Hi All,
First post.
About 18 months ago I developed a tingling/numbness in my left leg and arm. At the end of last year I then developed a similar feeling in the left side of my face. The intensity increased slightly on all areas over the last 6 months and the facial numbness spread across the left side of my head. I can pretty much draw a line down the middle of my head and face based on it's location. It doesn't go away and recently I've started to develop muscle fatigue in my arm and leg after intense exercise. I have slight weakness in my left arm when tested by a neuro.
Saw my doctor last year who did blood tests for all the usual levels which were fine, did a brain MRI (no contrast) which was clean, and a nerve conduction study, again clean. I've just seen a neuro for a consult and he's sending me back for another MRI on both my spine and brain, followed up by a lumbar puncture if necessary.
What I'm trying to find out is if there is any other explanation for my symptoms? I'm getting a little concerned as the neuro commented that the initial MRI can often be clean, and if the subsequent ones are also free then I'm probably going to be facing a series of MRIs over the years waiting for anything to happen. Any opinions much appreciated.
Cheers
Eeyore
Are there other options besides MS?
Re: Are there other options besides MS?
Unfortunately there are about 400 illnesses that mimic the symptoms of MS. You need to let the doctors do their job. And be patient.
But in the meantime, there is a lot you can do on your own to improve your health. This site has a tremendous amount of information that you should find useful.
Hope you feel better very soon!
But in the meantime, there is a lot you can do on your own to improve your health. This site has a tremendous amount of information that you should find useful.
Hope you feel better very soon!
Re: Are there other options besides MS?
Sorry to grasp at straws here but what other conditions are possible?
Re: Are there other options besides MS?
mal or mis nutrition would be one thing to rule out. blood tests, if the correct ones have been conducted, can be readily if not wilfully misinterpreted. 'normal' is not 'optimal' or even 'okay'.
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Re: Are there other options besides MS?
A diagnosis of MS relies heavily on MRI evidence. Many things could cause the symptoms you are having as there isn't any symptom that is exclusive to MS.
Information about some of the other conditions:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Sympto ... o-Rule-Out
Information about some of the other conditions:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Sympto ... o-Rule-Out
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canadianrunner76
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Re: Are there other options besides MS?
Hello,
I have had similar to you, first episode was 6 years ago, but where the lower body just stopped and I slipped off a ladder, inability to walk due to the numbness lasted 2 weeks. Happened again after I ran a marathon and next day I couldn't get out of bed at that point because of the pain, numbness and tingling I was seen by a Neurologist and by the time the nerve conduction test came around I was back to normal.
Fast forward to today, I am finally able to walk outside by house and yard. This year it started March 29th when after a long run, the next day ability to walk was compromised and it has been different. That run day before (March 28) I felt the numbness and tingling down to my leg and foot and continued running till I was home. Next day, I looked like I had been hit by a car and unable to walk without falling over. It has been a long ride, I was sent to ER after having an accident (of the human nature kind) and ER doc immediately thought MS, A Specialist in MS Neurologist was positive it was MS and he sent me to get MRI of the Spine and Brain. All I got out of it was I am arthritic through my back and bone shards on both sides of the C5 and C6.
My Blood work is where things have changed things, I have been tested and back with results of an Autoimmune disease, speckled pattern that relates to that and low wbc and high titre. I had the term Lupus thrown at me by the Neurologist and now I wait until October 16 to see the Rheumologist
As I type, I have numbness and tingling in my arm and fingers and my one leg is worse than the other. I did try yesterday first time in a long time to go for a run. I needed the fix. No worsening in symptoms.
Last year, I noticed while I ran, my tolerance for heat was brutal. I would run in the morning and be zapped for the rest of the day. Developed a nose bleed every time I ran where I never had one in my life and finally only way to stop them was cauterizing it with 12 nitrogen sticks.
In short, I would say get some bloodwork done. MS has been tossed to me three times in the past 6 years, then it was Lupus and now no answers. I am still not satisfied with my family doctor just thinking its all ok with arthritis in the spine and the degeneration that I have at 41 in seen in people much older than I am. Push push push and be an advocate to your own health. I am glad I pushed my family doctor this March, he thought this is just a simple hamstring injury and sent me to physio where no improvement was seen in 6 weeks It was only after that accident, and the trip to ER where the doc spelled it on a prescription pad ''this girl needs a neuro poss MS'' is what got the ball rolling.
I have had similar to you, first episode was 6 years ago, but where the lower body just stopped and I slipped off a ladder, inability to walk due to the numbness lasted 2 weeks. Happened again after I ran a marathon and next day I couldn't get out of bed at that point because of the pain, numbness and tingling I was seen by a Neurologist and by the time the nerve conduction test came around I was back to normal.
Fast forward to today, I am finally able to walk outside by house and yard. This year it started March 29th when after a long run, the next day ability to walk was compromised and it has been different. That run day before (March 28) I felt the numbness and tingling down to my leg and foot and continued running till I was home. Next day, I looked like I had been hit by a car and unable to walk without falling over. It has been a long ride, I was sent to ER after having an accident (of the human nature kind) and ER doc immediately thought MS, A Specialist in MS Neurologist was positive it was MS and he sent me to get MRI of the Spine and Brain. All I got out of it was I am arthritic through my back and bone shards on both sides of the C5 and C6.
My Blood work is where things have changed things, I have been tested and back with results of an Autoimmune disease, speckled pattern that relates to that and low wbc and high titre. I had the term Lupus thrown at me by the Neurologist and now I wait until October 16 to see the Rheumologist
As I type, I have numbness and tingling in my arm and fingers and my one leg is worse than the other. I did try yesterday first time in a long time to go for a run. I needed the fix. No worsening in symptoms.
Last year, I noticed while I ran, my tolerance for heat was brutal. I would run in the morning and be zapped for the rest of the day. Developed a nose bleed every time I ran where I never had one in my life and finally only way to stop them was cauterizing it with 12 nitrogen sticks.
In short, I would say get some bloodwork done. MS has been tossed to me three times in the past 6 years, then it was Lupus and now no answers. I am still not satisfied with my family doctor just thinking its all ok with arthritis in the spine and the degeneration that I have at 41 in seen in people much older than I am. Push push push and be an advocate to your own health. I am glad I pushed my family doctor this March, he thought this is just a simple hamstring injury and sent me to physio where no improvement was seen in 6 weeks It was only after that accident, and the trip to ER where the doc spelled it on a prescription pad ''this girl needs a neuro poss MS'' is what got the ball rolling.