Possible MS?

[sheba968]

I am a 30 year old female, from Buffalo, NewYork. Six months ago the right side of my face started going numb, accommpanied by severe headaches(my right eye occasionally sinks in, and causes my eyelid to droop, following a headache), and weakness in my legs. MRI of the brain did demonstrate abnormalities in the subcortical white matter.  MRI  of the spinal cord showed no abnormalities.  Upon my neurologic examination I was found to have hyperactive reflexes in the lower extremities more than the upper, a positve Romberg, clonus at the ankles, and the Babinski sign is present. I started experiancing L'Hermitte's sign approximately 2 months ago. Around that that time I started having great diffulty with my right arm(it went completely numb), and since then the muscle has athrophied. The arm has started to become painful. I have also started having joint pain and swelling that comes and goes in my fingers, toes and my right shoulder.

I had a positive lyme titer,and and a positive western blot (three reactive igm bands). My neurologist told me that since I did not have any reactive igg bands that I do not have Lyme disease.  My CPR is high (1.2), my vitamin D levels deficient (12), and my B-12 levels are low (273).  Methymalonic acid and Homocystene levels were normal. I have had three miscarriages in the past, so I was also checked for Antiphospholipid syndrome, which was negative.  My Lp was normal. CT of my chest was normal, but revealed that my spleen was enlarged.   My doctor does not feel that I have MS, although he admits to not knowing what is wrong with me.
Celiac's disease, copper deficiencies, lupus, thyroid,sjogren's,have also come up negative. Any suggestions anyone might have would be greatly appreaciated.  -I  am currently taking weekly vitamin d supplements,B-12 injections, Topamax , Tizanidine, and Maxalt.

[Carol in PA]

If you did not have any IgG bands on the Lyme Western Blot, that shows that in the past, your immune system did not make antibodies to the Lyme bacteria.
The bacteria reproduces every 28 days, so that is why you can have positive bands on the IgM, which would show an active infection.
Lyme Disease can depress the immune system, and some people with Lyme never do get a positive Western Blot.

Another problem with testing for Lyme is that there are several hundred strains, but labs usually test for one strain.
Because the lab tests for Lyme are so inaccurate, the diagnosis should be made by evaluating the patient's symptoms, which is a "clinical diagnosis."
Few physicians are willing to make a clinical diagnosis of Lyme, and when the test comes back negative they tell the patient that he doesn't have it.

So it is very possible that you have Lyme Disease.
Your symptoms fit the pattern of Lyme, and you had three reactive bands on a Western Blot IgM.

Wild Condor's Lyme Links
http://www.wildcondor.com/lymelinks.html
(You can google for this if the url is removed.)

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[dr_simran]

Hello Dear,
Myelopathy suggests that the spinal cord has been compromised due to injury or disease.
It manifestes itself in several neurological symptoms including hyperflexia or clonus, L'hermitte's sign , as well as acute numbness.
.In addition to a thorough medical history and examination, a variety of specialized procedures are helpful -- although not always necessary -- to accurately diagnose MS. These include imaging techniques, such as MRI, spinal taps or lumbar punctures (examination of the cerebrospinal fluid that runs through the spinal column), evoked potentials (electrical tests to help determine if MS has affected a person's nerve pathways), and laboratory analysis of blood samples
You should get the above tests done and see a good neurologist.
Best