Is this MS??

[Lansy]

Hello I'm completely new here and was hoping someone may be able to help me as I'm worried out of my mind.

I've been to see a neurologist who diagnosed me with "tonic spasms" which I had for about 6 weeks. Previous to this I had L'hermitte's sign for 4 weeks 18 months previous. I have had a brain MRI which shows a lesion in the left frontal lobe and a lesion in right subthalamic area. I am waiting on a MRI of cervical spine. The neurologist letter says I've had a "single episode" ie the Tonic spasms. Does this mean the L'hermittes wasn't an episode?? If so will I get a diagnosis of MS? I'm very confused with the Macdonald Criteria for diagnosis.

Many thanks in advance for any answers at all.

Lansy.

[jensequitur]

http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseaction/show/pageid/655

Tonic spasm is when the resting muscle tone is abnormally increased. This is often simply apparent as stiffness, when the limb appears rigid and difficult to move despite the absence of absolute paralysis.

So tonic spasm is an indication of damage to the CNS.  Let's hope the MRI of the spine shows something.

[Sidesteps]

What are tonic spasms exactly?

[supermum_ms]

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Diagnostic-Guidelines-Chart---The-McDonald-Criteria-2001---2005---2006-proposed-/show/448?cid=36

The above is a chart of what is needed to dx MS, time and space to give a basic example, brain MRI locates a number of T2 lesions in MS locations indicating first recorded attack, follow up MRI's locates additional lesions indicating second attack which would fullfil time and if the new lesions are in a different area of the brain or spine it would fullfil space.

Physical signs: one example would be a positive Romberg

"The Romberg test is a test of the body's sense of positioning (proprioception), which requires healthy functioning of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord.

The Romberg test is used to investigate the cause of loss of motor coordination (ataxia). If a patient is ataxic and Romberg's test is not positive, it suggests that ataxia is cerebellar in nature, that is, depending on localized cerebellar dysfunction instead." (wiki)

hope this helps..........JJ

[Lansy]

Many thanks for your replies JJ and Carol, really appreciate your time:-)

JJ could you please explain what dissemination in time & space means as I don't understand?? Sorry also but what do you mean by physical signs of neurological causation'

Lansy

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

If you haven't yet please check out our health pages, top right of your screen the yellow icon, you will find information regarding the mcdonald criteria that you may find helpful.

Personally i dont think you currently have enough diagnostic evidence to dx MS, two lesions in the brain and your sx would not meet time and space, though the MRI of your spine may provide more diagnostic evidence. I still suspect that for a lot of neurologists, they would be unlikely to dx MS unless you also had experienced a primary MS sx eg ON or show physical signs of neurological causation.

As it stands the 'tonic spasms' are not exclusively a sx of MS and the L'hermittes isn't either, so MS wouldn't be the only option on the table at this time. Please dont be 'worried out of your mind' i know it is easier said than done, but please try to remain calm whilst your dr's are finding the cause of your problems.

Cheers.............JJ

[grannyhotwheels]

Hi Lansy and welcome... I'm glad you found us and I'm sure you will get your questions answered... I really can't say one way or another... I'm sure your doctor will need to rule out other possibilities before he can give you a for sure diagnosis... He will also probably want to run a few more test also... If he doesn't I think I would be a little leery of a diagnosis at this point...

Please keep us posted and hopefully someone else can help you out better than me...

I'll be praying,
Carol