mystery symptoms

[Majek2006]

A little over a year ago I started to experience 'episodes' of left side, arm and leg, numbness and tingling. The so called episodes come and go and I haven't noticed a trigger for them. I had one episode where the left side of my face went numb as well. They episodes can last anywhere from a few hours to weeks. My current one is also affecting my right arm and leg.
I have done all the blood work possible, had MRI of my spine and neck, had an X-ray, seen a nuerologist whos specialty is MS. My appointment with him I learned that my left side is considerably weaker than my right as well as my sensations are lower. I also had a spinal tap, which proved to be the worst experience of my life and came out negative.
All docs that i have seen say the same thing, it sounds like MS but my tests say otherwise.
What else could it be, or what other tests can be done? Is there such a thing as phantom MS? could that be what I have?
My episodes are getting stronger and more painful.

[ggreg]

Ahhhh, yes, Majek, I now know what you have.  Hair loss usually equals thyroid problem.  Also, hypothyroidism can cause peripheral neuropathy!!!  Now, the blood tests that a regular doc does for thyroid is not enough.  But a specialist called an endocrinologist checks three diff numbers from a blood draw to determine hypothyroidism, which that word means your thyroid is not putting out enough of its hormone.  This is a pretty common problem, there are several types, and there is treatment for it.  They give you pills that replace the hormone that the thyroid is not producing enough of, it's tricky getting the right level, so you have to return to the endocrinologist to get blood drawn a few times, until your numbers are in the correct range.  SOOOO, you need to see an endocrinologist forthwith and have your thyroid tested.  I HOPE that's what's going on.  Please let us know what happens!  GG

[Majek2006]

thanks for your help.
Just so you know I did have accupuncture, had 3 treatments, he suggested taking vitamin B which I have now for a few months and have noticed no change. I have also been for massages, and having the massage actually induced my numbness so i have not gone back.
I have a nuerologist appointment in january, I will mention ALS and muscular distrophy to him.
other things I experience that could possibly be related symptoms are hair loss.... which seems to escalate during episodes, headaches, and trouble sleeping.
Do these make any difference to you and your advice?

[ggreg]

But I should add that what you seem to have is peripheral neuropathy, which there are dozens of types, some of unknown origin.  This is another reason why you should keep seeing the neurologist.

[ggreg]

You could get a scan of your head, to make sure there's not some benign tumor pushing on some nerves in your head that affect your limbs.  Visit the neurologist on a regular basis, like once a year, and if you notice your eyes bothering you at any point, schedule an appointment to see him immediately, all in case this is MS that isn't symptomatic enough yet to show itself clinically or in scans.  The weakness could be something to do with either some activity you did had strained muscles that you forgot about, or possibly a vitamin/mineral deficiency... but you said you had bloodwork, plus it started on one side.  Then there's a chance blood flow isn't right, a circulatory type problem with lungs or heart, and thus may be a symptom of diabetes... but you had bloodwork that likely checked your sugars.  MIGHT be arthritis of some kind, you should visit a rheumatologist to make sure it's not in your joints.

If this keeps up for, say, three or four more months, then I would suggest going to a Swedish massage therapist for a few visits, they might uncover the source of the pain, perhaps, but at least will make you feel more comfortable for a while, and could be you did injure one side of your body somehow, and then whilst unconsciously protecting it, you now have a problem on the other side.  Muscular dystrophy occurred to me, as did ALS, but with dystrophy usually it's the legs, and ALS is rather uncommon, but your neurologist I'm sure already considered both of those two items.

Keep seeing the neurologist, visit a rheumatologist, and get in a few visits with a professional massage therapist.  If you think any of the other items might fit and there's no bloodwork to show for it, then you can follow those leads, too.  I wish I could have helped more.