have a got ms

[michelleh1980]

i'm 32yrs of age i have various problems from my balance, double vision, muscle loss, tingling, cramp in my legs, arms and wrists. I struggle with sleeping and cant walk far without aid my doctors wont refer to anyone. Im starting to get servere migraines also please help.

[jenphilly]

Michelle -

Did they MRI only your lower back?   There are 4 possible MRIs they can do...  

lower back (not usually involved with MS and think your doctor did what mine did at first, thinking it was a pinched nerve or such)....  

Thoracic...  the part of the back in the rib cage area.  It is possible to have lesions on the thoracic spine, I do have a few stragglers who set up house there, but nothing that alone would indicate MS.

Cervical....   essentially neck area from shoulders up.  That is a hot spot that should be MRId.  Many people have clean brain scans (like me), but cervical spine is a resort area for lesions.  

Of course brain...   Brain is the obvious MRI they need to do,, but don't let them stop with a brain if it comes back clean and everything else points to MS.  That was a mistake we made.  First of July my brain MRI came back with like one tiny spot that could even be from a migraine....  so the doctors are start eliminating everything else, convinced can't be MS because my brain is clear.   Yeah, see my note about cervical...  

Don't let your doctors blow you off...  you are your strongest advocate to getting this figured out.  Demand an MRI of the brain, cervical and thoracic if it has not been done.

Ask for bloodwork to rule out things like RA and lupus...  go online and print out the McDonald critieria for MS diagnosis.  Go down the list yourself and then present it to your doctor.

And if all this fails to raise your doctors concern or interest, find another doctor now!   I can understand your doctor trying some meds like Lyrica (how my doctor ruled out fibromyalgia) and flexeril at the very beginning when it was thought maybe just a pinched nerve or deep muscle spasm.  But if that is where it stops...  I literally was seeing my doctor every week or every other week to see if any changes.  

Good luck!  and keep posting with how things are going and your journey.  Many of us have been thru a roller coaster ride for getting an answer.  May not have answers for you, but we certainly can understand and encourage you!!

Hugs,

Jen

[michelleh1980]

i had 1 last yr on my bk and it showed dehydrated discs, a small fractor and scoliosis x

[michelleh1980]

thanx u 4 your feed bk i am lookin at changing doctors at mo as mine keep floging me off with tablets and saying its just 1 of those things deal with it, i've had a mri done of my spine and it showed dehydrated discs and a small fractor and scoliosis but nothin else, had all arthritis bloods done repeatly and stiil nothin i'm really startin 2 thing their right and its all in my head surely the doctors should know x

[jenphilly]

Michelle,

I know when I started what I called my roller coaster ride a year ago it was tough to deal with....  I first presented with symptoms that I could no longer ignore last May / first of June.   It took until November to get a definitive diagnosis.  

Are you working with a doctor you can really communicate with...  and not one shrugging you off as its all in your head???   Best advice anyone here can give you right now is to find a doctor you really connect to and believes in you and is committed to getting to the bottom of things.  I have been so very lucky to have in my opinion the best primary doctor in the world...  great doctor and loves  challenge, but is really a sweetheart and is more concerned about his patients then insurance or what 'typical practice' dictates.    

If your doctor is not trying to get to the bottom of things for you, go elsewhere....   is he ordering tests?   Have you had an MRI?  Have you seen a neuro?   Have you had bloodwork done to start ruling out all other possibilities?   Diagnosing MS in my situation included eliminating all other possibilities along the way....   Many don't need or have a spinal tap, but it was the LP that was the final voice in my diagnostic experience.

Wish you the best and hope you are able to find an answer quickly!

Jen

[kwarendorf]

Hi Michelle,

I'm sorry to hear you have so much going on. We are no doctors so we can;t say whether or not you have MS. Many of your symptoms are things that those of us with MS have experienced.

Why won;t your doctors refer you to a neurologist?

Kyle

[KJ1973]

Sorry you are going through this.

Have you had an MRI?