I think I have MS like crazy

[Shang]

Back in 2014, I experienced muscle twitching in my left eyelid. Hell, looked it up thought it was stress idk. It rarely happened in my limbs. It soon over time moved to my facial muscles cheek, mouth, lower eyelid, temple, neck you name it. Not constant but definitely annoying. (It's barely noticeable to be unknowing eye)
A few weeks ago I had this terrible back pain that hit at least twice within that week. Only thing hat kind of helped was aspercreme, however the second time I used it, it was barely effective. I figured I'm stressed as hell. Now almost two weeks ago, I was doing my recreational thing. Hell, everyone knows I smoke, not surprising. My entire body went into jerks and twitches. My toes looked like an accordion. My arm was jumping to the point I had to put the ps controller down.
Now within the past week and a half, the twitching has moved to my upper back and in my biceps.
Mild atrophy of my muscles have began as well. I can feel my shoulder blades more so than I could a week ago. My arms are rigid with tight skin. Sometimes they get hot. (Rarely). My shins have become more visible as well as bones in my hands and feet.

I am also sore at times and had a moment at night where I couldn't even reach for my phone with my right arm. I went to the ER to have labs done, all came back negative. Recommended a second opinion and possible Mri. I went to another doctor yesterday, he ran his strength test which seemed good. Thank God.
He did labs and if they come back negative, it might be a neuro problem. They need to basically see my brain to check for lesions on it or the stem. He said he will order the MRI. My right leg is rather sore. Last night, my mouth went numb so to speak and I thought I was having a stroke until it got better very fast. It was difficult to speak.

Other symptoms are itching when it's hot or humid. Especially after a hot shower, a crackling sound in the back of my head(similar to lightly moving a bag of chips), I have this burning in the heel of my foot sometimes as well. The weight loss has recently stopped. I also get crystal like shards heading towards the center of my eye every now and then.

This Friday I have an MRi. What do you guys think?

[David1949]

Some folks are initially relieved to get a diagnosis of MS just so they can put a name on the mysterious symptoms that have been troubling them. I would say don't hope for that. MS is a terrible disease and anyone who has it wants to be free from it.

Wait until you get the MRI results.
Good luck to you.

[NHE]

What do you guys think?

I think anyone experiencing neurological symptoms should make sure to have their vitamin B12 levels checked as a deficiency in B12 can cause both brain lesions and demyelination of the spinal cord. Vitamin B12 deficiency is just one of the many conditions that can mimic MS and these need to be tested before an MS diagnosis can be considered.

Please see the following discussion topic for more information.
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/natural-a ... 24857.html

[Shang]

What do you guys think?

I think anyone experiencing neurological symptoms should make sure to have their vitamin B12 levels checked as a deficiency in B12 can cause both brain lesions and demyelination of the spinal cord. Vitamin B12 deficiency is just one of the many conditions that can mimic MS and these need to be tested before an MS diagnosis can be considered.

Please see the following discussion topic for more information.
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/natural-a ... 24857.html

Wouldn't they have seen that in the blood tests? I have had two blood tests now from two different locations? The first doctor ran every blood test possible.

[Shang]

Some folks are initially relieved to get a diagnosis of MS just so they can put a name on the mysterious symptoms that have been troubling them. I would say don't hope for that. MS is a terrible disease and anyone who has it wants to be free from it.

Wait until you get the MRI results.
Good luck to you.

I know MS isn't anything to hope for but to be totally honest, it's a lot better than some of the other stuff I have read up on. Especially when it comes to weakness. Makes MS looks like a god sent.

[NHE]

Wouldn't they have seen that in the blood tests? I have had two blood tests now from two different locations? The first doctor ran every blood test possible.

Not necessarily. Surprisingly, many doctors overlook B12 as a possibility. They often rely upon the Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) value in the Complete Blood Count (CBC) test. MCV is the average size of a red blood cell. The standard range for MCV is 80-100 fL. As long as it's not out of range, i.e., > 100 fL, many doctors will assume that your B12 is OK. However, many foods in the US diet are now fortified with folic acid and high levels of folate can mask the effects of a B12 deficiency by keeping your MCV within the acceptable range.

