cinsan58 wrote:I am a 56 yr old registered nurse. About 3-4 weeks ago, I began to develop some odd sensations on the skin of my arms and legs. At times it felt like my skin was cold, at other times, almost like sunburn. Next came numbness and tingling of both my feet and hands. When it was at its worst, my legs felt a little weak---and wobbly. These symptoms seem to be worst at night and while the severity waxes and wanes, it has been constant since it started. I have also experienced some cramping of my feet and once in my lower arm---almost like a charley horse. I visited my MD who did a lot of blood work and my ANA came back quite high. This is not new---though the level has gone up quite a bit----(I have had alopecia universalis since age 50) Lucky me!
My MD is sending me to a rheumatologist tomorrow but I have researched the symptoms of all the usual culprits, from Lupus to scleroderma, and none of them seem to match. What does seem to match is a MS diagnosis. That said, I know there are a lot of mimicries but for now it appears Lyme is less of a concern as both my ELISA and Western Blot were negative.
I am going to strongly request a referral to a neurologist. Has anyone else here experienced this progression of symptoms?
In your opinion should I have a spinal tap and/or MRI done to R/O Ms or is it too early at this point for those tests?
(MS is a diagnosis of exclusion, made when other more likely possibilities have been ruled out. There is no definitive test or imaging that can rule out MS.)
Thanks to anyone with the time to respond!
Welcome to ThisIsMS, cinsan58.
You ask, "Should I see a neurologist?" I have no medical background, but I believe that if you see a specialist about a problem, he is likely to find a solution
only in his specialty; if you see a neuro, he will only see the problem/solution in neurology. I have read: "doctors are experts in, and only test for, those parts of the body in which they specialize."
As you know, your symptoms are consistent with
many conditions You have started to work with your GP, you have ruled out Lyme disease; has your GP investigated further with these other tests?
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 (Many experts consider the HoloTranscobalamin, a.k.a. HoloTc, test to be most accurate, since it measures the usable, "active" portion of B12.)
Thyroid, liver and kidney functions (especially thyroid hormones testing is recommended by Kathryn Simpkins in her book, The MS Solution)
Vasculitis evaluation
Oral glucose tolerance test
Antibodies to nerve components (e.g., anti-MAG antibody)
Antibodies related to celiac disease (Gluten sensitivity is a problem for many people; it can cause neurological symptoms.)
Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C and B
I urge you to read the book,
Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses by Sally M. Pacholok, RN, BSN, and Jeffrey J. Stuart, D.O. (This may be available at your library.). These authors suggest that the serum B12 level (which measures
total B12) should be at 1000 pg/mL or more if a patient presents with neurologic symptoms:
http://b12awareness.org/could-it-be-b12 ... diagnoses/