Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[Juliewi]

My left arm and leg went numb about a month ago. It lasted for a few days in which I had "brain fog" and some minor trouble finding words and mixing 2 words into one. Then the tingling subsided, I started several days of having tremors, shooting pains and twinges in my arms, legs and chest. After a few days it got better but I still have an internal tremor in my left lower leg near my ankle.
So I went to my GP and she ordered a brain MRI.  They found a 5mm lesion on my right temporal lobe. They referred me to a neurologist who just ordered a cervical spine MRI and a head and neck MRA.  The wait of course, feels like forever.
Just a few days ago, this whole process started over... numb on left side, brain fog and now the tremors.
Does anyone know what this could be or been thru something similar?  I'd really appreciate any feedback
Thank you!!!
Julie

[Juliewi]

Well THANK YOU everyone!!!  It was so worth the wait...such wonderful, useful facts and information.  I so appreciate it.

I am trying so hard not to get ahead of myself and just take things one day at a time.  But, as I'm sure you all know, sometimes your mind just "goes there" no matter how hard. I am also one that would rather be educated about possibilities rather than be blindsided.  Information is power.

This morning I am having my c-spine MRI, a head MRA and a neck MRA.  My father had a brain aneurysm a few years ago so I am sure that she is being extra cautious.  

Thank you again and I will update when I get my results!
Julie

[Quixotic1]

Dinner's down.  I don't know how long you have been reading the forum, but I'm sure you know that we don't have all the answers.  But, I can at least talk about what you've told us within the context of MS.

First, your episodes certainly do sound like the things we hear about in MS.  The onset of total one-sided numbness is not at all unusual to see in MS.  However, the next thing - shooting pains throughout your body below the shoulders is more atypical.  I can see why your neurologist wanted the MRI of your neck/spine.  A partial transverse myelitis could cause these symptoms.  That would be a lesion that partially crosses across the spinal cord.

The sensation of internal tremors or vibrations is very common.  And you have a lasting spot that is quite localized and only on the one side (typical of MS).

Now that it has recurred you have fulfilled one part of the diagnosis of MS (of Relapsing Remitting MS, by far the most common type) and that is dissemination in time - or 2 or more clinical attacks of symptoms that are seen in MS.

The next part is Dissemination in Space - having evidence that the disease has affected two or more separate places in the central nervous system.  A lesion in the cervical spine could cause all of your symptoms, so I'm not sure that is is fulfilled yet.

The next part of the disagnosis is a thorough rule-out of all more reasonable explanations for the symptoms you have and the abnormalities that may have shown up.  The blood tests were for that, looking for signs of autoimmune diseases like Lupus or Sjogren's, infections like Lyme Disease, Syphillis or HIV, deficiencies like B12, other oddities like sacrcoidosis or Wilson's disease.  The negative blood tests are important evidence pointing "toward" MS.  So, if your blood tests were negative and they were thorough, Part III is done.

So, the MRI of the spine is absolutely the next step.  I also wouldn't be surprised at the need for an LP (spinal tap) is the MRIs don't give enough info.

The lesion in the temporal lobe must be kept in mind.  No, it is not the most common spot for lesions in MS, but they do occur there as far as I have read.

The temporal lobe also brings up the suggestion of seizures, but your episodes do not sound like seizures much to me.

Someone might bring up Hemiplegic Migraine which can cause a weakness of paralysis on one side of the body - which may last for many days or weeks.  Your description does not sound like that either.

So, yes, this could very well fit in with what MS can look like.  I understand the agonizing wait for answers.  Meanwhile, this is a good place to hang out and learn what's going on and what should go on.  I would recommend that you get copies of your blood work, to know what has been looked at and copies of your MRI reports.

BTW - I looked back at your older posts.  I have a chest sensation that sounds like your sensation in the chest just to the left of your sternum.  Let me describe mine.

After eating or drinking - like a full meal or a couple glasses of liquid, I get an audible (yes, other people have heard it) gurgle in that exact spot.  When I inhale it bubbles and when I exhale the bubbles reverse.  I can feel the vibrations of the "bubbling" in the area just below my ribs, which often feels distended.  This will sometimes go on for a couple hours.  It is not painful.  To me, as a physician, it feels like my stomach is distended and the gurgling air is bubbling through the sphincter of my esophagus.

I went to the GI guy.  He suspected gastroparesis - weakness or paralyasis of the stomach.  Surprisingly this is very common in the general population as well with diabetics.  The studies did not show this at all.  But, the doc said this also is not uncommon.  The condition can common and go or be permanent if there is actual nerve damage.  He thought it was due to my MS.  My MS neuro did not.  The MS Neuro did not believe that MS involved the autonomic nervous system.  I think we are finding out that this is not true.  One neuro we have spoken to recently commented that autonomic dysfunction of some type occures in 30% of people with MS.  I am still awaiting verification of this.

Sugar and fat in the meal are likely to make the stomach empty more slowly.

Well, those are my thoughts.

Welcome to the forum.  I hope you find this a good place to hang your hat and find friends and info.

Quix, MD

[jensequitur]

Hey, Julie!  Welcome to the forum.

It sounds like your neurologist is considering MS as a diagnosis.  Since you've had two separate events (known as relapses) then you fit some of the McDonald criteria (dissemination in time.)

Check out the Health Pages on the upper right of this screen, and you'll find lots of articles that will help you with information on the diagnosis.

It's possible you also have some thoracic spine involvement - see if your doctor will also schedule you for a thoracic MRI.

If you're trying to make sense of your MRIs, you'll find this site helpful:

http   ://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/4556dea65db62

[lovemy6monkeys]

Julie, I'm a Limbolander, and still new at all this. I can't give any advice, but I wanted to second your welcome. This is a wonderful forum and I know you will get lots of great information. If you haven't checked them out yet, the Health Pages (top right of the page, yellow icon) are a wealth of knowledge.

~Jess

[sg40]

Julie,

Sorry that the people with the in depth information have not responded to you yet. I don't know anything about common places for lesions - so I can't help you there. But I can say 'welcome', to you - and I am sorry you are going through a difficult time. The waiting is hard - and everyone here is going through it or has gone through it. Whether or not it turns out to be MS, you will find a lot of support and information here. Do you know when you will get your test results back? Did your doctor tell you what they were looking for?

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Julie, Please don't feel ignored.  Sometimes the forum is a little slow.  I'll be back after dinner to comment.  You aren't alone.

Quix

[Juliewi]

Anyone?  

[Juliewi]

Wanted to add that my blood work came back fine. Darn!
From what I have read, the temporal lobe does not seem to be a common place for lesions.  In your experience does that hold true for you?  Where did they find them first?