LSUFAN wrote:This is all new and happening way too fast. I went to my neurosurgeon this week with a numb left arm, hand and fingers. Last time I had this problem it was the result of a ruptured disc in my neck which required immediate surgery. I assumed this would be the same case. During the examination I was asked numerous questions non-related to my neck and disc. Every question she asked I answered yes to, and I wondered how she knew that I was having that particular problem. She has me scheduled for an MRI and EMG in two weeks. I was given 5 scripts. One being a steroid pak (prednisone), something for muscle spasms, pain pills, neurontin, and 800 MG of Ibuprofin to begin after steroids pak. Two months ago I went to my opthamologist due to the onset of blurred vision. I was given a script for antibiotic drops. There has been no improvement. I have had major coordination problems the last two years, and have fallen many, many times. Problems swallowing for two years. Now I easily choke several days a week. I have lost 40 lbs in two years with absolutely no dieting. I have bladder and bowel leakage problems. I never put any of these symptoms together until this appointment when she asked the questions. I am 61 years old and worry that if it is MS it may already be at a progressed stage. The waiting is driving me insane. I cry every day. Could someone advise me if they feel, that I do in fact probably have MS. If not, what else could be? Thank you.
Welcome to ThisIsMS, LSUFAN.
The first symptom you mentioned is "numb left arm, hand and fingers." As you may know, this is the definition of peripheral neuropathy, which is a common symptom in many conditions. In their guidelines for investigating the cause of peripheral neuropathy, the University of Chicago suggests the following:
http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchic ... #bloodtest
Blood tests
Blood tests are commonly employed to check for vitamin deficiencies, toxic elements and evidence of an abnormal immune response.
Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may request certain laboratory tests to identify potentially treatable causes for neuropathy. These include tests for:
Vitamin B12 and folate levels
Thyroid, liver and kidney functions
Vasculitis evaluation
Oral glucose tolerance test
Antibodies to nerve components (e.g., anti-MAG antibody)
Antibodies related to celiac disease
Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C and B
Please notice that the first testing is to rule out a possible vitamin B12 deficiency. I hope this was done when this occurred before and ended in your disc surgery. (I had a similar situation, was diagnosed and had a cervical laminectomy performed in Rochester, Minnesota. Even the Mayo Clinic can make a mistake. In the two weeks of testing which led to my misdiagnosis, I was NOT tested for a B12 deficiency.)
If your GP, neurosurgeon, neurologist, or ophthalmologist has not ordered the initial four tests (#1 serum B12 test, #2 serum folic acid test, #3 serum homocysteine test, and #4 either a serum or urinary methylmalonic acid tests – the urinary test is considered to be more accurate), please request that these be done. Do not begin vitamin B supplementation before testing as this will skew the test results. Also, ask for your own copy of the test results.
I encourage you to read the book,
Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses by Sally Pacholok, RN, BSN, and Jeffrey Stuart, D.O. Your symptoms are the very same as those found with a B12 deficiency.
If you have a vitamin B 12 deficiency, it is easily and inexpensively treated.
All the best to you; please let us know how it goes.