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Is this MS?
My 43 year old husband is not well and we cant get to the bottom of it. Please help. He has the following symptoms, pain on the left hand of chest which goes into his left arm. He also has high blood pressure and is currently taking 20mg Lisinopril. Every night he gets finger and hand tingling and numbness which wont let him sleep, this numbness is at the outer edge of his hand where the small finger is. He also gets headache and is extrememly tired and doesnt have energy for anything even our 3 young children. Today he phoned from work and told me he now has a terrible sore neck at either side of his head near his gland area which he cant touch for the pain and it has given him a toothache pain too. Today he also has one sore hip which he has never suffered from before. He is also suffering from sore and tired eyes and we have made an appointment for the optician to have those checked. All these symptoms are making us both ill with worry and we need help. Our doctor has taken bloods but we just dont seem to be getting anywhere. I should have said he also takes Omeprazole daily for acid in his stomach. Can you give us some guidance? Please.
i AM A 19 YR OLD FEMALE AND i HAVE MS WHAT YOUR HUSBAND IS GOING THROUGH DOESNT SOUND LIKE MS TO ME....
Hello,
My husband cannot seem to get a diagnosis from his Neurologist. About two years ago he started having headaches daily on the left side of his head. A CT scan revealed ischemia. Then an MRI revealed white matter lesions and ischemia which looked like MS. My husband is 53 yrs old. His behavior had changed and he had periods of staring and not hearing what I was saying. He states he has problems multitasking and had a neurophsyc test done revealing his high intellectual abilities but visual spacial problems and they also said MS. His neurologist doesn't seem to think it is MS. He is being tested for CADASIL but he doesnt seem to think it is this either as it is so rare. His hands tremble and when he first wakes up he tends to slide his feet while walking. He has gotten lost a little bit while driving to places he should be famiilar with. I think there was a test to see if things are happening now but it seems things are stable. Can this just be age related? His mom died of massive stroke as did her sister. Her other sister was diagnosed with ALS a year before she died at 80. His grandfather on his moms side died of massive heart infarcation. Isn't he too young to just have ischemic white matter lesions due to high blood pressure or is this something serious?
My husband cannot seem to get a diagnosis from his Neurologist. About two years ago he started having headaches daily on the left side of his head. A CT scan revealed ischemia. Then an MRI revealed white matter lesions and ischemia which looked like MS. My husband is 53 yrs old. His behavior had changed and he had periods of staring and not hearing what I was saying. He states he has problems multitasking and had a neurophsyc test done revealing his high intellectual abilities but visual spacial problems and they also said MS. His neurologist doesn't seem to think it is MS. He is being tested for CADASIL but he doesnt seem to think it is this either as it is so rare. His hands tremble and when he first wakes up he tends to slide his feet while walking. He has gotten lost a little bit while driving to places he should be famiilar with. I think there was a test to see if things are happening now but it seems things are stable. Can this just be age related? His mom died of massive stroke as did her sister. Her other sister was diagnosed with ALS a year before she died at 80. His grandfather on his moms side died of massive heart infarcation. Isn't he too young to just have ischemic white matter lesions due to high blood pressure or is this something serious?
Hello,
My husband cannot seem to get a diagnosis from his Neurologist. About two years ago he started having headaches daily on the left side of his head. A CT scan revealed ischemia. Then an MRI revealed white matter lesions and ischemia which looked like MS. My husband is 53 yrs old. His behavior had changed and he had periods of staring and not hearing what I was saying. He states he has problems multitasking and had a neurophsyc test done revealing his high intellectual abilities but visual spacial problems and they also said MS. His neurologist doesn't seem to think it is MS. He is being tested for CADASIL but he doesnt seem to think it is this either as it is so rare. His hands tremble and when he first wakes up he tends to slide his feet while walking. He has gotten lost a little bit while driving to places he should be famiilar with. I think there was a test to see if things are happening now but it seems things are stable. Can this just be age related? His mom died of massive stroke as did her sister. Her other sister was diagnosed with ALS a year before she died at 80. His grandfather on his moms side died of massive heart infarcation. Isn't he too young to just have ischemic white matter lesions due to high blood pressure or is this something serious?
My husband cannot seem to get a diagnosis from his Neurologist. About two years ago he started having headaches daily on the left side of his head. A CT scan revealed ischemia. Then an MRI revealed white matter lesions and ischemia which looked like MS. My husband is 53 yrs old. His behavior had changed and he had periods of staring and not hearing what I was saying. He states he has problems multitasking and had a neurophsyc test done revealing his high intellectual abilities but visual spacial problems and they also said MS. His neurologist doesn't seem to think it is MS. He is being tested for CADASIL but he doesnt seem to think it is this either as it is so rare. His hands tremble and when he first wakes up he tends to slide his feet while walking. He has gotten lost a little bit while driving to places he should be famiilar with. I think there was a test to see if things are happening now but it seems things are stable. Can this just be age related? His mom died of massive stroke as did her sister. Her other sister was diagnosed with ALS a year before she died at 80. His grandfather on his moms side died of massive heart infarcation. Isn't he too young to just have ischemic white matter lesions due to high blood pressure or is this something serious?
