What does this mean?

[ktg40]

I have been dealing with multiple symptoms for about 13 months now. I have had numerous testing such as MRI and Evoked Potentials testing. The rheumatologist ruled out all other autoimmune diseases back in November 2015. My neuro had a stroke earlier this year and decided to postpone all other testing until next January. The rheumatologist suggested that I had fibromyalgia. My family doctor was not satisfied due to the numerous(6) small lesions that were showing on my MRI. She sent me to a specialist last week for a second opinion. The specialist scheduled me for the EP test last week and called me with an appointment this Thursday with an ophthalmologist. She said that my EP testing showed that my left optical nerve was bent. What exactly does this mean and is it possibly optic neuritis? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Scott1]

Hi,

I wouldn't worry about the optic nerve being bent. In a perfect world it would appear to be straight in both a vertical and horizontal plane. Bent really just means curved. It would be comparatively common and not indicative of MS. You may have some effect (I don't know what) but it won't, by itself, be indicative of something else.
Similarly, lesions may not mean anything either. There could be many explanations.
Fibromyalgia is something to look at. Are they proposing in to treat it? A couple of natural/supplements are suggested here - http://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/ ... ia/page-07

Regards,

[lyndacarol]

I have been dealing with multiple symptoms for about 13 months now. I have had numerous testing such as MRI and Evoked Potentials testing. The rheumatologist ruled out all other autoimmune diseases back in November 2015. My neuro had a stroke earlier this year and decided to postpone all other testing until next January. The rheumatologist suggested that I had fibromyalgia. My family doctor was not satisfied due to the numerous(6) small lesions that were showing on my MRI. She sent me to a specialist last week for a second opinion. The specialist scheduled me for the EP test last week and called me with an appointment this Thursday with an ophthalmologist. She said that my EP testing showed that my left optical nerve was bent. What exactly does this mean and is it possibly optic neuritis? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, ktg40.

Scott1 has offered you the link to a good article. In my opinion (I have no medical background), the suggestion in the Magnesium section for the RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test is logical – if your doctors are considering an MS diagnosis for you, magnesium is often low in people with MS.

The section on vitamin D also has good suggestions:

Vitamin D - Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome have impaired mobility and therefore get less exposure to sunlight. This contributes to the vitamin D deficiency frequently observed in this population (Bhatty 2010, Olama 2013). In one trial involving 100 women with fibromyalgia, 61% were found to be vitamin D deficient (blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D <30 ng/mL) (Matthana 2011). Upon supplementation with vitamin D, 42 (69%) of those women reported significantly improved symptoms when their vitamin D levels reached ≥ 30 ng/mL; the improvement became more significant when their vitamin D levels exceeded 50 ng/mL. Fibromyalgia patients should have their vitamin D levels checked regularly (Matthana 2011). Life Extension suggests that a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 50 – 80 ng/mL should be targeted for optimal health among most aging individuals.

If none of your doctors (family doctor, rheumatologist, neuro, ophthalmologist, or other specialist) has ordered a vitamin D test (the "25-hydroxy D" test), I suggest that you called your GP and request this simple blood test. (Also, ask for your own copy of the test results – it is important to have the actual test result numbers.)

Expert estimates of vitamin D deficiency in the US range between 77-95%. Vitamin D deficiency can result in symptoms in any of the body's systems, including the nervous system.

[ktg40]

Yes I have had my Vitamin D tested several times over the course of the year. I have had to go on supplements about 3 times so far. My vitamin D keeps dropping. The lowest it got was a 14.

[lyndacarol]

Yes I have had my Vitamin D tested several times over the course of the year. I have had to go on supplements about 3 times so far. My vitamin D keeps dropping. The lowest it got was a 14.

At 14 ng/mL, your vitamin D level is frankly deficient.

I suggest you thoroughly read the GrassrootsHealth website, http://www.GrassrootsHealth.net

Since vitamin D deficiency can result in so many different kinds of symptoms, and in view of the following video:

Misdiagnosed Vitamin D Deficiency
with James E. Dowd, MD (9 min.):


Interviewer: Because of what you said where a lot of doctors still aren't seeing this as a need to get tested for, vitamin D deficiency is probably still misdiagnosed as a number of other things… Is that correct?
Dowd: Yes, it probably is overlooked in a number of different diseases. Chronic pain, something that's rising significantly in the United States right now. There was a study that was done looking at chronic pain and they found that patients who had low vitamin D levels, below normal, were using twice as much pain medication as the patients in the pain clinic who had normal vitamin D levels. So there's a correlation there with how much pain you experience among patients with chronic pain.
@0:55 Another example of a disorder that is sometimes misdiagnosed and is vitamin D deficient is fibromyalgia, which is one of these chronic pain disorders….
@1:25 I'm not saying that everybody with fibromyalgia has vitamin D deficiency, but probably 70% do because 70% of the population is deficient
@1:43 There are occasional patients with fibromyalgia where that is the primary driver of their pain and fatigue and misery; and when you correct that they get dramatically better.…
Interviewer: Could a person be deficient and not really know it? And is there any harm in that?
Dowd: In fact, most patients who have vitamin D deficiency don't know it - either don't know it because they don't know what symptoms are associated with deficiency, or they don't know it because they just feel fine and they've never measured… Symptoms unfortunately are often a fairly late sign in any disease process or deficiency or imbalance. Just because you don't have any symptoms doesn't mean that you're not at risk.

I think it is important to raise your vitamin D level as quickly as possible to at least 60 ng/mL (as recommended by GrassrootsHealth) – there are neurologists who recommend that people with neurological symptoms reach and maintain a range of 80-100 ng/mL. Regular vitamin D tests at least twice a year will be necessary to know if you have done this.

Discuss this situation with your doctor. If he does not feel comfortable managing a vitamin D deficiency, request a referral to a specialist (endocrinologist or even hematologist).