Does this sound like ms or fibromyalgia?

[Maracamama]

I have had a lot of ms symptoms for a little over 2 years now and have been seeing a neurologist for almost a year trying to get diagnosed. I have had bloodwork, mri, nerve conduction test and spinal tap. Bloodwork was negative for everything tested including B12 deficiency, lyme, some clotting disorders, thyroid (although I am on medication for low thyroid), electrolytes and many other things that are unknown to me. The MRI showed a 4mm lesion at left temporoparietal location, submillimeter lesion at left parietal white matter and a very small lesion in the subinsular white matter. The MRI also showed degenerative disc disease at C5-C6 with slight mild cord contact. The MRI was of my brain and cervical spine without enhancement. The nerve conduction test was normal. The neurologist had told me that I probably had ms until I had the spinal tap which came back normal and now she tells me that I definitely don't have ms and seems to want to diagnose me with fibromyalgia.

My symptoms are balance problems, memory and thinking problems, fatigue, muscle twitches that are visible and muscle vibrations that aren't visible, numbness, tingling, heavy feeling in my legs, dizziness, jolt like feelings in arms, legs and back, blurring vision and pain behind eyeballs, ringing in ears. These symptoms come and go and don't all happen at the same time. I may have forgotten some (as I tend to do)

The only pain that I experience is behind my eyes which makes me question the neurologist's suggestion of fibromyalgia. From what I know about fibromyalgia, pain is the main symptom. I'm wondering if it's likely that I could have fibromyalgia if I don't have pain? I am starting to lose faith in my neurologist and am thinking I might need to get a second opinion but that means travelling 2 hours or more and possibly starting my journey to diagnosis all over again.  

Does this sound more like ms or fibro?

[UnsureMS]

The best advice I can give you is never be scared to get another doctor to look at everything. Someone else had posted it seems like some doctors get one dxs in there head, and won't look elsewhere. Also, speak up when you don't think they are looking at all the facts. For a while due to my moms history of depression and bipolar they tried to ride my sysptoms off as stress. I know my body better then anyone, it was not stress. So, research and ask questions if you think they are on the wrong track. Or even if they are on the right track ask questions. I always asked what my tests showed, and why my Nero was looking feeling I needed them. May God be with you and help you get where you need to be.

[Maracamama]

Thanks for your replies.

I do see my neurologist again soon but I'm afaid that she is stuck on diagnosing me with something that I don't have.  Not that I want to have ms but I'm not going to get any better if I'm not diagnosed correctly.  

My neuro exam was not normal but I don't think it was too bad either.  I know my balance was definitely a problem, I have no reflexes at all, weakness in at least one of my arms and maybe one leg and a spot on my cheek that is very sensitive to light touch but other than these things that were obvious to me, she never let me know what she discovered.

I do have my mri report but nothing on disk (probably not available here - Canada).  My family physician has copies of all the tests that were done though and if she doesn't impress me the next time I see her, I will have to get referred elsewhere.

Thanks again for your comments,

Laura

[UnsureMS]

About three years ago when I first started showing sysptoms they tried to say I had fibro too. But after seeing a specialist I was told to see a nuerologist. Who now said it maybe early sysptoms of MS. I have read up on both on many different websites. To me yours sounds like MS, I think your doctor should take a seacond look in a year. That is what my nuerologist wanted to do. I had only one lesion show up on my MRI and my spinal tap came back normal. I also had my nerve signals tested they were for the most part normal too. But he said he would re-evaluate in a year becuase MS is hard to confirm and not everyone progresses the same.

[maxthecat43]

I was originally dx'd with fibromyalgia, then several years later I was diagnosed with ms.  Unfortunately, it seems to be a waiting game most of the time. Did the neurologist say that she would see you in a year?  I think your mri's certainly warranted that, at the very least!  

I don't have the typical pain associated with fibro either.  The hard part is this:  it seems like once a doctor has this dx in mind, they have a difficult time considering anything else.  

If you have all the mri's on disk, (along with the printed report, if possible), and you think this neuro isn't going to be of any help to you-take your info to a new doctor.  Two hours is a long way, but it may be necessary.  

Good luck!
Tammy

[grandmalaurie59]

You sound a lot like me! I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia many years ago after everything else was ruled out....plus I had a lot of pain..I was positive in all the pressure points...BTW...you can have fibromyalgia along with MS and other illnesses... I did have many neurological symptoms too...but they ruled out MS at the time. Now here I go again...  I have a lot of your kind of symptoms...In August I had an MRI of my cervical spine....diagnosis was Cervical Spondylosis...with slight cord contact...my neuro exam was not good however...My symptoms ended me in the hospital in the beginning of Sept...I had another Cervical MRI and Brain MRI....for some reason the second Cervical MRI showed I had moderate cord compression and cervical stenosis.... upon examination I have a positive lhermitte's sign, positive hoffman sign, severe imbalance, 3+ hyperreflexia all reflexes arms and legs, weakness in left shoulder and weakness in left hand, bicep weaks bi-laterally,reduced pin prick in left arm and leg ....ect....what did they find when they examined  you? I would get your films and records and get another opinion. ALSO my Brain MRI came back with increased signals in my brain stem which wasn't even mentioned in the radiology report! My neurologist is sending my MRI to be read by a neuroradiologist. He also said there is a certain MS protocol MRI....which I didn't have. Please get a second opinion on your brain MRI and Cervical spine. I am scheduled for a EMG test and SSEP on Oct 3, and Oct 11. I am waiting to be cleared for surgery on my neck due to the cord compression which could be causing my problems...both my neurologist and Orthopedic surgeon think I may also have MS. My point is....you COULD have more than one thing going on. I hope this helps ....

Laurie :)