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Diagnosis of Ms.
Last July 2006, I suffered a major convulsion. During this convulsion I also suffered two conpressed vertebraes. During my
hospital stay I had many test. The epelepsy test where negetative. They also ruled out a stroke. My symptoms prior to convulsions where speech difficulties, uspset stomach (nausea) a general malaise. After convulsionI remained in a clonic state for aproximaty an hour.
My next test was an MrI. To my surprise they found a total of 25 abnormalities. Most where very old lesions they said. they asked further question about my health. I have had balance problems in the dark, blured vision with nausea, and headaches. I suffered what I thought was an attack of meniere about 12years ago. In your opinion does this sound like ms. I will doing a second mri in January 2007 along with a lumbar puncture. I am 42years old. If this is ms and I have had it for years , what can I expect for the future in regards to this desease.
Thanks
hospital stay I had many test. The epelepsy test where negetative. They also ruled out a stroke. My symptoms prior to convulsions where speech difficulties, uspset stomach (nausea) a general malaise. After convulsionI remained in a clonic state for aproximaty an hour.
My next test was an MrI. To my surprise they found a total of 25 abnormalities. Most where very old lesions they said. they asked further question about my health. I have had balance problems in the dark, blured vision with nausea, and headaches. I suffered what I thought was an attack of meniere about 12years ago. In your opinion does this sound like ms. I will doing a second mri in January 2007 along with a lumbar puncture. I am 42years old. If this is ms and I have had it for years , what can I expect for the future in regards to this desease.
Thanks
Hi. I read your thread the day you posted and my heart went out to you. I understand the intense fear that comes with strange symptoms and the thought of possibly having something really wrong with you.
From all of the neuro. responses and MS info. that I have read, the waxing and waning symptoms refer to symptoms that appear and improve over weeks to a couple of months. Read the neuro. response from the 1/3/07 question reading "Numbness Associated with MS". Also, I have read other questions that are similar to yours in that your tingling/burning sensations are all over. The neuro. response to that is usually that MS does not normally present with sensations that migrate all over. Generally it is confined to one side of the body. I'm sure that there are exceptions to this as MS is different in every person it affects, but that is what is generally seen.
Fortunately you have no weakness or dizziness. I think you are probably in good shape. Guard yourself from reading too much on line. You can really scare yourself to death and become obsessed with a possibility that may never come to fruition. I know this first hand as I have a husband with MS and after my 16 yr. old daughter mentioned having weird symptoms, I began my internet quest for answers. I worried (and still do) that she is going to end up with MS. I find myself scrutinizing her every move at times for anything odd. I'm sure I see things that are not even there at times. This is not healthy. I am learning to just let it go - spend less time at the computer, and as my screen name implies, just hope for the best! The best thing you can do right now is exercise, take good supplements (esp. vitamin D), eat right and get proper rest. I would also keep your name on that MRI list just for peace of mind. Best of luck to you!
From all of the neuro. responses and MS info. that I have read, the waxing and waning symptoms refer to symptoms that appear and improve over weeks to a couple of months. Read the neuro. response from the 1/3/07 question reading "Numbness Associated with MS". Also, I have read other questions that are similar to yours in that your tingling/burning sensations are all over. The neuro. response to that is usually that MS does not normally present with sensations that migrate all over. Generally it is confined to one side of the body. I'm sure that there are exceptions to this as MS is different in every person it affects, but that is what is generally seen.
Fortunately you have no weakness or dizziness. I think you are probably in good shape. Guard yourself from reading too much on line. You can really scare yourself to death and become obsessed with a possibility that may never come to fruition. I know this first hand as I have a husband with MS and after my 16 yr. old daughter mentioned having weird symptoms, I began my internet quest for answers. I worried (and still do) that she is going to end up with MS. I find myself scrutinizing her every move at times for anything odd. I'm sure I see things that are not even there at times. This is not healthy. I am learning to just let it go - spend less time at the computer, and as my screen name implies, just hope for the best! The best thing you can do right now is exercise, take good supplements (esp. vitamin D), eat right and get proper rest. I would also keep your name on that MRI list just for peace of mind. Best of luck to you!
When you say wax and wane do you mean wax and wane over a number of years or a number of weeks? I just wondered because of the burning/tingling I have varies in severity from day to day...even by the hour and I wondered if this sounds like MS to you?
