MS like symptoms.

[Usablehero]

Basically it's like this, I have been feeling ill. General pains and aches, just constantly active. Slurred and stuttering speech, that started only in the last couple of years. I think I say certain things a certain way, and it comes out as garbage or uncomprehending non-sense. My wife laughs and says we all do it, but I think otherwise. I FEEL like it's an honest problem. It happens more then 20+ times a day.

Memory problems galore, short-term, long-term, with in the last 5 or years years it has gotten to a giving up stage trying to remember anything. If I do.. I do. If I don't... then.. *shrugs*    I've "ended up" with IBS, with constant chronic constipation with severe pain.

Shock like pains in my hands, face, feet, cell phone like vibrations on the outer thigh. Would think I was getting a text message. A constant tingling or pins and needles feeling.

It took a really bad drive in the last 4 weeks, I hurt so bad all the time, especially in the Left side of my Neck. I started taking Morphine, it really helped. Then I fear I might have made things worse. I felt so much better on the Morphine that I abused it, albeit briefly. As my symptoms have gotten worse while on the opioid. So as of right now, I haven't had any Morphine in 2 weeks and the symptoms are still there and worse.

So went to the GP last Monday, she diagnosed right there balance problems( I didn't know this but I can't control walking with one foot in front of the other, I wobble so bad I almost fall over.) and hyper flexia. Then sent me to get an MRI. She was hinting around about my Morphine usage, as I had blood work done prior to seeing her, and she didn't comment on it.

Last Friday, I had an MRI no contrast, on my brain and spinal with no abnormal signs. I know this the routine. My Mother has MS with a DX. She went through the exact same issues until the lesions got bad enough to show on an MRI. Which was around 5 years after her first MRI.

So, that is a little background. Question is, would my short lived Morphine abuse give me similar problems to MS, then persist WEEKS after?

[Usablehero]

Thanks you so much, I have also found out I have Epstein Barr with a doctor visit today (2-6-12). It might be the problem I am looking at, also Epstein Barr is linked to MS in a lot of cases. So *shrugs*. I got a neurological exam on the 20th. We will see and I will keep updated.

[Lulu54]

Welcome!  I have absolutely no idea what impact the morphine would have other than guessing, so I won't.  Maybe you can ask your GP the next time you see her?

The other thing I would request would be a referral to an MS specialist - I see you are in IN and there are some good MS centers over there.  And others are within short driving distance.  You should get a thorough neurological exam - htat may not yield answers but would establish a baseline to use in the future if your symptoms persist.

I'm sorry you are on this search and I'm sure it's equally worrisome because of your mom's MS.  But please remember that the face of MS has changed dramatically.  There are so many treatment options we now have that weren't available 20 years ago.

stay in touch, ok?
Lulu

[Usablehero]

Yeah, I have no idea about the Morphine either. I have looked and looked, I can't find the link. So I think it's coincidence, that I happened to take the drug and have a flare up. Or it exacerbated the problem...  I'm just really at a loss here.