This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I had a medical "episode" two weeks ago and we still don't know what happened.

I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant, and one night very suddenly I developed and excruciating pain in my side, just under my left breast and wrapping around to the back and down my spine.

We rushed to Labour & Delivery and I spent 5 days in hospital. The doctors decided I had a mystery infection, as my white cells went up to 28,000 and I had a low grade fever. However, urine came back normal and abdominal MRI and ultrasounds came back normal.

Morphine kept the pain in check and after three days is was mostly gone other than terrible muscle soreness.

The docs still have no idea what it was... then I started thinking MS hug?

I'd love to know if anyone experiences fever and white cell spikes during a relapse. My other symptoms were chills, fatigue and general malaise.

Nobody? Bah.

I thought I remembered my neuro mentioning increase leukocytes in MSers at one point, but I'm not finding much online. I'm not good at medical research though.

Hi Punchy,
I think it takes a while for people to respond so don't be disheartened...its just a complicated question to answer!
I don't think you have a sudden reaction like that with MS hug. It sounds more like a bacterial or viral infection that a neurological thing. (but I am not a dr)!

Yes, exactly.

Punchy,

What did they check with the MRI and Ultrasound? What did they rule out?

Can't wait to see baby pictures!

Terry

I have borne six children, many years before the MS diagnosis however. I wish my children could be followed in a genetic study - they are from two fathers, two marriages, and seemingly ideal subjects to look for a maternal genetic factor in MS.

I have had one MS "hugs" attack and it is excruciatingly painful.

Something is secreted during pregnancy which relaxes ligaments and muscles to facilitate the obvious huge expansion of the uterus and pelvic structures. I got uterine ligament cramps that were disabling and soreness that took days to go away, and all muscles would be more prone to feeling effects of sudden overuse or pulling injury when I was pregnant. I am not sure, but would not the WBC count rise with injury as well as infection?

I wonder if anyone mentioned the term costochondritis during your stay as a possibility.

Now, at age 52, my MS lesions are in my neck on MRI. I envision my neck as a slow progressive obstacle course for nerve impulses to navigate back and forth and a percentage of impulses are messed up. Other than someone having a voodoo doll on me, what else could explain sudden stabbing pain in an area where there is no injury or overuse and which disappears as suddenly as it began?

Wendigo, I've never heard of Costochondritis, very interesting. That very well could have been it, but I guess I'll never know.

I love the Voodoo doll comment - you're so right, sometimes I feel like I am MS's Voodoo doll.

I also have several lesions in my neck/brain stem.