No, I have had the tingling for the 3 1/2 years. It is always there, but sometimes it gets worse. Is that one of the first symptoms?
Tingling can be a presenting symptom, but it would more than likely wax and wane and not be persistent if it were the onset of MS.
Hi, I am really hoping you can help me as I am out of my mind with worry. I am a 21 year old girl living in the uk near london. Since christmas day I have experienced the following:
First my lower right arm became tingly and burny... the lasted about a day and a half and varied in severity. That went away and the next day I found that the feeling was in my left arm for about a day. Since then I have experienced burning in various different places though never all at the same time: in my face nearly constantly for two days, in one or other of my legs at different times, in my neck(side or back), arms, hands etc There is currently (and has been for two days) a quite bad patch of it just by my left shoulder blade, that has extended on and off to my left arm and leg (little shoots of it in both) and left side of my neck. Since christmas day I have also experienced tiredness (though i havent really been sleeping due to the anxiety), aches and pains in my limbs and joints, particularly at night, twitched in limbs, toes and eyelids, a wierd buzzing/vibrationg feeling in my right big toe and also for about 6 days i had severe pain above my left eye on and off. I have had no balance problems or dizziness though have felt vaguely lightheaded at time and no vision problems really to speak of. I saw a neurologist with a very good reputation on the 12th jan and he examined me, listened to all my symptoms and said he was 99.999% sure that it wasn't MS, that he was pretty sure I have a virus or a viral infection in my nervous system, that the pain above the eye was due to a problem I've had with a wisdom tooth on that side(I've also had a pressure like feeling in my forehead between my eyes and ears blocked due to wax so I wondered if the eye thing could be sinus pressure also?) and he didn't think it worth me having an mri, though he offered to put me on the waiting list for extra reassurance. As the burning seemed to have calmed down a bit at that time I said I was reassured and didn't need one..now however it seems to have got worse again and I'm scared about what is going on. I'm really hoping you or anyone here could give me some advice on what all this is as its making me feel so low and worried. Is it just a virus or should I be having more tests? Thanks so much.
First my lower right arm became tingly and burny... the lasted about a day and a half and varied in severity. That went away and the next day I found that the feeling was in my left arm for about a day. Since then I have experienced burning in various different places though never all at the same time: in my face nearly constantly for two days, in one or other of my legs at different times, in my neck(side or back), arms, hands etc There is currently (and has been for two days) a quite bad patch of it just by my left shoulder blade, that has extended on and off to my left arm and leg (little shoots of it in both) and left side of my neck. Since christmas day I have also experienced tiredness (though i havent really been sleeping due to the anxiety), aches and pains in my limbs and joints, particularly at night, twitched in limbs, toes and eyelids, a wierd buzzing/vibrationg feeling in my right big toe and also for about 6 days i had severe pain above my left eye on and off. I have had no balance problems or dizziness though have felt vaguely lightheaded at time and no vision problems really to speak of. I saw a neurologist with a very good reputation on the 12th jan and he examined me, listened to all my symptoms and said he was 99.999% sure that it wasn't MS, that he was pretty sure I have a virus or a viral infection in my nervous system, that the pain above the eye was due to a problem I've had with a wisdom tooth on that side(I've also had a pressure like feeling in my forehead between my eyes and ears blocked due to wax so I wondered if the eye thing could be sinus pressure also?) and he didn't think it worth me having an mri, though he offered to put me on the waiting list for extra reassurance. As the burning seemed to have calmed down a bit at that time I said I was reassured and didn't need one..now however it seems to have got worse again and I'm scared about what is going on. I'm really hoping you or anyone here could give me some advice on what all this is as its making me feel so low and worried. Is it just a virus or should I be having more tests? Thanks so much.
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
The symptoms and MRI findings that you describe are consistent with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS has a variable course and some people have severe disease with onset of symptoms in the teen years and are wheel chair bound by their 30s. Others have more mild disease, often with relapses that are misdiagnosed as other conditions until finally someone orders an MRI of the brain. The reason the diagnosis is often delayed is the attacks (relapses) get better on their own in a couple of weeks (at least a first) and what ever you do, it seems like it works. As the lesions accumulate, then more problems arise, some that do not completely get better and that usually prompts the search for a diagnosis. Patients with MS do have a tendency to have seizures, some literature says a 3 fold higher incidence of seizures than the general population and some say a 2-5% incidence (with the general population being 3%). Having a 'epilepsy test' that is 'negative' does not mean that you did not have a seizure (I think that you did), it just means there were no 'footprints' of epilepsy seen on the EEG (electroencephalogram-or brain wave test). Many patients epilepsy will have normal EEGs inbetween seizures. I would suggest that you make an appointment with a neurologist that specializes in MS to continue your quest for diagnosis and treatment options. If you diagnosis does turn out to be MS, It seems that you have a mild-moderate form of the disease. I would also suggest a repeat EEG as well that is 2 hours long with sleep deprivation (to increase the senstivity).
