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being tested for MS

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Posted 7/4/2011 3:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I started experiencing weakness in my arms and legs (right leg is the worst) lots of tingling in my feet, hands, back, head and face. Some numbness and warmness sensations in the legs and feet. I also get extremely fatigued without cause. I feel trembly and shaky sometimes. This has been going on for about 2 months. I've had issues with my left eye since I was a kid (Around 8 years old, I'm now 24) and also urinary issues since a kid like leakage, inability to completely empty my bladder. 

I went to my GP's office and saw a PA (couldn't get into see my GP for over a month) the PA basically diagnosed me with "back pain" even though I wasn't complaining of back pain and put me on naproxen and recommened physically therapy. I do have some back pain but I've had it for years most likely from bad posture and poor lifting techniques over the years. My symptoms persisted so I asked my mother-in-law who is a PA in womans health at a local hospital and she told me to make an appointment with a neurologist. Saw the neuro on 6/23. She did a bunch of blood work (haven't gotten any results yet) and I had an MRI on 6/30. I haven't gotten any results back from that either but they gave me a disc with all the images and there are several bright white spots. Of course they can be anything but I wanted to get some thoughts from people who have already been diagnosed with MS. I haven't had a clear MS "attack"....just the symptoms described above.

 My pediatrician kinda blew my parents off about the urinary symptoms as something behavioral and I just learned to deal with it but since developing the other symptoms the neuro seemed somewhat concerned about it since it started with no cause and was never investigated. She mentioned doing some testing regarding that as well at some point.

Posted 7/5/2011 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I am also being tested for MS... So I can relate to how nerve racking this is. My symptoms started with numbness in the left hand and right side. What did you have an MRI of? After running numerous blood tests My doctor ordered an MRI of the brain which showed spots that would affect the sensory perception. Followed by 2 MRI's each of my cervical and thoracic spine. (With and Without Contrast) The MRI's showed spots on both sections of spine. So Friday, I went for a lumbar puncture and I am awaiting the results. It all seems like a long waiting game.... Good luck in your search for answers.
Posted 7/5/2011 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
My MRI was of my brain and cspine with and without contrast. I am supposed to call my doctors office tomorrow for the results. I am guessing I will be getting a lumbar puncture as well even if the MRI is clean as MS doesn't always show up on the MRI. The waiting game is hard. Thanks for the support. I will be thinking of you as you wait for your results.
Posted 7/5/2011 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi angie and DI,

You need to get the MRI results from the radiology lab for yourself as well. They will put the MRI on a CD and you will also receive a written report. This is something you need to have in case you go for a second opinion.

We get a lot of posts that are "do I have MS" types. I honestly have to say that you both have impressive things going on. Don't let anyone blow this off doctor or otherwise. You need answers.

DI - you may be close to answers. I hate to say it, but white spots on the spine are often MS. Brain spots (lesions) can be caused by many things.

Angie - MS "attacks" aren't always a dramatic occurance. They can be simply episodes of numbness lasting a few days or longer. They aren't always something that people seek treatment. I have heard MSers say, "I thought it was carpal tunnel. I thought I had pinched a nerve. I just figured it was a bladder infection." etc.

Best of luck to both of you. I hope you find releif/answers/treatment real soon.
Posted 7/5/2011 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Gretchen,

My neuro was very conservative when I saw her to say what she thought was going on. She did say she didn't think it was fibromyalgia, lupus and lyme's disease since I really don't have any pain or skin changes. She was even hestiant to say she thought it was MS because tingling, weakness and fatigue are my primary symptoms and she said she usually sees more numbness with MS. My numbness is very intermitent (SP?) I know they ran an ANA panel but I haven't gotten any blood tests results back. I did get a disc with all my MRI images on it, but no report yet. I plan on calling this morning though because they told me to call 2 days after the MRI but obviously that would have been the weekend so they wouldn't be open. I know there are several other autoimmune disorders than can mimic MS too.

I plan on calling right away this morning. Hoping they can get me in soon to discuss my results.
Posted 7/5/2011 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
My presenting symptom was severe vertigo. I had no numbness or tingling and no pain. I had such bad spinning I ended up in the hospital because I was wall walking. That was the start of my journey. I was lucky and was diagnosed pretty quickly.

It has been five years this month and those other common symptoms (numbness, pain etc) are part of my life now. It's all pretty managable however.

My ANA panel was normal if that's any help. Let me know if there's anything I can do. Any questions? Advice?
Posted 7/5/2011 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I called my doctors office...apparently on Tuesdays she is over at the hospital so I will have to wait till tomorrow. I think she did the ANA panel to rule out other autoimmune disorders.
I also experience vertigo occasionally and dizziness. I have been diagnosed with low blood pressure though so that could explain those symptoms. But my eyes have been very sensitive to bright light and whenever I am outside I need to wear sunglasses.
I tried deciphering my own MRI by looking online at MRI images of MS lesions and brain tumors.....I know every doctor hates when us lay people consult docter internet. I pretty much have no clue what I am looking though. The spots I saw are bright white round spots that definitly don't look like they belong there but like I said I'm no radiologist. My career path is in criminal justice.
Thanks for all the support so far. I guess I will have some answers tomorrow and I then I may have more questions and need advice.
Posted 7/5/2011 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Both of my boys are considering studying criminal justice. They are considering police/law enforcment. They are young however and those things can change.

I have looked at my MRIs as well. I just laugh! What I am sure is something bad, is a normal structure and I usually look right past the lesions.

If you have Optic Neuritis (inflammation or demylenation of the optic nerve) that will show up on the MRI. You could go see a good opthalmalogist too however. Often ON can be seen by examination. Only a small portion of the optic nerve is hidden during eye exams. I believe it's 1/3 or less can't be seen. The rest is easily visible.
Posted 7/5/2011 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I did get my eyes examed about a month ago....right around the same time my symptoms started. He is only an optomitrist though so I don't know if that makes a difference. He said besides the fact I have bad vision my eyes otherwise looked healthy. Besides light sensitivity I've had a wandering eye since I was about 8. My left eye always wants to go in. I don't know if that's something that would be considered an MS symptom.

I am just about done with my associates degree in CJ...I'm not sure yet what I want to do with it. I've considered police work but I'm more interested in the law part.
Posted 7/6/2011 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Well I talked to my neurologist this morning. Apparently my MRI was clean of MS lesions, however I have some congenital anomolies on my cspine she wants to discuss with a neurosurgeon. She is pretty sure I do not have MS. My ANA came back high though suggesting I have an autoimmune disorder other than MS.

She said she wanted me to see her next week and discuss the MRI and possibly referring me to the neurosurgeon for another MRI of the rest of my spine. The anomolies could explain some of my symptoms and I may need corrective surgery depending once again on what the surgeon thinks. The neurologist also told me she is going to hand me off to a rheumatologist for further testing of autoimmune.

So I did get some answers but most of it is still a mystery for now. Hopefully the rheumatologist and neurosurgeon will be able to pin things down and come up with a plan of treatment.

Thanks again for all the support.
Posted 7/6/2011 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I am very glad you are headed in a possibly more treatable diagnosis. Good luck!
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