Help, Please!?!?!? Is Vertigo common with MS?

[thester6474]

For the last three years I have been living with multiple symptoms, with multiple diagnoses, some that I question more and more on a daily basis.  

My symptoms include:
a burning pain in muscles, numbness in extremities, loss of sensation in parts of bodies, stiffness, major fatigue, depression, major headaches, spasticity, spasms, myoclonus, restless leg, tingling in head and extremities, vibration sensations, buzzing sensations when moving head from time to time, anxiety, major cognitive dysfunction, sleeping dysfunctions, inability to feel and recognize touches unless they are visual, muscle weakness – especially in extremities, extra tension in arms and legs with usage, chronic indigestion, walking (I have a gait), constant state of tiredness – inability to complete most tasks – moving or lifting items, exercising, walking, carrying grocery, brushing hair, etc.

To make the situation worse on October 28th I woke up and the room was spinning and has been since.  As soon as my Neurologist's office opened I called and informed them of the fact that I was unable to walk with out running into items or falling completely down.  The nurse told me to lie down immediately and to do nothing until she called back.  When she called back, she told me to either go straight to the ER or come there.  I was told that I was suffering from Vertigo.  Unfortunately he has refused to do any testing, just take me off of medication the last few months, which has not helped.

My Rheumatologist last month looked in my ear and noticed that my eardrum was swollen remarkably on the right side so decided to send me to my ENT.  He also decided before the appointment to prescribe two weeks of high dose prednisone 4 5mg tablets in the am, and 4 at night as well as two 600 mg antibiotics daily for two weeks.  This helped the eardrum go down as well as the apparent ear infection I had at the time.  The ENT said that it could have made the Vertigo worse, but was not the main cause, and in turn sent me for an MRI with and w/o contrast and well as Vestibular PT.  I had already done the Vestibular PT eval just 6 weeks in advance.

This time the results were much worse she said, she didn't give me the results from the first time.  This time though when she scored me standing still and doing a few different exercises I scored only 13 out of 24.  When she scored me for gait it was 8 out of 24, so both are pretty poor.  She said that she hasn't seen it get that bad that quickly.

I do have my a copy of my MRI results and just had a question as to, should there be any white areas on the scan?  I do see several white spots on the back lobe upper area, as well as the middle lower area.  I see a few others, what scares me is the last time I had scans two years ago I had no white ares.  What are some causes of white ares on MRIs?  What are some causes of Vertigo?  Could it get to the point where I no longer have any balance?

[thester6474]

I just got several of my medical records, including MRIs, and doctor's notes for my upcoming appointment at Emory University.  I am not sure I have the energy or desire to keep the appointment however.  My sorry excuse for a Neurologist here, finally ruled my Vertigo as Central Vertigo, but left it there and decided to ask if I would like a referral to another doctor since he was at an impass.  Looking at the reports from my last MRI scan it states the following:

ON AXIAL FLAIR AND T2-WEIGHETD IMAGES ARE SOME VERY SMALL PLAQUES IN
THE BIFRONTAL SUBCORTICAL MARGIN. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
PERIVENTRICULAR PLAQUES SEEN.    THE LARGEST PLAQUE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 3 MM AND IS BEST SEEN IN THE LEFT FRONTAL LOBE ON T2-WEIGTHED AXIAL IMAGE 16.  

This is the second MRI in the row that I have had that had plaques, the last one had two that were hypersensitive and were taken in February.  This was taken in May and showed a few more according to him.

As for my LP it stated:
Opening pressure was 70.

Any suggestions, comments or concerns?

[thester6474]

I do have Lyme Disease, I was actually diagnosed with it back in January of 2007 and given a small dosage of antibiotics.  We aren't really sure that they did anything to irradicate it though.  I see that it can cause Meningitis and Encephalitis, I am certainly hoping that we are one step closer to finding out the root cause of all my problems.  But I see that there are no treatments for either of these, which scare me.  I have redone the ENG, and it shows that since I had it done in November that I have less usage of my right ear.  So there is something affecting the right ear and its nerve, just aren't quite sure, what.  My PCPs first thoughts were of course the two conditions I mentioned earlier, and when I saw that they can indeed be caused by Lyme it has me concerned.

[essdipity]

Take care of yourself, girl. It sounds as if you're finally getting some good care. Make that last jerk ancient history.

ess

[thester6474]

My new Neurologist, the one that I was scheduled to see, until I could see the other, was really surprised to see how bad the Vertigo was.  And to see how poorly it was treated.  He was really blunt, and was really blunt when he called the other Neuro a donkey (not the actual name he used).  He stated that if the Vertigo started in October then the MRIs and all of the other testing should have started in November.  He was also surprised at the fact that I was unable to stand even 5 seconds without falling to one side or backwards by myself.  He also started checking for Nystagmus, and I was surprised at how long he would stare at my eyes before he would actually tell me say anything.  I am wondering if he saw anything strange, but he also stated that he wouldn't be upset if I decided to go elsewhere in the end,  if I find that after treatment with him I am still unsatisfied.  He was really nice and has decided to redo the ENG, do a Lumbar Puncture as well as a Lyme Titre and a few other things.  He is so concerned with the Vertigo, its causes and the severity of it, he suggested that I keep my other appointment with my Neuro in Savannah (the one that I couldn't see until next month) for a consult.  This has me really concerned as to what could be causing it, and how severe it could get.  He has suggested that I limit my driving and that I walk only with my walker.   What a bummer.   Any ideas?

[thester6474]

It is so bad that one foot goes in front of the other when walking, I wonder what is causing this.

[thester6474]

My Neuro hasn't even done any normal neurological examinations, some of the appointments he was feet away from me during the appointment.  He has also sent me to a Psychiatrist, there is nothing wrong with me mentally, he has refused to do any Neurological testing in the last two years.  All of my doctors find that hard to believe, and state that I should definetly leave him alone.  I have thought about going to the MS Center we have in northern Georgia, but have yet to make an appointment.  I do have an appointment with a new Neuro this coming week.  So hopefully this one will bemore caring and efficient.