Jaw surgery, braces, and leg kicking

[singinalong]

Hello Dr. Park,

I have been a part of the MS forum for a while now, and still undiagnosed. I have had major vision issues for over a year now, and doctors can't seem to find an issue. My MRI came out with small lesions, then I had another done with contrast, and the second nero said that there wasn't actually anything there... and told me it was somatoform disorder. My question is, my husband claims that I am horrible to sleep with. I snore constantly, loudly, and am kicking him many times throughout the night. .. causing briusing lol  I have just recently in September had braces put on, and have a huge overbite. after my braces come off in about 18 months, they are advising I go for jaw surgery to have my bottom jaw moved forward. Do you think this will help with my sleeping patterns? I am up many times in a night, I am currently on Cymbalta, which made me feel like a zombie for the first week, now it doesnt do anything... I was on Trazadone for a year, and that helped with the getting up at night, but did not help with the moving around and kicking... Do you have any suggestions. ? I am at my wits end with these symptoms, I believe the diagnosis of somatoform is a cop out... and that is not the real issue here. I have weakness in my left side, I have a hard time seeing, I don't sleep well, my husband is getting ready to move me to the couch! :) any suggestions would be helpful... Questions to ask my doctor? Maybe a new med I should try? I dunno... I need answers... Thank you. Shari

[singinalong]

bump

[singinalong]

Dr. Park, Can you elaborate on the temporary neurologic lesions ? What does this mean? I am still dealing with issues with my vision, and everyone seems to think that I am okay, which I am not.... I have returned to work, but I have a hard time seeing at times, getting accused that it is carelessness, but its not. I truely can not see. ... I don't know how to go about this? Also, do you know anything about Cymbalta? I have been trying to do some reasearch online, but in Canada there is not a lot of information. My doctor has put me on this medication for the past month. He gave me some samples, and took me off of Trazadone. I don't feel like I need a anti-depressant. I think my "depression" is just situational. That I have been fighting with these symptoms for over a year now, and cant seem to get anywhere.
HMPH!

Thanks for your insight... anymore information would be helpful. Thank you for what you do online here. You are helping so many people out.

Thank you. Shari

[Steven Y Park, MD]

From what you're describing, it does sound like you may have obstructive sleep apnea. A sleep study is the best way of diagnosing and treating this condition. Moving your lower jaw forward is a good idea (since it moves your tongue forward), but with routine orthognathic surgery, they only move it forward a few millimeters. Sleep apnea surgery usually requires both upper and lower jaw movement of about 1 cm or more. This is called MMA, or maxillo-mandibular advancement. You should look into standard sleep apnea treatment options first if you're found to have significant obstructive sleep apnea.

Frequent oxygen deprivation to the brain can cause temporary neurologic lesions that can affect any part of the brain.