Multiple symptoms, multiple tests, Multiple Sclerosis???
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2015 9:51 pm
Hello, I'm fairly new to the MS world, terminology, tests and abbreviations so please bare with me. I'm also feeling very sluggish, foggy and having difficulty finding the proper words, please forgive my errors.
I'm a 39 yr old female w/ no family history of MS. Very active lifestyle until recently. Up until past yr, healthy and rarely sick, even during flu & cold seasons.
The events that lead me to considering the possibly of MS began May 1st of this yr. Although when I look back, I see other events which could be related.
I was scheduled for a hysterectomy May 7th. I'd had an ablation several yrs ago but due to a deformity of my uterous (double horned?) the procedure had little impact & over time all improvements vanished.
May 1st, I'd done some yard work during the day and was awaken to my right hand & fingers aching yet numb, cold sensation yet warm to touch. Over the next 24 hrs, the numbness spread half way to my elbow. I assumed it was due to overuse & tried to ignore it.
I went through with the hysterectomy and the numbness remained in my arm. I was in terrible pain from the surgery so my arm was the last of my concerns. I'd really not paid much attention to it because I was bedridden & on pain meds, slept a lot. Within a week, I developed a high fever and unbearable pain related to the hysterectomy. I'd developed an infection in my only remaining ovary. It was back to bed rest, more pain meds & antibiotics. After 4 days, the meds were working, fever broke & started to feel human again. Once I was able to be active again, I was becoming more concerned about my right arm. When I thought about it more, approx 3 mos prior, I'd had same numbness for 5 days or so. The current episode was now past 2 wks with no improvement.
Two days later, I woke early morning in unbearable pain in my LEFT arm, neck shoulder & chest. This was by far the worst pain I'd ever experienced. This was comparable to labor level of pain which makes it impossible to talk, think or move. I couldn't explain what was wrong to my husband cuz I couldn't talk, just cried out and moaned. I thought I was surly having a heart attack & would soon die. At one point, I thought I'd be OK with dying as long as it didn't mean moving. After 2 ER trips, 3 visits to PCP who then recommended 4 chiropractic visits. After my 4th chiro, I ended up at an Urgent Care Clinic over the 4th of July weekend. The Chiro had causes the pain to return to near unbearable levels. I'd completed a round of steroids and muscle relaxers. The newest Dr finally decided to do some xrays. Although they couldn't show nerves, it did show narrowing in my spine, C6-C7. I started another round of steroids and followed up with PCP the following Monday. I was referred to a neurosurgeon and an MRI was done. While waiting to see the neurosurgeon, numbness, tingling, muscle spasms and pain extended to my right leg & both feet. My right arm remained numb. I also had numbness on the right side of my face, my lip, my cheek and nose. The neurosurgeon said I needed a second surgery. The disc in my neck was bulging and compression my spinal cord. But this could not explain the numbness in my face or probably not my leg either. By then I was having shocking sensations in my head, down my spine and felt as if the world shifted for a sec, became dizzy. Shocking also in the soles of both very. The brain MRI shows 'Unspecific bright T2 signal changes in central pons and somewhat in periventricular white matter. This raises suspicion of underlying demyelinating disease rather than small vessel iscemic changes' The neurosurgeon sent me to a neurologist while waiting for surgery date. The neurologist wasn't overly concerned about MRI results. He said possibility of MS. He didn't want to do anything until after I'd recovered from neck surgery then see which symptoms remained. After the surgery, my symptoms remained for appx 2 wks. My left arm pain was instantly relieved with the surgery but slight numbness. At one point, the right side of my tongue went numb. I was drooling cuz my lip was also numb. And it felt like a had excessive amount of saliva. I felt trembly and off balance. I development severe insomnia. I went back to neurologist who decided he wants to do a lumbar puncture to obtain an MS panel. But.. Wants to wait until I've