I too started off with just numbness on my left side of face. Since Sept 07 things have progressed to musle twitching, burning heat sensations, electrical, crawling type sensations, pins & needles, musle weakness, numbness, all left sided. Difference is I have all absolutely normal MRI's. I often thought this was the result of nerve damage or something along those lines, resulting from a very traumatic Lumbar PUncture where they did it without the direction of ultrasound/xray and had 4 goes at trying to get the fluid. I was sick for weeks after with the headache and here in Aust, they don't do the patches very often at all, or at least not in my city. But since time has gone on Ive pushed this question and all doctors disagree with me on this theory, and some have mentioned MS, some have mentioned bulged disks or stenosis, but yet cervical spine MRI's are all normal. So I have been given a temporary diagnosis of FHM.
I am not on any medications and since my last appt with my physician a month ago, more things have been happening. I too have been told there is no way it can be MS because it would show up on MRI and my symptoms have been going on too long.
It is frightening when new things pop up.
I probably don't even belong in this forum because I really don't have anything concrete to show that I have MS but have so many similar problems as many here and you are all a great bunch, very knowledgeable that it helps to just keep things in prospective reading everyones posts.
Everyone is different on if they can wait until their next appt, if they are happy with their drs, if they want a second opinion etc.
I think personally its a great idea you go see your GP to talk about these new things and see what he can do for you until June?
Hope you are feeling better soon and let us know what your GP says, sometimes just talking to the GP to get you through until your next appt helps a little. I know I do that with my GP.
Take care
Sonaya
Thanks for all your advice. It is comforting to know I can always get some feedback when a new and strange symptom start.
I will be doing some research on good neuros in my area since my original one told me this week that my next appt. was in 3 months and not to call before that unless I went numb from the waist down or lost the use of a limb--so needless to say I will be calling my GP that referred me in the first place for any meds for now!
I think yoga is a great idea, I will look into that. Really so far, people can't tell from looking at me that anything is wrong, but the way my muscles are starting to feel I will probably have to start dealing w/that also. I am glad I have you guys to lean on!
Stacey
I kinda have what you have. I'm not DX MS yet either. My biggest pain is my right side shoulder and trap and neck. I'm not sure if the pain is just myofacial or spasticity? My muscles are always tight and in spasm and it's really hard for me to move my arm straight up over my head or past a certain angle. I can't turn my head to the right to far either which makes driving tough ( i seem to cut a lot of people off) However, my PT noticed a huge improvement when I started Zanaflex. I still have pain but my muscles aren't as tight. I also exercise a lot and total believe that is the only way to stay strong. I practice vinassaya flow yoga which helps build strength, balance, and flexibility. I modify all the poses depending on how tight i feel that day. My goal is to someday teach yoga for people with pain. It has totally helped me manage my pain and stay positive. I totally recommend exercising! You just have to find what works for you!
I am so sorry that you are going through all of this! I an unDx myself and just experienced my first loss of strength in my right arm....fortunately the strength is better but the spasms are really weird!!! I took a muscle relaxer over the weekend and it really helped, but they make me very groggy. I can't work well that way so I have avoided them during the week. I don't know for sure about exercise, but I havent stopped working out. My arm is weeker but I just keep making it do stuff. The spasms have been so bad that they make my arm move away from my body!! And my fingers pull up! I called my neuro but they havent called back....ugh. maybe you should try calling your doc and see if there is any thing they can do about it! It is not right for you to suffer just because they don't know what is wrong! At least for now treat the symptom!!!
Syn
You absolutely need to find a new neuro pronto! Your symptoms are very typical--one-sided happens more often than both at once. As to lesions being 'in the wrong place,' Quix has explained to us that there is no wrong place, just more typical places and patterns. There is also no 'too long.' That also is just based on patterns. Your neuro has been in the box so long he or she doesn't know how to get out of it, let alone think outside it. Find a good MS specialist right away, and hang in there (and here).
Best wishes,
ess