Neurological Symptoms?

[laurie g]

I'm a 33year female who has been expeiencing some neuro symptoms for almost 19 months.  It all started with patches of numbness and banding that lasted for approximately 3 months.  I went to a neurologist at that time and an MRI was done and was negative.  My symptoms went away for a while.   Now for the last 2 months I've been experiencing nystagmus, found by an optometrist, an off balance feeling, alot of sensory symptoms like pins/needles, banding that don't go away.  I also have a cold wet feeling in my left foot wven though it's the same temp as my rt foot.  I have nocturia(2-3times/night), lots of muscle twitching,especially my face.  My lower left lip area twitches constantly.  I have blurry vision at times, and one episode of my peripheral vision being very wavy after excercise.  It improved after about 2 hours.  Iwalk every day for excercise, but most of the sensory symptoms intensify.  I have an appointment with an opthamologist in about a week and a half at the insistance of my PCP.  He has mentioned MS as a possibility.  Would a repeat MRI and repeat neuro visit be warranted at this time?  Thank you for this service and I apologize for the length.  I look forward to any response.

[cherrah08]

A related discussion, Weird sensations was started.

[Wayne]

Since starting to have neurological symptoms myself around five years ago, I have read or hear numerous accounts so similar to mine. This numbness and tinglng and muscle trigger points, etc., etc. During my bad days prior to my first neck surgery I also had heart palpitations, for a while my right hand shook and I thought I was getting Parkinsons, I had problems with my eyes, I was seeing flashes of light at times.

My neurosurgeon explained that my symptoms were from the compressed nerves in my neck and secondary nerve reactions that were causing migraine activity, etc. Hardly anyone discusses the affects of compressed nerves on the autonomic nervous system that controls many of our bodily funtions--organs, repiration, etc. So inflamed nerves can really cause some very complex problems.

Of course, knowing one's spinal cord is being compressed in several areas is one thing, but getting something done about it is another. I have found neurosurgeons to be very reluctant to operate even though my symptoms have been what I feel are quite severe. I don't understand this.

I might mention that normal x-rays do not always pick up spinal problems and compressed spinal cords and MRI's are much more accurate.

Wayne

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Julie:

What did your family physician tell you?  There are a constellation of symptoms that gives the clinical diagnosis of lupus and you are not telling me of most of the symptoms of lupus.  At this point, I would not give you that diagnosis.  Alot of your symptoms might (I say might) be from anxiety as they sound very non-specific.  I would suggest that you undergo a complete neurological exam, that will place your mind at ease about some worrisome problem.  See a rheumatologist concerning the Lupus, but I don't get the sense that this is lupus.

CCF Neuro MD

[Kelly to Dr. KDK]

I have been having many neurological symptoms, such as numbness and tingling, muscle twitches and pain, fatigue and neck pain.  I also have been having heart palpitations.  I had an ANA test and it came back "within normal limits".  However, the lupus section of the test was just barely within normal limits.  Does this mean that it's on it's way up or is it likely to stay within normal limits?  I don't have fever or the characteristic rash that comes with lupus, but I do have some other symptoms.  Am I in the very, very early stages of the disease?  Also, my immunoglobin M and prealbumin levels were very high and the note from the lab said that it's indicative of a viral condition or very early immune response.  Would this support lupus?  I had a cold at the time, and I also take birth control pills, both of which I read could affect the outcomes of the test.  Is this true?  My doctor only told me that the test came back normal.  I found this out by getting a copy of the test myself.  I'm afraid that I'm in the early stages of lupus and am very scared.  Help?

[laurie g]

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.  I did want to clarify that when I'm execising, my sensory symptoms get worse in that they are most noticable.  Again, thank you vey much.  As you can imagine, I do not want to have MS or any other disease.  I do know, however, that there is something wrong.  Hopefully, the opthomologist will see if there is something wrong.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Laurie:

Sorry to hear about your symptoms.  I think I would first get the opthalmolgy visit and the results.  Pale optic nerves are a common finding with MS.  Your symptoms have some of the qualities of MS but certainly many do not.  The twitching or muscle fasciculations is not usual. Nor would sensory symptoms decrese with activity as in MS, the sensory loss is central. Nystagmus is not normal and should be investigated.  This can be seen with many disorders from infection to masses in the CP angle (junction between the cerebrum and brainstem where the auditory nerves are located).  If the opthalmologist finds something worrisome, then I would return to the neurologist.

MS is a tricky disease when the symptoms are not the usual symptoms.  Since diagnosis is clinical, there are some times when the tincture of time will tell and is needed for the diagnosis. I think I would lean toward this not being MS, but without examining you it is difficult.

CCF Neuro MD