When is it NOT MS? Are my symptoms MS-like?

[xrox]

When is it not likely to be MS? In other words, when someone has their first symptoms, what features of the symptoms make it less likely to be MS? I’ve read that when initial sensory symptoms are quadrilateral (essentially all over) it would be highly unlikely to be a MS lesion. Is this true? I’ve also read that when first sensory symptoms quickly come and go by the minute and roam around it is less likely to be MS. Is this true?

I’m having symptoms that have me worried about everything from MS to ALS. I’ve done my research enough to know that my symptoms most closely match that of BFS, anxiety, or a nutritional problem (B12….ect). However, I have great concern that my current medication HUMIRA is causing demyelination.

My symptom history is as follows:

• 3 weeks duration
• Woke up sleeping on my left arm and it had electric shocks running down the length of the radian or median nerve to the thumb and index finger. Feeling went away after releasing my arm from under me.
• Strong fasciculations immediately began in left hand that were strong enough to move thumb and index finger.
• Fasciculations spread all over body but still strongest in same spot on left hand.
• Fasciculations diminished but then felt perceived weakness in both forearms and hands (no real weakness)
• Roaming pain started in forearms and hands (similar muscle pain to when you have the flu)
• Pain and weak feeling diminished and then both hands and feet started to have strong pins and needles sensation.
• Pins and needles was intermittent and roamed around but was strongest in palms and soles.
• Pins and needles has also near totally diminished.
• Above symptoms still happen on occasion but very diminished.

I am on the medication Humira which has been shown to cause or unmask demyelinating diseases like MS. My rheumatologist says to stay on the meds. Do you think my symptoms above could be demyelination?

Any thoughts on how I should proceed?

[ElliotB]

Go see a neurologist that specializes in MS.

[lyndacarol]

When is it not likely to be MS? In other words, when someone has their first symptoms, what features of the symptoms make it less likely to be MS? I’ve read that when initial sensory symptoms are quadrilateral (essentially all over) it would be highly unlikely to be a MS lesion. Is this true? I’ve also read that when first sensory symptoms quickly come and go by the minute and roam around it is less likely to be MS. Is this true?

I’m having symptoms that have me worried about everything from MS to ALS. I’ve done my research enough to know that my symptoms most closely match that of BFS, anxiety, or a nutritional problem (B12….ect). However, I have great concern that my current medication HUMIRA is causing demyelination.

My symptom history is as follows:

• 3 weeks duration
• Woke up sleeping on my left arm and it had electric shocks running down the length of the radian or median nerve to the thumb and index finger. Feeling went away after releasing my arm from under me.
• Strong fasciculations immediately began in left hand that were strong enough to move thumb and index finger.
• Fasciculations spread all over body but still strongest in same spot on left hand.
• Fasciculations diminished but then felt perceived weakness in both forearms and hands (no real weakness)
• Roaming pain started in forearms and hands (similar muscle pain to when you have the flu)
• Pain and weak feeling diminished and then both hands and feet started to have strong pins and needles sensation.
• Pins and needles was intermittent and roamed around but was strongest in palms and soles.
• Pins and needles has also near totally diminished.
• Above symptoms still happen on occasion but very diminished.

I am on the medication Humira which has been shown to cause or unmask demyelinating diseases like MS. My rheumatologist says to stay on the meds. Do you think my symptoms above could be demyelination?

Any thoughts on how I should proceed?

Welcome to ThisIsMS, xrox.

MS is a diagnosis of exclusion, made when other more likely conditions have been ruled out.

Numbness/tingling ("pins and needles") in the legs and arms is the textbook definition of "peripheral neuropathy." This is a common symptom in many conditions. In 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

Since any person can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency at any time, I encourage you to ask your GP or internist (or ANY doctor you are comfortable with) to test thoroughly for a possible B12 deficiency. Initial testing should include #1 a serum B12 test, #2 a serum folic acid test, #3 a serum homocysteine test, and #4 a serum (or the more accurate urinary) methylmalonic acid test.

There are many medications that block B12 absorption (such as antacids, Nexium, Prilosec, chemotherapy drugs, oral contraceptives, statins, and many others) leading to a deficiency; I do not know if Humira is in that group, but I would guess that there is a good chance.

As for how to proceed… here are my thoughts: Take a deep breath, discuss your well-written list of symptoms with the doctor you trust, if you prefer a specialist – see a hematologist to rule out the B12/folate deficiency (the undesirable deficiency/gray zone test results are under 550 pg/mL). Once a B12 problem is ruled out, move down the list one by one ruling out other possibilities.