what are the chances it may be multiple sclerosis?

[melissa0327]

hi... i am a very distressed 27 yr old female... for years i yave struggled with doctors... for various complaints... pain... all over my body... aches... in joints... or just around my neck and back is extremely sensitive to touch... numbness... tingling... pin pricking... and a cold wet sensation... basically anywhere on my body... i remeber the firat place i noticed it was in my back... but now its in my arms,legs, fingers, toes, even my scalp... and face... ive had blood tests done for vitamin deficiency... ive seen a rheumatologist... an orthopedic dr... all had no answers for me... i have been tested for lyme disease twice... also recently my body has become soooo stiff... especially after periods of rest... particualry in my legs and back... i noticed pain in my left jaw... my left knee... numbness about my left face... and now i have double vision in my left eye.... i have been to 2 eye drs... they thought my eyes were fine... i haf a ct scan done... it came back ABNORMAL... they found 2 white spots? they said it could be calcification? what ever that means... i have had a terrible crushing senssation that starts in ky back and spread around my ribs and it takes a while for it to go away... still noanswers for that either... im now just sitting here waiting because i cant get into a neurologist until mivember 17th... im afraid im going to go blind in themean time... i also forget things ALOT... and im soooo EXHAUSTED all the time...

[lyndacarol]

… 27 yr old female... for years i yave struggled with doctors... for various complaints... pain... all over my body... aches... in joints... or just around my neck and back is extremely sensitive to touch... numbness... tingling... pin pricking... and a cold wet sensation... basically anywhere on my body... i remeber the firat place i noticed it was in my back... but now its in my arms, legs, fingers, toes, even my scalp... and face... ive had blood tests done for vitamin deficiency... Ive seen a rheumatologist... an orthopedic dr... all had no answers for me... i have been tested for lyme disease twice... also recently my body has become soooo stiff... especially after periods of rest... particualry in my legs and back... i noticed pain in my left jaw... my left knee... numbness about my left face... and now i have double vision in my left eye.... i have been to 2 eye drs... they thought my eyes were fine... i haf a ct scan done... it came back ABNORMAL... they found 2 white spots? they said it could be calcification? what ever that means... i have had a terrible crushing senssation that starts in ky back and spread around my ribs and it takes a while for it to go away... still noanswers for that either... im now just sitting here waiting because i cant get into a neurologist until mivember 17th... im afraid im going to go blind in themean time... i also forget things ALOT... and im soooo EXHAUSTED all the time...

Welcome to ThisIsMS, melissa0327.

All your symptoms (extreme fatigue, forgetfulness, pain, joint aches, numbness/tingling, vision disturbances, "white spots" a.k.a. lesions, crushing chest pain) are consistent with many conditions, including MS; but MS is a diagnosis of exclusion, made only after more likely possible causes have been ruled out.

You tell us that blood tests have been done for vitamin deficiency – for a vitamin B12 deficiency? Since it is estimated that 40% of the American population has suboptimal vitamin B12 levels (and B12 deficiency is one of the possible causes for your symptoms), I assume that your GP started his investigation by screening for B12 deficiency. (If your GP is not comfortable in screening thoroughly for B12 deficiency, ask to see a hematologist.)

Initial testing should have included the following 4 tests: #1 a serum B12 test (or the newer, more reliable HoloTc test, if it is available in your area); #2 RBC (red blood cell) folate test; #3 a serum homocysteine test; and #4 a methylmalonic acid test. If you have the actual result numbers for these tests, would you share them with us? These tests are relatively easy and inexpensive – MUCH less expensive than the neurological testing. (By the way, you should not take vitamin B supplements at least 2 weeks before testing, as doing so will skew the test results and possibly mask a deficiency.)

Any person at any age (even 27!) can develop a B12 deficiency.

[melissa0327]

i do not remeber the numbers... i was only deficient in vitamin D i went to a rhuemaologist... i was treated for that... and to no prevail was told i possibly just had fibromyalgia.. then i was given a nerve pill to help calm nerve pain.. but im on the max dose and it has done n9thing for my numvbess and pain... i guess ill just have to wait and see

[lyndacarol]

When you see the neurologist on November 17, you might take a written list of all your unexplained symptoms through the years and your current symptoms – it will jog your memory and focus your discussion with the neuro. (I take a list of my questions too, since my memory often fails me.)

I think it is a good idea to request a copy of your test results for any test that is done. (No one can remember all the information; and it is good to keep your own file of these results.)

You might discuss the possibility of rechecking your vitamin B12 levels. The reference range for B12 in US labs has been set too low and is considered outdated by many experts today. In the US, a test result below 200 is considered to be a deficiency; in Japan, any result below 500 pg/mL is considered a deficiency and is treated.