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Hey there, I am curious as to why my neurologist wants an MRI? I guess that I failed the physical, so what does that really mean?

I have migraines, fatigue, body hurts to touch (doc said it is like fibro...but not) I have morning stiffness, and after any activity stiffness. In the last year I have lost vision and in the past had a "curtain" of gray over vision on hot days. This year I went to the hot tub and when I got out, I could hardly walk...but went back recently and all went well.

I have an MRI schedualed, I dont know what to expect! My first MRI showed spots (or something) and the nurse said WOW I am so sorry that you are so young and have MS...so now here I am years later and wonder if I do in fact have MS.

Any ideas...good or bad would be nice. thanks.

hey there, maybe they want to look for changes since your last MRI. they also use the findings as part of their diagnostic assessment. your other symptoms seem to indicate that it's worth looking into further, rather than telling you to take two and call him in the morning. i get the hot tub effect sometimes too, or just in any old pool if i swim hard. gravity can be mean when you get out lol!
try magnesium to combat stiffness. it may help you in other unexpected ways too. it's good to take a more soluble form like citrate. a product some here use is called natural calm. it's a powder and you mix with hot water. i tried a sample and i think i'll get some when my pills run out.
with magnesium you want to take 600-1200mg per day, but it's not easy to take more than 600 coz it really makes you run to the toilet at levels any higher, no matter how soluble the form you get!
hope that helps you a little, gotta split to work, ttfn

jimmylegs~
HHHHmmm those are all good ideas. And yes gravity is crule! ...however it was slightly different than just not walking after the hot tub, it was more like I had to hold onto the railing to get to the bleachers at this public pool. It was mortafying! I know that is not normal...

I do think that this MRI is just to "cover all the bases" and I dont expect that they will see any changes. I do hate waiting for it though! On the bright side, I have my neurology apt the day after, so results will come shortly after the MRI.

I was prescribed Amatriptiline (sp) and a drug similar to Lyrica. I am scared to take either of these meds because of my excruciating headaches. I tried the Amatriptiline for about 4 weeks and had a killer headache every day! I finally gave up. so now i am just scared to try again.

Has any one else had these issues with ??

thanks for your ideas!
birdie33

perspectives on migraine and magnesium:

So just what is the magnesium migraines connection?
http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.co ... aines.html

Magnesium & Migraine
http://www.thedailyheadache.com/2007/04 ... migra.html

Letters about migraine and treatment with magnesium
http://www.mgwater.com/migraineletters.shtml

Non-drug Alternatives to Preventative Treatment of Migraines
http://www.migraines.org/treatment/treatctm.htm

Are Migraine Headaches a Symptom of a Magnesium Deficiency?
http://www.ctds.info/magnesium-migraine.html
includes links to the following studies (plus other info):

- Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8792038

- Intravenous magnesium sulfate rapidly alleviates headaches of various types
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8984087

- Serum and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations and migraine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1390006

hope that helps some too!

an interesting connection:

Efficacy of long duration resuscitation and magnesium sulphate treatment in amitriptyline poisoning
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11989501

more possibilities:

Drugs that steal
http://www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/155
Antidepressants: Amoxapine (asendin), desipramine (norpramin), nortriptyline (aventyl hydrochloride), protriptyline (vivactil), amitriptyline (elavil), clomipramine (anafranil), doxepin (adapin), and imipramine (tofranil) deplete the body of coenzyme Q10 and B2.

http://www.taumed.com/content/adam/brow ... cid=000989
Antidepressant Medications - Tricyclic antidepressants (such as imipramine, desimpramine, amitriptyline, and nortriptyline) also reduce levels of riboflavin in the body. Taking riboflavin may improve levels of the vitamin and improve the effectiveness of these antidepressants, especially in elderly patients.

Inhibition of Riboflavin Metabolism in Rat Tissues by Chlorpromazine, Imipramine, and Amitriptyline
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articl ... tid=370718

http://www.taumed.com/content/adam/brow ... cid=000950
Other - Medications that can lower the levels of coenzyme Q10 in the body include statins for cholesterol (atorvastatin, cerivastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin), fibric acid derivatives for cholesterol (specifically, gemfibrozil), beta-blockers for high blood pressure (such as atenolol, labetolol, metoprolol, and propranolol), and tricyclic antidepressant medications (including amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, and trimipramine).

http://www.migraines.org/treatment/treatctm.htm
Vitamin B2 supplements... A study in Belgium found that people who took 400 milligrams of vitamin B2 daily had about one-third fewer migraines than did those taking a placebo. The study, published in the February issue of the journal Neurology, included 55 patients in Belgium and Luxembourg who normally had two to eight migraine attacks each month.
link to study:
High-dose riboflavin for prophylaxis of migraine
http://www.cfpc.ca/cfp/2003/Oct/vol49-o ... ical-1.asp

also:
Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/4/713

Wow, good reads! I do tend to lean towards a natural aproach. I would always hope to treat the real problem rather than just a bandade fix. Thanks for the links, I read them all.

So to address the failed apt. ...how many of you here failed the neurology physical? I am curious to see if this is a step towards a diagnosis...what ever that may be. As you all know very well I am sure, it sucks to be in a limbo never getting the treatment you need... only able to get a quick bandade fix when a symptom arises.

How many of you have a positive ANA?

If I wasnt clear before, I have not received a diagnosis.

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the dialoge!

glad that was not too much to throw at you at one time.

i imagine i failed the neurology physical - they found spasticity in the limbs and i couldn't feel the vibration in the tuning fork, that kind of thing.

i don't know if i had an ANA test. my files aren't handy right now or i'd check it out. as i understand it that's more of a lupus test, but possibly used for other autoimmune conditions?