Docs think it's MS, brain MRI negative. Next, cervical MRI

[JVI]

Hi everyone-

As introduction, I'm a 36 year old female who's been experiencing symptoms for a couple years. In January, I finally had insurance coverage and went to my primary care doctor. She sent me to a neuro because she suspected MS right away. I went to neuro, he ordered a brain MRI (which was negative) and a blood test for Vitamin D (which he says low levels can exhibit many symptoms which look like MS). My Vitamin D was extremely low and I immediately started taking Vitamin D pills. The frequency of my "symptoms" seemed to decrease almost immediately. But after 3-4 months, they started coming back frequently. Then two weeks ago, I had the most severe episode I've ever had (most of my major symptoms are in my legs with numbness, tingling, pins/needles, pain, and extreme hypersensitivity of the skin - feels like a "dead" leg). Went back to my primary care, she gave me a prescription for Gabapentin/Neurontin (which I didn't take because I wanted to see the neuro first). When I finally got in to see him, he agreed with not taking the Gaba but he said it definitely sounds like I'm describing an MS attack. He ordered a cervical spine MRI now, and then I guess if that's also negative, we'll discuss the lumbar puncture (which he mentioned before).

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Either my symptoms or the fact that the MRI was negative yet the symptoms are real? At first, I was really upset about hearing MS tossed around as a possibility but now I've almost resigned myself to that being the case. I just want to know one way or the other what is causing these issues. I guess I'm mostly worried that the MRIs will continue to be negative and we won't have any answer.

Thanks, in advance, for any help or advice!

[lyndacarol]

As introduction, I'm a 36 year old female who's been experiencing symptoms for a couple years. In January, I finally had insurance coverage and went to my primary care doctor. She sent me to a neuro because she suspected MS right away. I went to neuro, he ordered a brain MRI (which was negative) and a blood test for Vitamin D (which he says low levels can exhibit many symptoms which look like MS). My Vitamin D was extremely low and I immediately started taking Vitamin D pills. The frequency of my "symptoms" seemed to decrease almost immediately. But after 3-4 months, they started coming back frequently. Then two weeks ago, I had the most severe episode I've ever had (most of my major symptoms are in my legs with numbness, tingling, pins/needles, pain, and extreme hypersensitivity of the skin - feels like a "dead" leg). Went back to my primary care, she gave me a prescription for Gabapentin/Neurontin (which I didn't take because I wanted to see the neuro first). When I finally got in to see him, he agreed with not taking the Gaba but he said it definitely sounds like I'm describing an MS attack. He ordered a cervical spine MRI now, and then I guess if that's also negative, we'll discuss the lumbar puncture (which he mentioned before).

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Either my symptoms or the fact that the MRI was negative yet the symptoms are real? At first, I was really upset about hearing MS tossed around as a possibility but now I've almost resigned myself to that being the case. I just want to know one way or the other what is causing these issues. I guess I'm mostly worried that the MRIs will continue to be negative and we won't have any answer.

Thanks, in advance, for any help or advice!

Welcome to ThisIsMS, JVI. Since you asked for "any advice," I offer you my thoughts: I am constantly amazed that doctors (including yours) "suspect MS right away" because MS is a diagnosis of exclusion, made after other more likely causes for the symptoms have been excluded.

Your description of numbness/tingling/pins and needles/pain/hypersensitivity in the legs is the definition of "peripheral neuropathy." This is a common symptom in many conditions. To investigate 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

Costs (approximate) of commonly used blood tests for B12 deficiency:

Serum B12 (outdated test)… $50
HoloTc (newer, more reliable)… $118
Serum homocysteine… $147
Methylmalonic acid test (serum or urinary form)… $150

I wish you all the best; please let us know how things go.

[JVI]

Thank you Lyndacarol!