A standard test for B12 deficiency includes the following tests, serum B12, red blood cell (RBC) folate, serum or urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) and serum homocysteine. MMA and homocysteine are two biomarkers that indicate how well your body is processing B12. One or both will often be elevated in the case of a functional B12 deficiency. In addition, the RBC folate test is better than the serum folate test as it gives a better measure of your long term folate status and has less variability due to fluctuations in dietary folate intake. A folate deficiency can also drive down B12 over time since methylfolate is used to recycle spent B12 back to the active form.

Lastly, the standard range for B12, usually around 210-950 pg/mL, is much too broad and the lower end of the range is a gray area that includes many people who are actually deficient. For anyone with neurological symptoms B12 should be 600-1000 pg/mL in order to help exclude B12 as a contributing factor. Many doctors will run a B12 test and if the value is around 300 pg/mL or so, for example, will assume B12 is OK and not run the additional tests such as MMA and homocysteine which are important indicators for how well your body is processing B12.

[lyndacarol]

What do you guys think?

I think anyone experiencing neurological symptoms should make sure to have their vitamin B12 levels checked as a deficiency in B12 can cause both brain lesions and demyelination of the spinal cord. Vitamin B12 deficiency is just one of the many conditions that can mimic MS and these need to be tested before an MS diagnosis can be considered.

Please see the following discussion topic for more information.
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/natural-a ... 24857.html

Wouldn't they have seen that in the blood tests? I have had two blood tests now from two different locations? The first doctor ran every blood test possible.

Did any doctor order a vitamin D test (the 25-hydroxy D test)? Would you share the actual number results with us?

Four tests are needed to rule out a vitamin B12 deficiency: #1 a serum B12 test, #2 RBC folate test, #3 a serum homocysteine test, and #4 a methylmalonic acid test (either the blood or urinary test). Would you share the number results for these tests with us?

Have you had a serum or RBC magnesium test? A zinc test?

These tests are not routine and must be specifically ordered. A deficiency in any of these nutrients can result in neurological symptoms. If you are unsure that these tests were done, call your doctors' offices and request that they send you copies of all your test results (or, these might be available to you online).

[Shang]

Thanks for that info. I will have to call then. But if for instance they did find lesions wouldn't that just eliminate the need for those tests anyway?

[lyndacarol]

Thanks for that info. I will have to call then. But if for instance they did find lesions wouldn't that just eliminate the need for those tests anyway?

No.

There is no test or symptom that is definitive for MS. Lesions in the brain are found in many conditions; for example, people with migraines are found with lesions, people with vitamin B12 deficiency are found to have lesions.

It is not uncommon for people with an MS diagnosis to have NO lesions; on the other hand, people, who had NO MS symptoms during their lifetimes, have been found (upon autopsy – done for some other reason) to have MANY lesions.

[Shang]

Thanks for that info. I will have to call then. But if for instance they did find lesions wouldn't that just eliminate the need for those tests anyway?

No.

There is no test or symptom that is definitive for MS. Lesions in the brain are found in many conditions; for example, people with migraines are found with lesions, people with vitamin B12 deficiency are found to have lesions.

It is not uncommon for people with an MS diagnosis to have NO lesions; on the other hand, people, who had NO MS symptoms during their lifetimes, have been found (upon autopsy – done for some other reason) to have MANY lesions.

So apparently the doctors I work with are idiots.
This is every symptom I have.

Twitches.
Blurred vision.
Atrophy.
Soreness.
Weightless feeling.
Hearing increase and loss.
Headache
Heavy eye
Shoulder pain
Memory issues
Heat itch and itch as soon as I get out of a hot shower.
Feet burning
Crackling in head
Numbness
Taste of metal in mouth.

I can barely hold my head up at work today and you are telling me I have sinus itis? I can literally pinch my skin until I bleed and not feel it. Man. Idiots. My MRI came back normal by the way. I want a spinal tap man. Screw their antibiotics.

[mariacallous]

Guillain barre disease is very similar. Hughes disease too. B12 deficiency shares many symptoms. You could have a somatic disorder. MS is not a disease that you want to even think about. Let the medics investigate and please try not to worry yourself ill.