I am a 42 yr old female, who has had numerous health problems through the years. I have had bouts of herpes, shingles, Chronic Fatigue syndrome, ovarian cyst ruptures, PID, genital warts, due to mva 2 herniated disc in neck, 3 herniations inoperable in lower back, L1, L2, L4, and at 33 I had urge incontinence treated with medicine and biofeedback. I Had a total hysterectomy in 2005 due to cervical cancer. In the past 2 years my peripheal vision on the right side has decreased, and most recently (6months) my vision has deteriorated quite rapidly, with the peripheal vision on the right diminishing even more. I am highly sensitive to light and sound, hot and cold, suffer from extreme night sweats. I had two Visual Field Tests that showed a 15-18% differential change. My eye doctor immediately referred me to a Neuro for an EEG and MRI. Other symptoms that are worrisome is floaters that I've had for years, a constant photsensitive reaction like everytime I blink I see lights or images similar to a negative photograph, and 4 times in the past two months while sitting I got Vertigo tilting to the left, and then my eyes crossed and I couldnt control it. I was fully concious and it only lasted about 30 seconds each time. I usually have headaches in the mornings, get severe headaches on the right side, and there have been times it hurts in my eyes to look to the right. I also have had a electrical feeling pain shooting out the top of my head, as well as pain at the base of my skull. In the last three months I have had severe right arm jerking like punching into the air, and right hand jerks. While those happen I am confused, walk around or pace, and sometimes get paranoid. I have had no appetite for months, and my ability to remember things has decreased dramatically. My boss noticed an overt decline in my work performance in the last month. I have a general malaise, and am fatigued easily. Overall I am fatigued all the time even with sleep and rest during the day- could just be my chronic fatigue syndrome.
I had the EEG done Friday which the Neuro said was normal. The results of the 3d Brain Mri showed several lesions in the upper part of my brain and the Dr. said that the lesions do not appear in the part of the brain to indicate tumors or infection. They are "scarring" most likely due to previous mild brain injuries or concussions. Symptoms that are being experienced are eye condition related.
I have to go see a specialist Opthamologist neurologist because he feels it is an Eye problem . These are the mri results:
History: Optic neuritis.
Technique: Mri Brain on 1.5 Tesla Magnet before and after intravenous gadolinium administration with sagitttal T1, axial T1, FLAIR, T2, diffusion, gradient echo and post contrast axial and coronal T1 images. Sagittal FLAIR images also obtained.
Findings: There are scattered small supratentorial white matter signal abnormalities and this does represent an abnormal appearance. White matter signal abnormalities noted in the supratentorial white matter and measure up to about 5mm and no regions of abnormal signal at the level of the corpus callosum, brain stem or cerebellum.
Diffusion images show no acute stroke and postcontrast images show no enhancing lesions.
Impression: Mild, nonspecific, nonenhancing supratentorial white matter lesions in patient with submitted history of Optic Neuritis. Correlate clinically.
Then yesterday I coughed and threw my back out had to use my tens unit and a cane... What next?? The doctor didn't exactly rule out MS, he simply said that in MS "we like to see lesions in a different part of the brain" which I dont have....WHAT DO I HAVE??? UUUGGGHHHH