I hope this has been helpful.
The symptoms and MRI findings that you describe are consistent with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS has a variable course and some people have severe disease with onset of symptoms in the teen years and are wheel chair bound by their 30s. Others have more mild disease, often with relapses that are misdiagnosed as other conditions until finally someone orders an MRI of the brain. The reason the diagnosis is often delayed is the attacks (relapses) get better on their own in a couple of weeks (at least a first) and what ever you do, it seems like it works. As the lesions accumulate, then more problems arise, some that do not completely get better and that usually prompts the search for a diagnosis. Patients with MS do have a tendency to have seizures, some literature says a 3 fold higher incidence of seizures than the general population and some say a 2-5% incidence (with the general population being 3%). Having a 'epilepsy test' that is 'negative' does not mean that you did not have a seizure (I think that you did), it just means there were no 'footprints' of epilepsy seen on the EEG (electroencephalogram-or brain wave test). Many patients epilepsy will have normal EEGs inbetween seizures. I would suggest that you make an appointment with a neurologist that specializes in MS to continue your quest for diagnosis and treatment options. If you diagnosis does turn out to be MS, It seems that you have a mild-moderate form of the disease. I would also suggest a repeat EEG as well that is 2 hours long with sleep deprivation (to increase the senstivity).
I hope this has been helpful.
Yes, lumbar puncture can detect MS. They can also do evoked potentials, but I don't know how specific they are/abnormal results could have etiology other than MS.
No, my husband has not had any specific leg pain that I can recall. Pain can be associated with MS, but is not generally a presenting symptom. I have a very good friend with a similar pain (that goes down her leg) and she was diagnosed with sciatica. If you've had back pain in the past, it very well could be this condition.
As Young at Heart noted, there are other tests. My husband also had the lumbar puncture which was positive.
I also agree with Young at Heart on seeking a second opinion. If your symptoms are consistant and you find yourself obsessing over the possibility of MS, you really should try to be evaluated again by another reputable neuro.
You certainly have your hands full with 5 children. It is very difficult to stay positive when you just don't feel right. Have you ever in those 3 1/2 years been symptom free?
As Young at Heart noted, there are other tests. My husband also had the lumbar puncture which was positive.
I also agree with Young at Heart on seeking a second opinion. If your symptoms are consistant and you find yourself obsessing over the possibility of MS, you really should try to be evaluated again by another reputable neuro.
You certainly have your hands full with 5 children. It is very difficult to stay positive when you just don't feel right. Have you ever in those 3 1/2 years been symptom free?
Thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate your encouraging words. You had said your husband has MS. It sounds like he is doing pretty well, that is great. I have a family and panic when I think of what may be happening to me, so I can totally understand the depression he has experienced. I have lost interest in everything, I take care of my family and that is it! [which is very time consuming, since we have five children!] I don't know how to move on, I am so determined to feel better and make all this stop, I am changing my diet taking many natural supplements, it seems nothing helps, so everything I read it just points to MS. I did have my MRI w and without contrast, for some reason I still beleive this is what it is. Is there anyother way to detect MS, other than an MRI? Has your husband ever had any leg pains? I have had a pain that goes down the back of my leg, most bothersome when I wake up in the a.m. Nothing I do releives it. Just another of my strange symptoms. Again, thank you for your help!
Dear ilmf,
I think that your situation is encouraging for your diagnosis not to be MS. First of all, you say that the tingling is pretty much non-stop. Typically, MS symptoms will wax and wane. They will usually get better over a matter of weeks to a couple of months and possibly recur at a later point - the same symptoms or new ones. After 3 1/2 years of symptoms, I think that it is encouraging that there were no lesions on your MRI. The percentage of patients later diagnosed with MS with no initial lesions on MRI is low - only about 5%. In the absence of weakness or neurological deficits upon clinical examination, the possiblity of MS is even less likely. You do need to be certain that your MRI's were done with and without contrast and of the brain and cervical spine. If you continue to have symptoms, another MRI will probably be ordered at some point. If that MRI is clear, then you should feel even more confident that it is not MS.
