I believe I must have SPMS; what do you think?

[noniel]

Hello, everyone.
I'm a 38-year-old female. One day in 2004, I noticed a numb patch of skin on one leg. Warm water felt cold, and cool water felt warm. I went to a doctor, fearing I may have a blood clot in that leg, but the doctor said I didn't have a clot and he had no idea what it could have been. It got better and that was that. I think I was, for the most part, fine for the next four years. In 2008 I began having spasms in my right arm that would cause my fingers to pull into a fist on my right hand. Within a few days, the spasms would occur simultaneously in my right hand, right foot and right eyebrow. Each time they would last maybe 10-15 seconds, and they would happen dozens of times a day. I saw a neurologist who did nerve conduction studies and an EEG, but the results were normal. After 2-3 months of this, it went away. Also in 2008, I developed L'hermitte's sign, which is something that has come and gone through the years. To make a long story short, over the next four years I would have spells of strange symptoms and bouts of moderate immobility in one leg, but it was never debilitating. I went through what I'm certain was optic neuritis in one eye for several months, but that also went away. Two years ago I began to have increased difficulty walking. Then I got MRSA and it was absolutely horrible. I could barely move at all, and even though the MRSA was completely healed after about four weeks, the immobility has lingered and worsened. Now I can barely walk, and when I do, I have to hang on to something. I'm in a wheelchair now. The last thing I could do was drive a car, but I haven't been able to do that in almost four months. I have several awful syptoms - incredible difficulty urinating among them. To say the least, things are hard. I can't see a neurologist because I have no insurance or money. Does it sound like SPMS? Thanks for any response.

[ElliotB]

What State do you live in? Many States offer free medical services for those that cannot afford them.

[noniel]

I cannot get medical assistance in my state.

[lyndacarol]

I'm a 38-year-old female. One day in 2004, I noticed a numb patch of skin on one leg. Warm water felt cold, and cool water felt warm. I went to a doctor, fearing I may have a blood clot in that leg, but the doctor said I didn't have a clot and he had no idea what it could have been. It got better and that was that. I think I was, for the most part, fine for the next four years. In 2008 I began having spasms in my right arm that would cause my fingers to pull into a fist on my right hand. Within a few days, the spasms would occur simultaneously in my right hand, right foot and right eyebrow. Each time they would last maybe 10-15 seconds, and they would happen dozens of times a day. I saw a neurologist who did nerve conduction studies and an EEG, but the results were normal. After 2-3 months of this, it went away. Also in 2008, I developed L'hermitte's sign, which is something that has come and gone through the years. To make a long story short, over the next four years I would have spells of strange symptoms and bouts of moderate immobility in one leg, but it was never debilitating. I went through what I'm certain was optic neuritis in one eye for several months, but that also went away. Two years ago I began to have increased difficulty walking. Then I got MRSA and it was absolutely horrible. I could barely move at all, and even though the MRSA was completely healed after about four weeks, the immobility has lingered and worsened. Now I can barely walk, and when I do, I have to hang on to something. I'm in a wheelchair now. The last thing I could do was drive a car, but I haven't been able to do that in almost four months. I have several awful syptoms - incredible difficulty urinating among them. To say the least, things are hard. I can't see a neurologist because I have no insurance or money. Does it sound like SPMS? Thanks for any response.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, noniel.

Your symptoms are consistent with many conditions, including MS. The other, more likely conditions must be ruled out first before the MS diagnosis can be made. I don't believe you need to see a neurologist first (Several of the possible causes of your symptoms are not in the realm of neurology.). I recommend that you start with a GP.



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I urge you to watch this 50-minute documentary featuring Sally Pacholok, RN, BSN, & her husband Jeffrey Stuart, D.O. (authors of the book, Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses); Lawrence Solomon, M.D., hematologist with Yale Medical School; Ralph Green, M.D., hematologist at UC Davis; and Donald Jacobsen, PhD, at the Cleveland Clinic (Homocysteine Research Lab).

[ElliotB]

If you have no money, you should be able to qualify for Medicaid (regardless of the State you live in).