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[suzz1950]

I am new on this site but have been following everyone for a week or so. i am going thru a rough time - after years (about 8-10) and losing my insurance, I am back on track with ins and recently had a brain scan. 4.5 active lesion so GP sent me to neurologist. Long story short, he wanted me in hospital over Xmas to do another MRI on neck and spine. I said no, I would do it outpatient. Which I did. He did not tell me that his whole office was closing. GP back tomorrow and will read it. I am still waiting for the app't to be set for spinal tap. I guess I feel its MS because I've been dealing with all symptoms for years. Right leg mostly, gabapentin recently has helped nerves. I'm on a Hugo cane and now have a Winnie walker. I'm not married, divorced 12 years. Do have 2 kids that live in town and help. Still drive a bit, still work as much as possible. Just wanted to join on so you know who I am in days to come. Thanks for listening.

[Deb61]

After all this time, I get you are wanting to get a diagnosis. Although there is no rush, I bet you want the answers yesterday.  I'm glad your neurologist is pushing for answers.

I also have pain that keeps me from being mobile.  I was recently prescribed Gabepintin, too.  I can tell you for me, it's really helping.  I will be working up to three times a day.  My neurologist said that the medicine is safer than Tylenol. Not is not addicting, has fewer major side effects, and is safe.  I am not the type of person that likes a lot of medicines, so am very encouraged.  I've had this pain for months and ready to get rid of it.  

Best wishes in getting rid of the pain and getting the correct diagnosis.

[Deb61]

I posted my response on the wrong thread, I'm so sorry!

[Deb61]

I don't know, but my doctor thinks that possibly low vitamin D, environmental, and genetics plays a role. She told me that my girls should be taking the vitamin D, and I need to raise the amount I'm taking to help prevent relapse.  

My sister has MS, too.  We were raised in a home with both parents who smoked heavily in the house and the car.  When I went home on breaks in college, I remember feeling sick with the same fatigue I get now that is hard to describe.  We also had some of the same illnesses.  So, I think some environmental factored are to blame, too.

[suzz1950]

Thank you essdipity, that is very helpful. I'll get spinal tap done to make neuro happy, I guess, and then go see what he says - go from there. I am walking ok on Winnie (small) walker. Difficult to keep balance on cane.

[essdipity]

Hey Suzz. I have a brain full of lesions, with none identified at c-spine or t-spine level over years and years of MRIs. I do have some obvious weakness, especially in right leg, and am told by neuros I drag it, but only slightly. (Also lots of sensory issues and other stuff).

So either spinal lesions are doing a great job at hiding, or everythiing is being caused by my malfunctioning brain. My current neuro says it's all brain, and that this is perfectly possible.

Just want to caution you that if an MS diagnosis for you depends on LP outcome, or if your doctor tells you brain lesions can't account for all your issues, he or she is not as knowledgeable as is needed. If that stalls you out, seek out someone better.

ess

[suzz1950]

Can anyone tell me if MS would be possible with only brain lesion? My spine MRI came back showing no MS lesions. Only the brain showed active lesion. Neurologist still wanting spinal tap so waiting for that.

[suzz1950]

Sorry again. I write this on phone in bed, keeps dropping. Anyway, just couldn't get shoe on & top of foot was black. No big deal, went shoeless, it was the beach. My brother is a retired Dr in NV. He saw foot. As you say stick to one Dr for now. Wish I liked him better. I'll wait to hear from him.

[suzz1950]

Thanks Kyle and everyone. I will wait for neurologist to call me and go from there. I guess I feel at my age I'd like to know something soon, enjoy my life more. It was weird in Can Cun. I had been out at pool with everyone for hours & that night at dinner could not ger m

[kwarendorf]

I meant to add that all test results, including MRI, need to be placed in a clinical context.

Kyle

[kwarendorf]

Try and take a deep breath. You seem to be working yourself up, and anxiety can make an already bad situation worse.

MS would not make your foot turn black and swell to twice its normal size. MS typically does not cause symtoms with visible manifestations like bleeding or swelling. MS does cause symptoms like numbness, tingling and nerve pain. Nerve pain is pain that does not have any obvious cause like trauma.

I would want to know more about the tumor your GP mentioned. I would also confine my search for answers to one doc at a time. At this point I would focus on the neurologist. See him/her as soon as you can. You should be given a thorough clinical exam by a neuro the understands the clinical manifestations of MS. Not all neuros do :-)

[suzz1950]

Sorry, dropped off. I'll end. Was just saying I take vitamins. Would love to hear what works for everyone. I can't stand long anymore so not much cooking. I use cane and 3 wheel walker, still don't walk far. I was in Can Cun in June for my daughters wedding. The heat was awful on my foot & nerve endings. it turned black & twice its size. I used a scooter. I live in AZ, not good for this. I'm so glad to find you guys. Not a lot of people, even friends, understand this. (:

[suzz1950]

Thanks so much for the support. I been battling a bit of depression. The neuro called for a spinal tap as soon as he saw brain lesion. Perhaps hes ruling out cancer? Tumor? Anyway, hes back this week. In the meantime my GP called today & said neck mri showed spurs and upper back mri shows tumor that he said would be benign and fairly common at my age. I'm 64 & until all this at about 54-55, I didn't have any problems. I worked out, hiked, etc. Now I can't even walk the mall. Its quite an adjustment, isn't it? My symptoms started in about 2004 with me thinking I was having a stroke. I was at work (realtor) and all of a sudden I couldn't talk, form my words. I went home, it seemed better & a couple weeks later, I was at drugstore and barely walked out. My right leg was like wood as I recall. I went into hospital & they did mri, found nothing. My right leg started getting weak and pain. I worked out more thinking that might help. Who knows? By about 2007, I was in a lot of pain, tingling, pins and needles and hard to do stairs. By 2010 I was sometimes in excruciating pain in right leg. Obviously I can't run around as a realtor now. I got my brokers license at 62 to save my company, now I just work the desk. Its a small company. I still think clearly - its really the pain in right leg (little in left, not a lot). I can't write much now but no problem typing. The gabapentin has helped. Sometimes a vicodin if back hurts. Thats it other then

[HVAC]

Hello and welcome. Most of us take months or years for a diagnosis. It is good your doctor is speeding things up. MS is not like cancer you do not need a diagnosis in days.

Alex

[kwarendorf]

Hi Suzz-

I would not be in a rush to have a spinal tap. Until you have a clearer understanding of the MRI results, you may or may not need it.

What are the symptoms associated with your right leg and what other symptoms are you experiencing? Is the neuro's office closed for good or just for the holidays? If just for the holidays, there is no real rush. MS is a very slow moving disease.

You have been "coping" with your symptoms for 10 years, so a few weeks won;t really hurt. (I went 20 years between first symptom and diagnosis :-))

Kyle

[immisceo]

Welcome to the community! Thanks for introducing yourself. At the moment, it's a little quiet around here due to the holidays. Things tend to pick up in the new year.

I'm sure you've read up on the long and winding road that often is the MS diagnostic process. But it sounds like you're getting those important tests set up. In the mean time, have a look at our Health Pages. There's loads of information there written and curated by members of our community (and members emeritus). http://www.medhelp.org/tags/show/7687/Multiple-Sclerosis?section=health_pages

Welcome aboard!