaining for the umpteenth time to my family doc. It just seems that I have a dull to sometimes sharp ache right in the middle of my left sternum. It wraps around to my back and makes the left side of my back sore to the touch. What makes me think this is related to my other symptoms is that before I was put on gabapentin I was experiencing these sharp pains from my left calf all the way up to my left ear. My chest hurt so severely I was sure I was having a heart attack. Could MS cause a heart to have problems?
As of today I started trying to find another neurologist that I can go to. The thing is that it takes a few months to get in. After some things I have read, I am under the impression that time is of the essence if MS is the disease causing all of my symptoms. Is this correct to assume?
I have two small children at home and teach 10 year olds daily. I am becoming very tired of feeling so bad that I am not able to be a good mom or effective teacher. I really need someone who can get things rolling.
Neither one of the neurologists that I have been sent to were MS Specialists. I tried to get into one, but my primary doctor didn't send enough information in the referral therefore I was told by the MS Clinic I didn't qualify. As for the MRI, I did have contrast, but I do not know what strength the machine was. My brain was imaged a little over a month ago. I was not familiar with the cervical and thoracic spine MRI being a necessary part of diagnosing MS until I started reading the articles on Medhelp. I'm really doubting the doctors I have gone to after reading some things on the MS community site. The doctor I saw first that said I had spina bifida was the first to ever tell me that. My family doctor and other neurologist I saw said this was not a correct diagnosis. I could have told them that. :)
The chest pain scares me. I am currently wearing an event monitor after complaining for the umpteenth time to my family doc. It just seems that I have a dull to sometimes sharp ache right in the middle of my left sternum. It wraps around to my back and makes the left side of my back sore to the touch. What makes me think this is related to my other symptoms is that before I was put on gabapentin I was experiencing these sharp pains from my left calf all the way up to my left ear. My chest hurt so severely I was sure I was having a heart attack. Could MS cause a heart to have problems?
As of today I started trying to find another neurologist that I can go to. The thing is that it takes a few months to get in. After some things I have read, I am under the impression that time is of the essence if MS is the disease causing all of my symptoms. Is this correct to assume?
I have two small children at home and teach 10 year olds daily. I am becoming very tired of feeling so bad that I am not able to be a good mom or effective teacher. I really need someone who can get things rolling.
Hi and welcome. I'm sorry you're having so much trouble but glad you came here for help. We'll do our best.
Was either of these neurologists an MS specialist? Many claim they are but really aren't. There aren't regulations about this. Do you know whether your brain MRI was done using the MS protocol? (If this isn't familiar, please see our Health Pages.) How long ago was your brain imaged? Do you know the strength of the MRI machine? I think it's time to up the ante and be seen by someone knowledgeable and proactive. Do you know why one doctor said spina bifida? If you had that, wouldn't you have had it from birth?
It seems strange that you weren't given an MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine. That's one thing that makes me think you need a better doctor. You also need a thorough neuro exam and possibly other tests.
Your symptoms sound very much like MS. If you have chest pain you should certainly have that investigated for cardiac involvement, but you could also be experiencing the famous MS hug.
I know I've asked a lot of questions, and I'm sure others will too, but maybe we can help get you some answers.
ess
Was either of these neurologists an MS specialist? Many claim they are but really aren't. There aren't regulations about this. Do you know whether your brain MRI was done using the MS protocol? (If this isn't familiar, please see our Health Pages.) How long ago was your brain imaged? Do you know the strength of the MRI machine? I think it's time to up the ante and be seen by someone knowledgeable and proactive. Do you know why one doctor said spina bifida? If you had that, wouldn't you have had it from birth?
It seems strange that you weren't given an MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine. That's one thing that makes me think you need a better doctor. You also need a thorough neuro exam and possibly other tests.
Your symptoms sound very much like MS. If you have chest pain you should certainly have that investigated for cardiac involvement, but you could also be experiencing the famous MS hug.
I know I've asked a lot of questions, and I'm sure others will too, but maybe we can help get you some answers.
ess
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