Thinking I could have MS

[redkim]

I have Chiari Malformation, and had surgery a year ago.  I also have a pineal cyst.

I started seeing a physcial medicine doctor for back pain, leg pain, hip pain, and arm pain (all on right side).  My arm pain has been an issue for about 8 years, and it pretty intense with loss of range of motion and swollen middle finger.  I was googleing some symptoms and an article on the early symptoms of MS came up.  I am concerned because I have pretty bad muscle stiffness and blurred vision.

Having Chiari I have had several MRI's and I would think the DR would tell me is MS was a concern.  The physical medicine dr thinks the pain in my arm is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and is sendingme to hve a bomne scan, I think a full body one.  This way they can look at my hip and she also suspects I have a stress frature on one of my lumbar discs (MRI was for DDD I have in the lower back).

The physical therapist I just started to see thinks my leg pains are because my muscles are so stiff that my scaticia (sp) nerve is being pinched, causing the lower back and leg pains.  When I get the leg pains and stiffness I get achy, shooting pains, stiffness that feels a little better when I stretch my legs.  I am about six inchs from touching my toes and it hurts my back and leg muscles when I try to touch my toes or bend to the left side (more then right).

Any thoughts?  Thanks all!!

[steph74]

Hi Kim.  My understanding is that Chiari can be one of the best MS mimics.  Because MS is partially a dx of exclusion, the fact that you have another explanation for your sx, and no visible lesions, suggests that the cause is likely CM.  (You should check with your dr. about whether CM can cause muscle stiffness, I don't know.)

I'm one of the few unlucky ones that have a clinical neuro exam consistent with MS, but nothing on the MRI.  They did notice slight low lying cerebral tonsils last time, and I thought, "maybe it's CM" but my dr feels sure that's not it.

Can you call your neuro and ask about the other sx?

Stephanie

[redkim]

Sarah, thanks so much for the reply.  Chiari is sometimes misdiagnosed as MS, so it's very likely that is what is causing my symptoms of stiff muscles.  The scans were what DXed the Chiari and I have yearly or bi-yearly scans done to monitor my cyst and chiari.  So I have had several MRI's.  I just didn't think Chiari could cause the muscle stiffness which I have pretty bad.

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and wish you the best in your search for answers and resources.  Medhelp is a great site to find support and answers.  All my best!

Kim

[Sparkysarah]

Hi. I noticed that no-one has replied to your post and was not sure why but thought I would respond as it is a bit deomoralising to hear nothing. I am not sure I can add a great deal to help you and as someone who is only recently diagnosed with MS I am still finding out a lot myself. However all Ican say is that if you have had MRI scans I am sure they would have picked up on anything like lesions in your brain (assuming that thye were detailed neuro MRI's) Other people are far more knowledgeable about this than me. I regret that I know nothing about Chiari although I will look it up. However I can hear that you need some answers to all the symptoms that you are experiencing and the pain and I can only send my best wishes and support as this is something we can all empathise with.

Cheers for now Sarah :)