could all this be MS? not fibro...

i am going thru the same thing, rheumy ruled out everything else and now my gp wants me to see a neurologist, i have been sick for years with no answers, close to 10 years really, many of those years no insurance so mostly er visits, history of bulging disc and DDD. first thing i can remember is extreme fatigue, burning, itching, numb feet to the point i could not walk by the end of the day, following that was severe depression, anxiety, fatigue and chronic pain. may 2012 so sick i could not get out of bed, i have bursted out crying for no reason (at a restaurant) , i am having swallowing problems, speech problems, eyes hurt, see color distortions and object distortions, blurry vision, my voice goes away, tremor that you can see and some you cant see, severe neck pain, shoulder pain, arm, hand, leg, foot going numb, severe leg pain, cant feel my feets, stiff and sore, cant take the heat, short term memory loss, extreme fatigue, insomnia despite sleeping meds, pain that wakes me up, severe back pain, my legs get stiff and i cant use my feet so i have to shuffle sometimes to walk, it is like i have these flares for a while, months, and then i get better (a little) i lost my job last year because i could not mentally focus on what i was doing, basically things i had been doing everyday for years i was just going blank on, making lots of mistakes, have had every blood test you can think of-will have mri next week, my knees give out and i have fallen, sound familiar, i am desperate, if i have ms that is ok at least i will finally know what is wrong so i can hopefully get better kel

have you had any test like mri or spinal tap ? i have not had an mri of the brain in years, i told my doc last month i was having this severe pain, esp. in my neck and back, and asked him to do an mri, all did was an mri of my neck, with dye, showed nothing, do you know if i had lesions or damage it should have shown up on there right, i am so sick of this, i do not think i have fibro or i have both, i dont have the typical fibro symptoms, much less the tender points, or whatever they call the, i think my rheumy doesnt know. are you seeing a neurologist now ? have you had any test, im doing good to leave the house, i am getting to the point that sometimes i could use a cane or crutch but i am too embarrased, i never dreamed i'd get sick, i have no support with family, except my new husband, he knows what it is like to loose your life, he has psoriatic arthritis, he went undiagnosed for 10 years too, what really worries me is the my non-functioning brain. my speech,does it normally get to this point to get a diagnosis

I went to the Neurologist a few days ago. And I will be scheduled to go for a MRI and a EMG. I have never had either of these before. But the numbness in my arm and fingers now has gone to my leg. But it is not all the time so that is good. Not sure how long it will take to get in for an appointment. They seem to be overbooked, why don't they use other facilities or do something instead of making us wait. It is too hard to wait for tests to be done.

I wonder could all this numbness be from Fibro? And I have a strange pain along the back of my head...

This is off the subject, but I was reading about MS fatigue and it is called Lassitude. That is just what I have (not a MS diagnosis yet) but it sounds exactly how I feel.

 And I am on my 4th day of feeling well! YAY!

If there is proof from your MRI test showing lesions then why is there no diagnosis?  Just wondering....

I received my initial diagnosis after one MRI and a neuro exam (testing for certain reflexes and responses. I received a second opinion/diagnosis after a lumbar puncture and evoked potentials.

Remember that an MRI will show lesions but lesions can be caused by more than just MS. A lesion is just a scar from damage. That damage can be caused by Lyme disease, migraines, infection, Alzheimer's, or stroke.

Doctors must rule out all other causes. It's difficult and can mean misdiagnosis. I had reflex responses that indicated brain damage typical for MS. That with my MRI started the ball rolling. Then I had evoked potentials (normal for hearing, delayed for lower extremities and failed for vision) along with a lumbar puncture that indicated oligoclonal bands. My blood work was clear of all other possible causes.

I have responded well to MS treatments which becomes the final diagnostic tool. I have had 1,250mg of IV steroids for 5 days straight with a marked decrease in all symptoms just following an MS exacerbation.

Post Edited (Gretchen1) : 10/18/2013 7:32:44 AM (GMT-6)

Lyme disease can also cause brain lesions and MS like symptoms. If they won't diagnose you with a definitive MS - it might be worth finding a lyme specialist through ILADS to get evaluated for lyme disease. :)

Race,

I AM the author. It is my mantra. You may use it as long as it only benefits a non-profit organization.

Those words have brought me so much comfort in the face of this disease.