Having an MRI for possible MS

[kathsiao]

About ten months ago, after the birth of my fifth child, I began having strange syptoms. I would describe them as fire bursts in random places all over my body.  It would happen five times on the side of my leg, and then an hour later, on my arm, then next day, on my head. But not always in the same place on my legs, arms or head - just jumping around everywhere. Constant feelings of pins and needles on my head.  

Then about a month ago, my lips started to feel numb off and on.  Thinking back, I've had this weird right arm twitch since 2000. I always thought it was a pinched nerve or something.  It happens all of the time, but I'm not usually aware of it until someone points it out or there is pressure against the arm.

The neurologist I said today said we need to rule out MS. He said it is unlikely that it is MS, but I'm wondering if he's just trying to keep me from worrying.  Waiting for the MRI.  Just wondering if anyone has had similar symptoms?  Thanks

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

I think the neurologist said for you not to worry about MS.....not because he's really thinking MS is the cause of your sx's and just doesn't want you to know it yet BUT because MS is an unlikely cause (as Kyle explained) and the neuro is just making sure by getting an MRI to confirm his thinking.

Cheers..........JJ    

[HVAC]

It is good he is being thorough. It took me five separate MRIs to be diagnosed with MS over several years plus blood work, emgs, evoked potential test, and a LP. I thought it was the longest diagnosis  I had had until I got Cancer that took six years. They blamed many Cancer symptoms on MS.


Alex

[kwarendorf]

Hi Kath - Welcome to our group.
Your doc is wise to want to rule out MS. Though from what you descibe, it seems unlikely.

MS attacks individual locations in the central nervous system. Messages sent along the pathway where damage has occurred get garbled. Only those parts/functions that rely on info conveyed along the damaged nerve are impacted. For this reason MS symtoms do not jump around randomly. If the left ankle pathway is damaged, it's the left ankle that shows symptoms, not you left ankle this afternoon and your right ankle tomorrow.

The firebursts you describe are much more random than typical MS symptoms. THe MRI should provide more necessary info. the MS MRI protocol typically includes Brain, c-spine and t-spine, all done with and without contrast. Do you know if these are the studies he has ordered?

Kyle