Is it MS?

[livn4god]

I am 37 yrs old, female. A year ago I went to my doctor for unexplained pain in my shoulder/neck on the left side. I would get sharp shooting pain down arm, dull pain in shoulder and neck all the time and tingling up the back of my head. My lower back (hip across spine to other hip, sometimes just one hip) would act up here and there mostly with lost of activity. In addition I had a 'foggy head' feeling; couldn't concentrate (use to have concentration like a Border Collie and be able to do 10+ things at a time; now barley can focus on one thing), memory loss (use to have a memory like an elephant), wrong words would come out (which makes me feel stupid), dizzy and very very tired (use to have tons of energy; as I have 4 boys and trained horses). The pain went away and even though the 'foggy head' stuff stayed I did not see a Neurologist as recommended.

Then I had a partial hysterectomy this last May, shortly afterwards I noticed all my limbs (toes to hip, fingers to neck) felt numb all the time, even when resting. My feet and calves swell when not propped up, right hand swells when use it (like typing at work). In the mornings I notice that all my fingers are swollen (as can't get my ring on) but gets better throughout the day. My fiance asked me why I was limping one day. Though it was more like I am dragging my right foot but looks like a limp to him (like my hip hurts). I walk slower then have ever walked even though I am telling myself to walk fast. When I try to step up the pace, I loose balance a bit and really the pace doesn't get faster. Joints hurt. Feel so tired that take days off work. Sometimes even just putting up shelves around house makes me tired for days. Have constipation one day, diarrhea the next, without diet changes. But worse is no matter how much I pushed (even with diarrhea feel like need to push) never feel like I get it all out. I drop things and very clumsy. Don't feel I have the dexterity I once had. All this on top of the 'foggy head', memory loss and other 'brain' issues I had a year ago.
One day I woke up to the worse pain ever in my lower ab (right side) it moved to right side lower back and so whole side was in pain. I couldn't walk upright. It lasted 3 hours I took a Vicodin and it never came back. My GYN (dr who did the hysterectomy) said sounded like nerve damage and that I should see my Primary as not related to the surgery. He did an MRI of lower back which showed a small amount of degeneration but said nothing remarkable.
So I saw my Primary and she tells me she thinks it's MS (and has for a year since first came in). So this time I went and saw the Neurologist, got an MRI of brain, neck, spine. Today I was told MRI only showed normal amount of degeneration in my neck. So still no answers.

[HVAC]

Hope it goes well.

Alex

[livn4god]

Thank you all for your comments. Seeing the Neurologist this week. Will keep everyone posted on what this turns out to be.

[immisceo]

The MRI you describe would have indeed included the c-spine. This stands for 'cervical spine' which is the medical/anatomical name for the neck.

Lesions relating to MS are far less likely to appear on the t-spine (Thoracic spine = from the bottom of the neck to the top of the small of the back), but the imaging can help to identify issues with the vertebrae in that area that can cause all kinds of havoc with nerves. Nerve damage may be something they are still interested in looking at based on the symptoms you describe.

MS isn't ruled out by MRI alone, but I agree with Kyle. It's not looking like it's at the top of the list of possibilities.

[livn4god]

You are right they found no demyelinating lesions on brain. The MRI included my neck so would that capture the c-spine area? When I first saw my Neurologist he said def thinks it's something either in blood, brain or spine. It's my Primary that suggested MS, so maybe we have ruled that out? Will ask my Neurologist about MRI of t-spine.

[livn4god]

Yes BP and BG are all normal. As well as thyroid and other blood tests.

[kwarendorf]

Hi -

What you describe doesn't really sound like MS to me, but I'm not a doctor nor is anyone else in this forum.

From what you describe your symptoms seem to be bilateral. MS usually attacks one side or the other. For example your right foot is numb but your left feels OK.

It looks like they were unable to identify any demyelinating lesions on you head MRI. That doesn't automatically mean it's not MS. However most of us with MS have fairly easily identified lesions.

Are you planning on having an MRI of your c-spine and t-spine? MS lesions can appear anywhere in your spinal cord. What were the results of the neuro's clinical exam?

Kyle

[PastorDan]

Sorry, liv; I don't hink we're likely to tell you much that your docs haven't already.  Did your GP have anything to say about your swelling?  I'm not remembering that being an MS symptom.  Are you checking blood glucose levels?  Blood pressure?