My husband has had MS since his early twenties. He was diagnosed at the age of 35 due to his hand going numb and blurred vision in one eye (and of course a positive MRI). He experienced weakness in his early twenties that made it difficult to continue the high intensity sports he was involved in. Doctors attributed his weakness at the time to spinal cord injury. In retrospect, it is believed to have been MS all along. Nevertheless, he is 50 years old now and is doing pretty well considering. He has been on Copaxone for about 10 years now and we believe it has helped. For someone who has had the disease for that long, his only obvious deficit is a pretty bad limp. His cognitive skills are a little less sharp, he has experienced some depression (very common with the disease), fatigue and chronic constipation. Some days are better than others. He still however plays tennis every weekend which I believe is very therapeutic for him.
Sometimes when we do those internet searches of our symptoms, the results will scare us to death!! There are many, many other things that can cause the tingling you describe. I hope this has given you some peace of mind. Take care!
I think that your situation is encouraging for your diagnosis not to be MS. First of all, you say that the tingling is pretty much non-stop. Typically, MS symptoms will wax and wane. They will usually get better over a matter of weeks to a couple of months and possibly recur at a later point - the same symptoms or new ones. After 3 1/2 years of symptoms, I think that it is encouraging that there were no lesions on your MRI. The percentage of patients later diagnosed with MS with no initial lesions on MRI is low - only about 5%. In the absence of weakness or neurological deficits upon clinical examination, the possiblity of MS is even less likely. You do need to be certain that your MRI's were done with and without contrast and of the brain and cervical spine. If you continue to have symptoms, another MRI will probably be ordered at some point. If that MRI is clear, then you should feel even more confident that it is not MS.
My husband has had MS since his early twenties. He was diagnosed at the age of 35 due to his hand going numb and blurred vision in one eye (and of course a positive MRI). He experienced weakness in his early twenties that made it difficult to continue the high intensity sports he was involved in. Doctors attributed his weakness at the time to spinal cord injury. In retrospect, it is believed to have been MS all along. Nevertheless, he is 50 years old now and is doing pretty well considering. He has been on Copaxone for about 10 years now and we believe it has helped. For someone who has had the disease for that long, his only obvious deficit is a pretty bad limp. His cognitive skills are a little less sharp, he has experienced some depression (very common with the disease), fatigue and chronic constipation. Some days are better than others. He still however plays tennis every weekend which I believe is very therapeutic for him.
Sometimes when we do those internet searches of our symptoms, the results will scare us to death!! There are many, many other things that can cause the tingling you describe. I hope this has given you some peace of mind. Take care!
I just wanted to give you more info about me. I said that I had symptoms for 3 1/2 years, that was after the birth of my baby. That is when the tingling sensations began. they never really stopped, pretty much all the time. I also had some burning sensations right after the birth also. My brain and spinal MRI were both normal. The Dr. did not feel i needed to have the spinal tap. How can these symptoms be normal? I do not feel normal. Recently my leg has been bothering me also. Mostly when I wake up, it last for several hours. I do have a history of back pain also. That is nothing new for me, but maybe it has something to do with all my other symptoms. I think I am just looking for something other than MS. You talk alot about Lymes. Maybe that is something I should look into or just treat myself for. I would appreciate any advice. I always thought it would be so helpful to talk to someone with MS. I would think they would have more first hand information than a DR, they know exactly how it feels. This site has been helpful and made me realize I am not the only one with these sympotms. It is a great place to turn.
Thank you
Thank you
I just happened to scroll down a look. I will answer your question tomorrow morning.
Regards,
JCmcc.
Regards,
JCmcc.
