New and looking for answers

[smittygirl]

Hi there, I had a brain MRI done and have 3 lesions in the right frontal lobe.  I have episodes of severe loss of balance.  My question is this, I also have a form of arthritis that is auto immune related, diagnosed 3 years ago.  For the last year ( same time the MRI was done) I have severe pain and stiffness in my legs especially in the front of my thighs.  I thought it was related to the arthrits but now I think it is more connected to the other.  MRI report cited possible MS.  Does anyone out there have the type of leg pain and stiffness I am describing.   I just moved to another state and haven't seen a nuerologist yet to follow up on the report so I don't know yet if I have MS or not.  Thanks much for reading this and any advice.

[smittygirl]

Thanks so much for helping me, I feel more assured already.  The reason I even went for an MRI was this.  I told my GP at the time that I would get these episodes once or twice a month every month where I would lose my balance, not dizziness, just for a split second I would feel like I was going to fall down.  Then one day while sitting in a meeting at work I panicked and grabbed on to the arms of my chair because I thought it was falling over, it lasted longer and was the worst one I had ever had. The MRI revealed the 3 lesions in the right frontal lobe.  For the past year I have had the leg pain and feeling as if little electrical currents were going off all up and down my legs.  My rheumatologist was perplexed.  This week I was to start Enbrel and after researching it's side affects I learned that if one has MS they can't take it.  What scares the heck out of me is that my Dr. never looked at my chart fully to have seen the MRI report.   Another topic for another time!  I have my films and have emailed the person from the local chapter I found yesterday for a specialist.  I would not have known any of this if it weren't for all of you, your help and knowledge and most of all, kindness and caring is invaluable.  Thanks so much.

[Quixotic1]

Hi, and Welcome to the forum!  I'm going to try to address both of your posts to try to save a little space on the front page.  We used to encourage new topics in new posts, but with 5 or 6 newbies a day we sorry about them getting pushed down and out of sight too quickly.  I am Quix a retired physician who hangs out here answering what whe can.  I have MS, but was not a neurologist in my former medical life.  I am also not a representative of MedHelp.

You asked if a lesion can be in the wrong place.  Well, that's tricky to answer.  MS lesions can occur anywhere in the white matter (including the frontal lobe).  But there are several areas which are more characteristic and will lead more quickly to a diagnosis if that is what the person has.  A dense and defective neurologist may look at a few lesions that are nOT in those characteristic places and tell the patient it is not MS.  This is the kind of neurologist you should run from.

If there aren't many lesions and they aren't in the most common places, then the diagnosis is a little harder.  The smarter more attuned neuros will know that lesions can be anywhere.  My only brain lesion is in my right frontal lobe.  My first neuro called it "insignificant" even though it is of good size.  It wasn't in the right place.  So he delayed my diagnosis for two years.  My newer, smarter neuro recognized it for what it was instantly and made the diagnosis immediately.

I have anterior thigh stiffness and weakness.  Sometimes they feel like jelly-legs like after you/ve worked out too long.  I don't have pain there but many people here do.  Vertigo is also common in MS.  What are your episodes like?  Do you have dizziness over days or is it a one-time short event?

With the leg thing, and the vertigo thing and the MRI things I would recommend that you see an MS specialist from the beginning. On this page or the next page there is a thread called "MRIs, Lesions, and Symptoms."  One of the posts further down in it is an explanation of why you should see an MS specialist.  I recommend you read that thread and the 5 or 6 essays in it.

Welcome again.  I hope you find a comfortable place here while you sort out what must be a scary prospect.  We'll all try to help.

Quix, MD

[young at heart]

WELCOME TO OUR CYBER FAMILY,

YOU DEFINATLY NEED TO FOLLOW-UP WITH A NEUROLOGIST PREFERABLY A MS SPECIALIST.

THE MUSCLE PAIN YOU DESCRIBE COULD BE A FOEM OF SPASTICITY OR PLAIN MUSCLE SPASMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MS.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GP,IF NOT FIND A GOOD ONE AND GET COPIES OF ALL YOUR PAST MEDICAL RECORDS INCLUDING PAST MRI FILMS,THIS WILL ASSIST YOUR NEW DRS.

T-LYNN

[LLWB]

Welcome, you are definetly on the right forum. Quix, Heather, 'zill, and so many others here have so much knowledge to share. I have one lesion in the white cortical matter. I have sever leg pain, in thighs & legs. And my leg leg has started to feel like jelly going down steps. I can actually see it quivering under my sweat pants, that are baggie, so that sucker must really be shakin'! I also have concentration issues, loss of strenth, and much more. I think you should find an MS Specialist right away.You might even have to travel some distance, but a good ms neuro is important to your dx and treatment. Good luck, stay around, read lots, and share in the support of the greatest forum around.Maggie

[SOONERMOM]

Welcome to our forum.  It really is a great place!  I am undiagnosed, but also have numerous white matter lesions and have recently started having that "spasticity" in my left leg--does it make you joints hurt by the end of the day.    I would not only look for a neuro, but look up and call your closest MS Society chapter and ask for an MS Specialist in your area.  It can take a few months to get in, so you might just have that  appointment as a second opinion if nothing else.  When I did this myself, I really thought  and had been told everything was just from "migraines".

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hom_gen_homepage

I was glad later on that I had gone ahead and made the appointment.  I have found out that just because the radiologist writes possible MS, the neurologists are the ones that you really  need to look at the films and tell you what they think.  

It is a long road to diagnosis or exclusion of MS.  We here call it Limboland!  This forum has been invaluable to me during the last 5 months.  I think I would've lost my mind without it!

Stacey

[essdipity]

Hello and welcome. Sometimes this place gets posts so fast that they can disappear to  the bottom amazingly quickly. We try not to let this happen, but if ever it does, just add something to your thread to bump it to the top.

I can't comment on your arthritis and possible MS, but I do urge you to make it a priority to find a good MS specialist. This is a rocky road and takes time and lots of testing. Meanwhile read lots of posts and threads here because there's a huge amount of good info and loads of support.

ess