Need to make an appt to see a Specialist or Neurologist

[WedGirl23]

I just joined this site. A couple of years ago, I went to ER with pain/numbness and the doctor felt of my legs. She said do you work out alot...walking or running? "I replied, no. I find it much too tiresome to do that, but I wish I did feel like staying more active." The doctor said...hmmm. She noticed my leg muscles looked overly spastic (hyperflexed while resting....if you will). She then asked me then if I had ever been tested for MS. I said no. She said, well...now might be a good time for you to go ahead and do that.

But, at the time (and now) I did not have any insurance. And, as I had a strong feeling that big tests such as MRIs and Spinal Taps would be quite expensive...I never pursued it. Lately though the numbness has gotten worse and I have even started falling down while walking and a couple of times coming down the stairs.

Recently, I started back to school, mostly to try and keep my mind active and not fall behind in my studies. So now...I am able to get StudentInsurance come the enrollment period this Sept. I am very excited and happy about that!

Please tell me your thoughts...I am still a bit scared...as the thought of a spinal tap does admittedly terrify me. But, at this point I will do almost anything just to receive a diagnosis. Be it MS...or something else. I just want to feel better again. If there is a diagnoses...I figure at least I can be treated for these trying symptoms.

[gymbuff]

Hi Wedgirl23,
I'd say get a diagnosis as soon as you can, at least then you have a name for what is wrong and you can start making appropriate plans for treatment. Whether you go for Big Pharma, dietary etc. is your decision. MS is not the worst 'incurable'. I have been diagnosed for over 20 years and still get around. I use a wheelchair occasionally and go to the Gym frequently. I am in my 3rd year of Tysabri after about 5 years on betaferon. Keep a positive frame of mind. It doesn't cure MS but it helps me cope.

[WedGirl23]

Thanks Gymbuff,

I went to the walk-in clinic this afternoon...b/c my symptoms have been acting up over the past few weeks. And the doctor said I need to get an MRI or possibly a CT. Personally, from what I have read on here an MRI would be the most accurate and clear in checking for lesions and such.

So...I am supposed to meet back up at the clinic in 2 months...and if my symptoms remain...she is going to give me a referral. The good thing is that the doc is working w/me as she knows that my insurance will be kicking in in 2 months...and that way I'll be able to afford these expensive tests at that time.

For the time being, she has prescribed me some Gabapentin to help with my nerve pain. And, I hope it works.

[NHE]

I went to the walk-in clinic this afternoon...b/c my symptoms have been acting up over the past few weeks. And the doctor said I need to get an MRI or possibly a CT. Personally, from what I have read on here an MRI would be the most accurate and clear in checking for lesions and such.

It makes more sense to start with the MRI. A CT scan has the radiation dose equivalent of about 60 regular x-rays. The MRI is much less harmful. Though if you get one with a contrast agent such as gadolinium, then be sure to drink lots of fluids afterwards to help your kidneys clear the stuff out of your system.

NHE

[WedGirl23]

Hi NHE,

I am thankful for you response. Am hopeful that they will choose to only perform the MRI. There has been no talk of a spinal tap yet (thank you Jesus...lol) and my assumption is that they want to see the MRI before they do any other type of invasive test(s).

It has been a couple of days since I have been taking the prescribed 300mg Gabapentin. I'm having some extra dizziness (already had some) .... and seems that I'm also having some increased mental confusion. So I am curious...has anyone been taking Gabapentin or the similar drug Neurontin for nerve pain...if so, what was your experience with these? Maybe my body is just not used to it yet.

Also NHE....I will keep in mind that I'll need to drink plenty of fluids to clear any gadolinium out of my body. That sounds like a great idea.

[DM]

Hi Wedgirl,

Sorry to hear what you have been going through. I was diagnosed in 2007 and currently on a test study for oral treatment drug. During my diagnosis term, the thought of a spinal tap was worrisome. I am not going to pretend that it was a great experience, but not as rough as I expected. Once its done and over with, you'll realize that the fear is greater than the discomfort. I had two successive spinal taps due to the fact that the neurologist couldn't get any fluid out, so the entire procedure was revisited an hour later in xray by another doctor. I lived through it once. I lived through it twice. Now, just a distant memory. Good luck with your ongoing diagnoses.

[WedGirl23]

Thanks DM. I appreciate your reply to my situation. Knowing that you were also concerned about the spinal tap...yet that you felt better after following through with having 2 ordered by the doctor makes me feel better. And, I will try to post here about my diagnosis when I learn more definitively what is happening to my body.