Hello folks
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:02 am
Just like to say hello.
Was diagnosed yesterday with secondary progressive MS.
I'm a 48 yo male, and my symptoms started a year and half ago (probably longer).
On 3/28/11 I noticed that the bottom of my right foot felt numb and tingly. Then in a few minutes it felt like my entire right side was tingly. Scalp, lips, tounge, arm etc.
So off to the ER. All imaging was normal but they still though STROKE. 2 days in the hosp, sent home with PT and bp meds. After 6 weeks of PT, still felt the same, plus as soon as I got home from the hospital, it was impossible to go without napping throuhout the day.
So in May, I followed up with a neurologist for my "stroke". She said I didn't have a stroke, or if I did, it was too small to see. She thought my symptoms could have been caused by some disc degeneration in my back. So I continued on thinking I should start feeling better soon.
Then in August it seemed one day that everything got worse again. Just like when it began. Went to the ER again. This time the doc didn't panic, but instead asked me if I've ever been checked for MS. I said, no, so he discharged me with an MS workup with my neurologist. She found bi lateral clonus, hyperreflxia, abnormal sensations in lower R leg. So, a new MRI, bloodwork, spinal tap, emg.
MRI: normal
Bloodwork: normal
CSF: showed O-bands, high protein, high csf index
EMG: carpal tunnel, one neuropothy in right leg.
This was last Nov. She wouldn't consider MS without lesions. So she sent me to a fibro specialist...ya, I know....
But he thought maybe I had fibro so he gave me gabapenton. Didn't do anything except put me to sleep, and that was on one pill. I was supposed to increase to several a day. So I stopped that nonsense. This was this past March.
So figuring I would just wait till something changed, either for the better or for the worse, I continued on.
Then in May, I found a new neuro. She did all the same things, with all the same results, except the EMG now showed signs of demeylination in both legs.
So she said lets treat for MS to see how you do. I'm confortable with this, I just wonder if the med, Copaxone, will help my current symptoms, or just prevent worsening. Also, might I worsen anyway?
I tried to get an answer for two years, no that I have one, I'm confused.
Thoughts?
Was diagnosed yesterday with secondary progressive MS.
I'm a 48 yo male, and my symptoms started a year and half ago (probably longer).
On 3/28/11 I noticed that the bottom of my right foot felt numb and tingly. Then in a few minutes it felt like my entire right side was tingly. Scalp, lips, tounge, arm etc.
So off to the ER. All imaging was normal but they still though STROKE. 2 days in the hosp, sent home with PT and bp meds. After 6 weeks of PT, still felt the same, plus as soon as I got home from the hospital, it was impossible to go without napping throuhout the day.
So in May, I followed up with a neurologist for my "stroke". She said I didn't have a stroke, or if I did, it was too small to see. She thought my symptoms could have been caused by some disc degeneration in my back. So I continued on thinking I should start feeling better soon.
Then in August it seemed one day that everything got worse again. Just like when it began. Went to the ER again. This time the doc didn't panic, but instead asked me if I've ever been checked for MS. I said, no, so he discharged me with an MS workup with my neurologist. She found bi lateral clonus, hyperreflxia, abnormal sensations in lower R leg. So, a new MRI, bloodwork, spinal tap, emg.
MRI: normal
Bloodwork: normal
CSF: showed O-bands, high protein, high csf index
EMG: carpal tunnel, one neuropothy in right leg.
This was last Nov. She wouldn't consider MS without lesions. So she sent me to a fibro specialist...ya, I know....
But he thought maybe I had fibro so he gave me gabapenton. Didn't do anything except put me to sleep, and that was on one pill. I was supposed to increase to several a day. So I stopped that nonsense. This was this past March.
So figuring I would just wait till something changed, either for the better or for the worse, I continued on.
Then in May, I found a new neuro. She did all the same things, with all the same results, except the EMG now showed signs of demeylination in both legs.
So she said lets treat for MS to see how you do. I'm confortable with this, I just wonder if the med, Copaxone, will help my current symptoms, or just prevent worsening. Also, might I worsen anyway?
I tried to get an answer for two years, no that I have one, I'm confused.
Thoughts?