With the persistently normal MRIs in the setting of active symptoms, the diagnosis of MS as well as other serious neurological conditions requiring urgent treatment become less likely. It's quite possible that you just have atypical face pain or complex migraines, which in themselves do require treatment. Depression can also make things worse. One consideration would be to try a medication called elavil which is well known to help with nerve pain, and is also an antidepressant. Neurontin is also helpful with nerve pain. Talk to your doctor about treatment options and if depression is becoming significant, consider counseling. Good luck.
It's sad that we're on a board looking for answers. I wk'd. for
Dr's.-I know both sides. We want them to know all. 10 yrs. ago I had numb face, burning upper legs, dull earache, faint rashes,
dull ear-pressure. Neuro did all the tests. No MS & nothing is
wrong. 3 yrs. ago & 18 Docs later, I got smart. Get your own
copies of all test reports. Blood, imaging reports, Dr. letters.
Read for yourself. They said I needed Therapy! *Confusion with
head pressure started along with severe ear pain & lid swelling.
I begged my GP for a basic Coronal CT to dismiss my joke of a
brain tumor. CT showed a large retention cyst in maxillary. Dr.
said it was from past surgery? Not unless aliens got me. Went to ENT Surgeons with films. I could see differences but gave them
a laugh! I cried, had a slight breakdown. Got a swollen face &
pain emergency. That CT showed my `past surgery' was really not
incision but bone destruction from infection. Cyst was suspect.
I demanded endoscopic surgery to pacify me.`Laughing-Doc' did it.
Woops, not a cyst! It was cancer & bone destruction with nerve
involvement. Surgery was extensive. Mine was rare but chronic-
inflammation causes damage. MRI's were always normal. ANA & SED
were positive but ignored. I still have multiple problems & now
vision is in/out. Last MRI, my new Dr. said: I'm A-OK! The lab
report said: focus of abnormal signal in left cerebellar is now
@ 1.5 cm compared to slight non-specifc shadow 2 yrs. ago. Prob-
ably microvascular ischemic change. In short, Dr's. are busy.
Do some homework. Add your written concerns to your ofc. file.
Get to an ENT & discuss the cyst. Numbness can be from inflammed
nerves in neck. Follow the cyst sz. with a Coronal CT. I didn't
need that Therapist! MS is being used frequently as dx. Stress
makes every illness worse. Meds. for anxiety help sometimes.
I hope my story helps. Doing something lessons frustration. Find
a listener or move on. My Dr. retired & my name is out there. No
one wants me. I have to go back to passive for awhile. Good luck!