Joanna Fong--Multiple Sclerosis--Please Help

[AngieG256]

I am 21 not 100% diagnosed, no leasons presented in any MRI's but am experiancing numbnes in mid section down to my feet when i move my head forwad, also some numbness in both hands during periods in the day. The hand numbness can differ from tingling to complete numbness on one hand to both. Is this caracteristic to patiants with MS? I have had 2 differant opinions from 2 differant Dr's my currant Dr wants me to start on MS meds which I am unwilliing to start with out leasions on an MRI. The other Dr says that she could not conferm the diagnosis without these lesons it has been 1yr and 1/2 and I am tired and depressed. I am loosing hope of finding any answers. I feel like my currant dr just rushes me out of his office because I wont just start medication for somthing he cant prove I have. I have headaches every day, I lack energy to even do the simple tasks a good wife should do for her husband. I could sleep for a good 3 weeks without taking a shower. I wish I could do that. It is no use no listens anyway.

[AngieG256]

Thanks for replying. You all were very helpful!
To update, This all started because i could not see color in my left eye so i saw a specialist; I was diagnosed w/Optic Nuritis from this point i began to read online. I saw alot of symptoms for MS and desided to see a nurologist on my own call. My eye dr would not give me anything for my eye pain he just told me to wait it out, my eye pain became my headaches and i have had head aches every day since. I could not stand the head pain anymore and told my nurologist i wanted to have a spinal tap done.
I had spinal tap and the test results: 14 colobanal bands and 10 white blood cells from what i remember. I have truble with memory alot... From what i understand this is very high you are only supposed to have 2 or fewer.
I am now seeing a MS specialist located at University of Co hospital John R. Corboy who seems very intelegant about this and wantes to see if i ever had Optic Nuritis (I believe i did but what ever)
I will be having a Oct scan tomorrow to test my optic nurve.
and based on that test he may want to redo my spinal tap because he is curious as to the presure in my spine aparantly the jackasses who did the first one left out some info yay!!!
It was a horable expiriance i was crying and screaming i could feel the whole thing dont ever get one done at Rose Medical in Colorado they dont know what they are doing. I told my new Dr. to put me out. I am so scared. :(
-AngieG256

[painkiller99]

Hi.

I understand your dilemma. However, you must also understand that MS is a debilitating disease that is sometimes difficult to diagnose, which is why some physicians prefer to treat the disease right away even without fully making a diagnosis.

Your symptoms, while present in MS, can also be associated with other conditions.  Although MRI findings may strengthen the suspicion of MS, it is not the only diagnostic procedure that can be performed.  Other procedures that can be done include visual evoked response, somatosensory evoked potentials, brain stem auditory evoked response, and CSF analysis.  Tests could also be done to exclude other disorders, such as FTA-ABS, sedimentation rate, serology, etc.

You could talk to your neurologist and ask for further evaluation before any treatment is initiated.

Good luck.

[pennst8r]

What else has been ruled out for you? Have they looked to rule out lupus, RA, lyme, MG, ALS, etc? There are many, many mimics of MS. Most doc's won't Dx until they've ruled out everything else - a long process. Personally I wish my doc would offer me the meds that slow the progress during this "Limbo" period. If it is MS, it's a jump start on slowing it. If it's not, you stop the meds. Why wait until it progresses? I am curious as to how the doc who wants you to start meds came to MS, when most by far won't even consider until there are lesions and other possible causes of lesions have been ruled out.

How long have you been having symptoms? Any other symptoms? What other tests have been done? What you describe re your numbness when you put your head down sure sounds like L'Hermittes sign, which is strongly associated w/ MS.

If you are not sure which doc's advice to follow, get another opinion - a tie breaker.

Penn

[JOEY54]

DO YOU HAVE ANY BLURRED VISION?  WAS YOUR SED RATE  ELEVATED?