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233622 tn?1279334905

Touch your nose test

I AM SORRY I AM SO FULL OF QUESTIONS. I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THIS SO I MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOIN ON AT MY APPOINTMENT AND WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK.

WHAT DOES THE TOUCH YOUR NOSE TEST SHOW? IS IT A PASS OR FAIL TEST?  IF YOU DO NOT TOUCH YOUR NOSE DO YOU FAIL? WHAT IF YOU TOUCH YOUR MOUTH INSTEAD OF YOUR NOSE?  I CAN GET MY NOSE WITH MY LEFT HAND BUT I GO TO MY MOUTH WITH MY RIGHT.  I GET MY RIGHT FINGER CLOSE TO MY FACE AND THEN AM NOT REALLY SURE WHERE MY NOSE IS AT.  

THEN THERE IS THE LIFT YOUR LEG ONTO YOUR KNEE AND RUN IT DOWN YOUR SHIN.  MY LEFT LEG IS FINE. I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME EVEN GETTING MY RIGHT LEG OVER TO TOUCH MY LEFT LEG. NO WAY I CAN GET IT UP ONTO MY KNEE AND RUN DOWN MY SHIN.

SORRY FOR THE SILLY QUESITONS. MY APPOINTMENT IS ON WEDNESDAY. THE MORE I KNOW THE LESS WORRIED I WILL BE.  

L
6 Responses
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233622 tn?1279334905
THAT IS MY MAIN CONCERN.  THE REST OF THE THINGS I AM DEALING WITH, LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO GET ONE LEG ONTO THE OTHER, ARE THINGS THAT SLOW ME DOWN AND FRUSTRATE ME; BUT THIS EYE PROBLEM IS DIFFERENT.

I THINK IT IS SIGNIFICANT. IT MAY NOT BE MS, BUT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. MS WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE AS I AM HEALTHY AND NO OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND.  

I KNOW I JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.  I HAVE THE NAME OF A NEURO-OPT I WILL CALL IF I DON'T GET ANY WHERE NEXT WEEK.  I SUSPECT I WILL THOUGH BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD VERY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE DOCTORS AT THIS CLINIC.  

I HAVE CHATTED WITH A LADY WHO WENT TO SEE THE SAME NEUROLOGIST I SAW THIS SUMMER. SHE WAS BRUSHED OFF JUST LIKE I WAS. SHE WENT TO THIS MS CLINIC I WILL BE GOING TO NEXT WEEK AND WAS TREATED VERY WELL.

SHE WAS NOT BRUSHED OFF AND THEY SHOWED GENUINE CONCERN FOR HER.  SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS LIKE ON. SO, I AM VERY HOPEFUL I WILL GET AN ANSWER OR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN ALL OF THIS.  



L
Helpful - 0
220917 tn?1309784481
That is an EXCELLENT question.  I mean, the significance of your second onset of optic neuritis.  Press him on this.  It would be ludicrous for him to brush this off.  And I don't think it's a red flag for you to know a lot about ON being a precursor to MS.  It's all over the internet.

If he doesn't say anything about it at first, you bring it up.

Go, girl!

Zilla*
Helpful - 0
233622 tn?1279334905
THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE REPLIES.  MAYBE A BETTER QUESTION WOULD HAVE BEEN -- ARE THERE THINGS I NEED TO ASK THE DOCTOR?  

I AM ON MY SECOND ROUND OF OPTIC NEURITIS. NEITHER OF MY BOUTS WITH ON HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH STERIODS.  FROM WHAT I AM READING I AM AT HIGH RISK FOR DEVELOPING MS, IF THAT IS NOT ALREADY THE PROBLEM.

I AM WONDERING HOW SIGNIFICANT A SECOUND BOUT OF ON REALLY IS AND IF ON CAN OCCUR WITH NO UNDERLYING CAUSE.  


L
Helpful - 0
335728 tn?1331414412
First of all there is no such thing as a silly question...if you don't ask how do we learn!  It would be impossible!

I do agree with Zilla though, going into a neurological test cold is probably better for the result that the neurologist is going to obtain. If you know what the dr. is looking for, you may be unconsciously or consciously lead to respond differently to the actions that the dr. is asking to you make.  This can lead to errors in a diagnosis and having unnecessary testing done.

You should go in cold and take your time during the testing and just do the best you can to follow the dr.'s requests.  I am sure that you will be fine and just remember that there is really no right or wrong answer...if you don't know the answers, you will come out with what your body does naturally and that is what you and the doctor want.

Best of Luck honey and let us know how it goes ok?

Lots of Hugs,

Rena705
Helpful - 0
195469 tn?1388322888
There is not a thing silly about your questions.  They are valid questions and ARE part of what SHOULD be included in your neurological exam.

The finger to the nose test is performed with both arms outstretched to the sides.  Holding both arms straight out, you will be asked to bring your index finger to your nose.  Sometimes being asked to repeat it rapidly.

It will tell your doctor if your brain is sending the message from the fingertip upon your command to touch the nose.  It tells the doctor if something is amiss in your neurological exam, such as where your finger is in relationship to space and knowing where your nose is.  Sounds like a stupid test doesn't it?  But it's not.  And yes, if you flunk, you flunk.  You may also be asked to watch the doctor's finger without moving your head, as he moves it up and down and from side to side.

The "shin test," can also point to a problem in the brain and the spinal cord.  I am able to do it succesffuly with one foot up and down my shin, but not the other one.  (I have a lesion in my spinal cord)

The easiest and most simple way to explain this, is your doctor is seeing how well the brain and spinal cord are conducting commands and pointing to areas of problems.  The finger watching can also tell him if you are having Nystagmus.  A "shaking" back and forth of the eyeball.  Also a sign of neurological problems that has to do with the eye muscles.  All of this is part of observing how well your central nervous system performs simple tasks, letting them know if there are troubles in these areas.

If you "google" 'Neurological exam on the internet, you can find out a whole lot more and maybe find something that can explain it better than I can.

Good luck at your doctor visit.

And it's going to be okay.  Relax....just a little, okay?

Be Well,
Heather
Helpful - 0
220917 tn?1309784481
Hi, LA~

None of these tests are pass/fail.  They are there to let your doc see how your body moves.  I think it's better to go to the test "cold," not knowing what they are testing for, so that you do not subconsiously lead yourself.  Do you know what I mean?

I think we all can guess that most of these exams are designed to let the examiner observe our movements and watch how our bodies obey us.  Keep that in mind, perhaps.

Try your best not to be nervous.  If you keep hitting your mouth instead of your nose, that's imptortant.  Your doc will make note of that.  Just try your best to target your nose.  Take your time.  

Good luck!

Zilla*
Helpful - 0
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