Hi JCmcc,
It seems you are very current on information regarding MS. I have so many questions, and really have no place to turn for answers. I would appreciate your help. I have had several symptoms of MS, but have not been dx. I have seen several drs., one of which was a neurologist. Have had tests for MS, which include an MRI. They all came back neg. Is there a point where the MRI should be done, could it be done to early? I have had symptoms for at least 3 1/2 years. That is the point I have noticed them and suspected MS. I do alot of reading and know what the symptoms are. Mine are tingling in hands and feet and pain in my left leg, which I never had before. I am, like everyone else in this site, am very scared and feel hopeless at the thought of MS. I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks
It seems you are very current on information regarding MS. I have so many questions, and really have no place to turn for answers. I would appreciate your help. I have had several symptoms of MS, but have not been dx. I have seen several drs., one of which was a neurologist. Have had tests for MS, which include an MRI. They all came back neg. Is there a point where the MRI should be done, could it be done to early? I have had symptoms for at least 3 1/2 years. That is the point I have noticed them and suspected MS. I do alot of reading and know what the symptoms are. Mine are tingling in hands and feet and pain in my left leg, which I never had before. I am, like everyone else in this site, am very scared and feel hopeless at the thought of MS. I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks
Dear, "Noonie"
Please be advised that I am not responding to you professionally or as a medical doctor. My comments are purely educational.
With that said; your situation has many variables and will require several tests. Some of these tests will be done in the office by the neurologist and most certainly he will send you to a lab for blood work to rule out things such as b-12 deficiency, Lyme, et al. After that you will more than likely have contrast MRI studies of the brain and cervical spine, perhaps even the thoracic spine to look for plaques related to demyelinating conditions such as MS, Lyme disease, and Lupus-to name a few. You are about to go through a rigorous rule out process.
A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in neurology. Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurologists are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with neurological disorders.
Your stomach may be a separate symptom from the other distal areas of numbness, such as, your stomach may be Bell's Palsy of the stomach, etc.
I wish you luck at your appointment and though waiting is difficult-it is nearly impossible to know-at this point.
I hope that I have been helpful.
Good Luck!
JCmcc.
Please be advised that I am not responding to you professionally or as a medical doctor. My comments are purely educational.
With that said; your situation has many variables and will require several tests. Some of these tests will be done in the office by the neurologist and most certainly he will send you to a lab for blood work to rule out things such as b-12 deficiency, Lyme, et al. After that you will more than likely have contrast MRI studies of the brain and cervical spine, perhaps even the thoracic spine to look for plaques related to demyelinating conditions such as MS, Lyme disease, and Lupus-to name a few. You are about to go through a rigorous rule out process.
A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in neurology. Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurologists are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with neurological disorders.
Your stomach may be a separate symptom from the other distal areas of numbness, such as, your stomach may be Bell's Palsy of the stomach, etc.
I wish you luck at your appointment and though waiting is difficult-it is nearly impossible to know-at this point.
I hope that I have been helpful.
Good Luck!
JCmcc.
I am a first time user to this site, so please excuse any and all computer etiquett malfunctions. My question and concerns tonight is that I recently have experienced numbness starting at my upper torso (right under my breast) and all of my lower extremities. My hands and feet are always throbbing and they feel as if they are about to burst at times. I am also experiencing what feels like an epidural all the way down to my feet. This awful feeling has me so worried that I do not know where to begin to look for help. I went to my M.D and now he has refered me to a nueroligist. (What do they do?) If anybody can maybe offer some suggestions as to what they might think is going on with me your comments would be greatly appreciated. I keep going to the web and looking things up and most of the time from the symptoms that I am describing to everyone, MS and stress are the main subjects that pop up. Thanks for taking the time to read my life for now.
Noonie
Noonie
I've heard on January 10, 2007 at 10 PM..
Primetime- TV station ABC- program- Medical Mysteries is doing a special on MS.
Feel better soon.
Primetime- TV station ABC- program- Medical Mysteries is doing a special on MS.
Feel better soon.
They say that when a person has MS, the 1st 10 years can determine how the rest will go. But with a disease like MS, you never can tell for sure. Some people go on like nothing ever happened, and some just cant. There are treatments out there to help reduce the flares, and medicines for flares.. just dont be afraid..
good luck
good luck
If this is MS,you have done quite well with its progression being slow.The slower the progression the better.
There are meds that help the progression--copaxone,rebif,avonex and betaseron.These are all injections.Some have had great releif with the use.
I have MS and will be starting rebif and I am 41.I have had MS they expect for at least 10 years.
There are meds that help the progression--copaxone,rebif,avonex and betaseron.These are all injections.Some have had great releif with the use.
I have MS and will be starting rebif and I am 41.I have had MS they expect for at least 10 years.
What region do you come from?
I am from Canada..
You may want to consider Lyme disease as a possible etiology.
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