Hi, I am 40 yr old female . Last 4 yrs have had strange symptoms of pins and needles to rt side of face ear and nose, cheek. like you can draw a line down the middle of my face and only the rt side is affected. I have seen several neuros which in turn send me thru many tests, mri's emg, evoked potentials test. I have arthritis and degen disc disease in cervical spine with mild spinal cord compression and disc bulging with bone spurs at c4,5,6,7. I have also had rt sided arm , leg pain with tingling. i notice with both elbows if i put them down i get tingling in hands i have had ctunnel surgery in rt hand already. as for the tingling in the face i also have nystigmus in rt eye. with some balance issues. I went to an ent and they say it is result of my neck and want me to go for more tests for a possible autoimmune disese now. Ive been to a spine doc who says it is entrapped nerves in my neck and as for my leg foot pain (sciatica) also a trapped nerve. It has been 4 yrs and i am so tired of being a lab rat . I would just like to relieve my anxiety i am in tears alot. I have young kids and i feel sometimes like i will never feel good again.please help.Naki thanks so much for listening....god bless
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dear JFK01,
Thank you very much for your question. I am happy to address the issues that you pose, although it is important that you recognize that my impression is based entirely on the information you have provided in your posting and is by no means a replacement for an office visit with a neurologist. Diagnosis is contingent on detailed history and physical exam and as such, the following information should be considered solely for educational purposes.
I will start off by saying that although we, as physicians, try to find one unifying diagnosis that is responsible for all symptoms, it sounds as though there may more than one problem that may be causing your husband's symptoms. Foremost, your husband has high blood pressure which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Oftentimes, chest pain radiating to the left hand is an important warning sign for blockage in the heart arteries which could lead to a heart attack. Although I am not a cardiologist, I mention this because it is a serious problem that should be addressed and ruled out immediately (your PCP can refer you to a cardiologist).
The numbness/tingling in the pinky finger your husband is experiencing may reflect damage or entrapment of the ulnar nerve (on of the three main nerves of the upper extremity). As the ulnar nerve travels down the arm, there are a few areas in particular that it can become entrapped. One common place for this to happen is at the elbow and when this occurs, a "cubital tunnel syndrome" may result. As the nerve travels towards the hand. At the level of the hand, the nerve traverses through a tunnel formed by the hamate and pisiform bones of the hand (AKA Guyon's canal) and it is at this location that the nerve becomes vulnerable to damage, usually in association with a fall or a wrist fracture. If the nerve is caught at the elbow, sometimes pushing on the nerve tunnel at the elbow may reproduce the symptoms. Nerve damage can be further characterized by a needle EMG exam and nerve conduction studies. This problem can sometimes be improved through a surgical procedure which essentially relieves the entrapped nerve.
With respect to the sore neck/hip, and toothache, I have a hard time tying these into a single diagnosis. Things to consider would include some viral illness or another inflammatory process. There are particular screening tests that can be done to look for an inflammatory response such as an "erythrocyte sedimentation rate" (ESR), ANA, CRP, etc. Because it sounds like your husband's case is a bit complex, you might consider visiting a general practitioner at a large academic facility such as the Cleveland Clinic where you can have some of your general symptoms addressed +/- referral to a neurologist. The symptoms you describe do not sound typical for MS, although a thorough history and neurologic exam in conjunction with imaging studies +/- lubar puncture is useful in arriving at this diagnosis.
Again, I must emphasize the importance of ruling out cardiac disease, and I encourage you to seek "second opinions" on your husband's condition. Than you for your question, and I wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
JBT, MD
Thank you very much for your question. I am happy to address the issues that you pose, although it is important that you recognize that my impression is based entirely on the information you have provided in your posting and is by no means a replacement for an office visit with a neurologist. Diagnosis is contingent on detailed history and physical exam and as such, the following information should be considered solely for educational purposes.
I will start off by saying that although we, as physicians, try to find one unifying diagnosis that is responsible for all symptoms, it sounds as though there may more than one problem that may be causing your husband's symptoms. Foremost, your husband has high blood pressure which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Oftentimes, chest pain radiating to the left hand is an important warning sign for blockage in the heart arteries which could lead to a heart attack. Although I am not a cardiologist, I mention this because it is a serious problem that should be addressed and ruled out immediately (your PCP can refer you to a cardiologist).
The numbness/tingling in the pinky finger your husband is experiencing may reflect damage or entrapment of the ulnar nerve (on of the three main nerves of the upper extremity). As the ulnar nerve travels down the arm, there are a few areas in particular that it can become entrapped. One common place for this to happen is at the elbow and when this occurs, a "cubital tunnel syndrome" may result. As the nerve travels towards the hand. At the level of the hand, the nerve traverses through a tunnel formed by the hamate and pisiform bones of the hand (AKA Guyon's canal) and it is at this location that the nerve becomes vulnerable to damage, usually in association with a fall or a wrist fracture. If the nerve is caught at the elbow, sometimes pushing on the nerve tunnel at the elbow may reproduce the symptoms. Nerve damage can be further characterized by a needle EMG exam and nerve conduction studies. This problem can sometimes be improved through a surgical procedure which essentially relieves the entrapped nerve.
With respect to the sore neck/hip, and toothache, I have a hard time tying these into a single diagnosis. Things to consider would include some viral illness or another inflammatory process. There are particular screening tests that can be done to look for an inflammatory response such as an "erythrocyte sedimentation rate" (ESR), ANA, CRP, etc. Because it sounds like your husband's case is a bit complex, you might consider visiting a general practitioner at a large academic facility such as the Cleveland Clinic where you can have some of your general symptoms addressed +/- referral to a neurologist. The symptoms you describe do not sound typical for MS, although a thorough history and neurologic exam in conjunction with imaging studies +/- lubar puncture is useful in arriving at this diagnosis.
Again, I must emphasize the importance of ruling out cardiac disease, and I encourage you to seek "second opinions" on your husband's condition. Than you for your question, and I wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
JBT, MD
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