Do I have Multiple Sclerosis

[Gusaford]

I am a 48 year old female.  My mother has MS and was diagnosed at age 39.  I had an MRI 6 months ago and my primary care physician said everything looked fine.  Should I ask to see a neurologist?  Here are my symptoms:  My reflexes are very exaggerated (have been for about 20 years), my hands are shaking more and more (like my mom's), two months ago, My vision was all blurry (so much so, I couldn't drive) and lasted about 2 weeks, I have horrible muscle spasms, restless leg syndrome at night is out of control, even on medication, nervousness, extreme fatigue and this weird "jittery" feeling that feels like my insides are shaking but my heart isn't racing and lastly I also feel dizzy quite often.  I know it sounds ridiculous, but I am finally putting all these symptoms together and wondering if I have MS.  But My MRI apparently is fine.  At 48 yrs old shouldn't it show up?  I have a condition called Relapsing Polychondritis, which is also autoimmune.  Thank you for any help you can offer.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

I think MS would be an unlikely 'additional' explanation, you already have preexisting medical conditions that are associated with the symptoms you've mentioned. Relapsing Polychondritis, causes recurring episodes of inflammation of cartilage structures and other connective tissues, and could account for the different types of symptoms you experience along with the relapsing/remitting pattern....

You've also been dx with RLS which is a sensorimotor neurologically based disorder less commonly known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, it can be both a primary or a secondary issue due to a known medical condition, medical side effects etc etc. Weird sensory feelings and spasms are common elements of RLS with somewhere around 75-80% also experiencing periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). PLMD is unique in that the movements occur during sleep where most other movement disorders actually manifest during wakefulness.

Keep in mind that RSL is a sleep disorder in it's own right, and long term sleep deprivation is known to cause a lot of daytime issues eg fatigue, tremor, mood swings, dissiness etc etc Some of the more common RLS treatments are Dopamine agonists which act like the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain so the treatment can even cause Parkinson like side effects.    

Multiple hyperreflexes (overactive or over responsive reflexes) may be related to your RP condition because of the connective tissue/cartilage issues. Symptoms are generally less likely to be due to a neurological condition like MS when the MRI is not abnormal and there is a preexisting diagnosed medical condition or conditions that is associated with the types of symptoms experienced.

There genuinely isn't really anything you've mentioned that is particularly MSish and to be honest i think you would be a lot better off getting the professional opinion of your Relapsing Polychondritis specialist.    

Hope that helps.........JJ