had a couple mos to recover from spinal surgery as it could through the test results off a bit. Other than my right arm, the other symptoms lasted 2 wks. I'd started to think MS was ruled out because I was improving, able to do housework yet still felt terribly exhausted. I was looking forward to returning to work and start physical therapy for right arm. It's been terribly hot where I live, I felt wonderful and decided to help my husband outside. After 15 mins or so, I was just knocked down, exhausted, achy and nauseous. I laid around for the rest of the day. The next day, I felt flu like symptoms only the numbness started returning in my leg. This leads me up til last night. I woke after only an hrs sleep with my arm aching and numb. The numbness had spread almost to my shoulder. I also noticed the right side of my neck, chin & jawline was numb. Over next 2 hrs, it spread up my face to my hairline. My right eyeball even felt numb, yet burning aching, bruised feeling when any pressure on it. I'd never had numbness to this extreme in my face. My vision looked off...blurry, dark, 3D almost, only my right eye. I just knew I'd look in mirror and see obvious differences between my eyes but didn't. I called & seen the neurologist today. The symptoms have increased throughout the day. He wants to do the lumbar puncture earlier than planned. He's also referred me to have tests on my eye tmrw morning. He said he thinks the optical nerve is inflamed. He's started me on oral steroids. He said we will try taking the pills but if doesn't improve soon, we'll switch to IV steroids. He still won't just come out and say MS is becoming a likely possibility but I sensed his heightened concern. I understand he needs tests results. I do know enough about MS to know this is same method a flare-up would be treated. But I don't care about the writing on the paper, I'm too busy dealing with the changes in my body and mind. Last note, I've undergone extensive blood work by both my PCP & neurologist. Both says they look great, vitamin D bit low, started taking supplements. I don't have high blood pressure. I'm not overweight. I've not changed any meds other than the steroids and pain meds. I have an office job but active outside of work. I did have a similar episode of pain and numbness 9 mos ago but in left side. Underwent extensive test on heart and showed nothing, after 10-14 days, returned to normal, only exhaustion remained. Also 6 mos ago, having hard time swallowing, had to force swallow and painful. Dr thought I could had slight tear in esophagus, antacids and numbing meds with no change. Improved on its own after a wk or so. Can I please have your honest opinion from the history I've provided, do you think I have MS? I know I'll soon have answers but right now, feel as if I'm losing my mind and even questioning myself. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I'm a 39 yr old female w/ no family history of MS. Very active lifestyle until recently. Up until past yr, healthy and rarely sick, even during flu & cold seasons.
The events that lead me to considering the possibly of MS began May 1st of this yr. Although when I look back, I see other events which could be related.
I was scheduled for a hysterectomy May 7th. I'd had an ablation several yrs ago but due to a deformity of my uterous (double horned?) the procedure had little impact & over time all improvements vanished.
May 1st, I'd done some yard work during the day and was awaken to my right hand & fingers aching yet numb, cold sensation yet warm to touch. Over the next 24 hrs, the numbness spread half way to my elbow. I assumed it was due to overuse & tried to ignore it.
I went through with the hysterectomy and the numbness remained in my arm. I was in terrible pain from the surgery so my arm was the last of my concerns. I'd really not paid much attention to it because I was bedridden & on pain meds, slept a lot. Within a week, I developed a high fever and unbearable pain related to the hysterectomy. I'd developed an infection in my only remaining ovary. It was back to bed rest, more pain meds & antibiotics. After 4 days, the meds were working, fever broke & started to feel human again. Once I was able to be active again, I was becoming more concerned about my right arm. When I thought about it more, approx 3 mos prior, I'd had same numbness for 5 days or so. The current episode was now past 2 wks with no improvement.
