This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hello

I am a new member to the site and I am seeking insight from anyone that may have dealt with what i am dealing with now.

To give you a brief history I have always had back trouble since i was about 19 and now I am 36. My pain is located in my lower back and feels my lower spine is being compressed and left side of my body. I am unable to stand long, sit long, nor walk long. If I stand in one spot shortly feels like someone is pressing hard as they can on my low back. In addition my left leg now has tremendous muscle weakness in it and previously was mostly pain but now it bad ache feeling and just weird feeling. I also have trouble with my left arm and hand. They feel weak and numb and often I have tingling in my finger tips. At times I have to move my hand often to try get the weird feeling out. In addition my left shoulder and arm feel so heavy at times. Also my muscle in my bicep and also in my left leg twitches or jumps (not sure exact term) and i have bad headaches at times. On top of that I also have began having trouble with ED.

Just some past medical history last year i had to have most of my colon taken out due to colonic inertia and mega colon and i continue to have chronic intestinal motility disorder. I have normal BP and normal EKG when done earlier this year.

I have had a couple MRIs in the past on my lumbar area and recently had a EMG study and have had two separate ESI injections. The ESI injections provided no relief at all. My MRIs have been normal but the EMG test I had done was abnormal noting problems on my left side. My orthopedic doctor referred me to a neurosurgeon and I recently saw him. He is baffled at what is going on because I have normal MRI but abnormal EMG. Also my ct of lumbar was normal other than very mild area of degenerative disc disease. He did reflex test but he noted I have no reflex in my left leg or left ankle but right side is fine.

I am now being scheduled for MRI on my brain.

I have no clue whats going on but its scarey. I walk now with noticeable limp on left side because my leg is so week and hurts in addition to back hurting badly. I can tell a noticeable difference between left and right side of my body.

Can someone maybe offer some insight? Im 36 and my condition seems like getting worse and worse because I hurt and just so weak at times.

Thank you

Hi,

I think you may need an endocrinologist more than a neurologist. If most of your colon has been removed you will have some absorption and processing issues, particularly with B12. If the colon had problems with clearing waste then the muscles around that may have been inactive. In turn that suggests weak stomach muscles and that's a big part of a sore back and poor posture.
An EMG is looking at the health of the muscle, particularly how the motor neuron functions to transmit signals to the muscle. An MRI is different.
When they removed your colon your body's response at the injury site would be to release a burst of oxygen. If its too much it becomes a reperfusion injury. The same thing happens to the heart muscle in a heart attack. You may have damaged some cells because of the surgery and now, additionally, B12 wont be functioning properly because you have lost part of the colon.
I suspect (don't actually know) that your medical advisors will end up just scratching their heads. I think they need to look more deeply at how the loss of the colon is affected your metabolism.
In terms of the back pain, I'm afraid you have no choice but to find an exercise form that helps to lengthen strengthen and activate the stomach muscles. I prefer Pilates and think it would be the best form for you. that's your choice. Sitting in a chair wont help you.

Hope that helps.

Regards,

bmans0005 wrote:I have no clue whats going on but its scarey. I walk now with noticeable limp on left side because my leg is so week and hurts in addition to back hurting badly. I can tell a noticeable difference between left and right side of my body.

Can someone maybe offer some insight? Im 36 and my condition seems like getting worse and worse because I hurt and just so weak at times.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, bmans0005.

You have asked, "Is this MS symptoms?" The symptoms of MS are common to many conditions, which must be ruled out first before the MS diagnosis can be considered. One of these conditions that should be investigated is a possible vitamin D deficiency.

If you have already had a vitamin D blood test (the "25-hydroxy D"), please share your test result number with us.

If you have not had the vitamin D test, please ask your GP to order it. And ask for your own copy of the test results.