Two days later, I woke early morning in unbearable pain in my LEFT arm, neck shoulder & chest. This was by far the worst pain I'd ever experienced. This was comparable to labor level of pain which makes it impossible to talk, think or move. I couldn't explain what was wrong to my husband cuz I couldn't talk, just cried out and moaned. I thought I was surly having a heart attack & would soon die. At one point, I thought I'd be OK with dying as long as it didn't mean moving. After 2 ER trips, 3 visits to PCP who then recommended 4 chiropractic visits. After my 4th chiro, I ended up at an Urgent Care Clinic over the 4th of July weekend. The Chiro had causes the pain to return to near unbearable levels. I'd completed a round of steroids and muscle relaxers. The newest Dr finally decided to do some xrays. Although they couldn't show nerves, it did show narrowing in my spine, C6-C7. I started another round of steroids and followed up with PCP the following Monday. I was referred to a neurosurgeon and an MRI was done. While waiting to see the neurosurgeon, numbness, tingling, muscle spasms and pain extended to my right leg & both feet. My right arm remained numb. I also had numbness on the right side of my face, my lip, my cheek and nose. The neurosurgeon said I needed a second surgery. The disc in my neck was bulging and compression my spinal cord. But this could not explain the numbness in my face or probably not my leg either. By then I was having shocking sensations in my head, down my spine and felt as if the world shifted for a sec, became dizzy. Shocking also in the soles of both very. The brain MRI shows 'Unspecific bright T2 signal changes in central pons and somewhat in periventricular white matter. This raises suspicion of underlying demyelinating disease rather than small vessel iscemic changes' The neurosurgeon sent me to a neurologist while waiting for surgery date. The neurologist wasn't overly concerned about MRI results. He said possibility of MS. He didn't want to do anything until after I'd recovered from neck surgery then see which symptoms remained. After the surgery, my symptoms remained for appx 2 wks. My left arm pain was instantly relieved with the surgery but slight numbness. At one point, the right side of my tongue went numb. I was drooling cuz my lip was also numb. And it felt like a had excessive amount of saliva. I felt trembly and off balance. I development severe insomnia. I went back to neurologist who decided he wants to do a lumbar puncture to obtain an MS panel. But.. Wants to wait until I've had a couple mos to recover from spinal surgery as it could through the test results off a bit. Other than my right arm, the other symptoms lasted 2 wks. I'd started to think MS was ruled out because I was improving, able to do housework yet still felt terribly exhausted. I was looking forward to returning to work and start physical therapy for right arm. It's been terribly hot where I live, I felt wonderful and decided to help my husband outside. After 15 mins or so, I was just knocked down, exhausted, achy and nauseous. I laid around for the rest of the day. The next day, I felt flu like symptoms only the numbness started returning in my leg. This leads me up til last night. I woke after only an hrs sleep with my arm aching and numb. The numbness had spread almost to my shoulder. I also noticed the right side of my neck, chin & jawline was numb. Over next 2 hrs, it spread up my face to my hairline. My right eyeball even felt numb, yet burning aching, bruised feeling when any pressure on it. I'd never had numbness to this extreme in my face. My vision looked off...blurry, dark, 3D almost, only my right eye. I just knew I'd look in mirror and see obvious differences between my eyes but didn't. I called & seen the neurologist today. The symptoms have increased throughout the day. He wants to do the lumbar puncture earlier than planned. He's also referred me to have tests on my eye tmrw morning. He said he thinks the optical nerve is inflamed. He's started me on oral steroids. He said we will try taking the pills but if doesn't improve soon, we'll switch to IV steroids. He still won't just come out and say MS is becoming a likely possibility but I sensed his heightened concern. I understand he needs tests results. I do know enough about MS to know this is same method a flare-up would be treated. But I don't care about the writing on the paper, I'm too busy dealing with the changes in my body and mind. Last note, I've undergone extensive blood work by both my PCP & neurologist. Both says they look great, vitamin D bit low, started taking supplements. I don't have high blood pressure. I'm not overweight. I've not changed any meds other than the steroids and pain meds. I have an office job but active outside of work. I did have a similar episode of pain and numbness 9 mos ago but in left side. Underwent extensive test on heart and showed nothing, after 10-14 days, returned to normal, only exhaustion remained. Also 6 mos ago, having hard time swallowing, had to force swallow and painful. Dr thought I could had slight tear in esophagus, antacids and numbing meds with no change. Improved on its own after a wk or so. Can I please have your honest opinion from the history I've provided, do you think I have MS? I know I'll soon have answers but right now, feel as if I'm losing my mind and even questioning myself. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!