Hi All- Question for any MS experts out there kind enough to read through this. I'm a 38 year old male and have been symptomatic for 8 months. I'll give you the back story here: It all started with paresthesia in my left calf. I was running a lot at the time and attributed it to a possible injury. I had pretty bad shin splints on that leg as well.
During the late summer I came down with the terrible case of bronchitis and took several rounds of antibiotics and steroids. Once the last steroid pill was taken, I began to develop (what I believe to be) bilateral postural, asymmetric tremors in my hands and fingers; my thumbs were most of affected. It was worse when I held a phone in my hand. The tremor was coarse and it would come and go randomly. It did seem to be worse when I was anxious. The pharmacist explained that those steroids could cause tremors but had a very short half life and if it continued, I should see a doctor. I waited it out and they continued.
One month later I noticed a constant ache in my lower stomach for 2 weeks straight. A CT scan showed nothing and later they gave me a colonoscopy which showed a single polyp so they removed it- nothing at all pointing to my aches. They diagnosed me with IBS and I went home. Turned out, that polyp removal bled so I landed in the hospital for 2 days.
Once released, I began to get dizzy. Not vertiginous but lightheaded and it stayed that way for weeks. The doctor said I was low on iron due to the bleeding but that proved to be untrue after they tested my blood.
By November, the dizziness would come and go as with my other symptoms but I developed a new one- urinary frequency. I had to go a lot and it would sting afterwards. This is where I started think about MS. I told my doctor I was concerned and the thought it was not consistent at all but gave me a brain MRI with and without contrast to be sure.
The results were the following:
"Focal area of white matter signal abnormality seen adjacent to the
anterior horn of the left lateral ventricle which is nonspecific and
shows no associated enhancement or diffusion signal and may be related
to prior ischemia or other white matter disease."
Now I am freaking out. But the doctor called and told me that despite the report, he is 99% sure it is not MS. It's probably a prior ischemia and his MRI looks similar. Also, that even if it is MS, this lesion would not make me dizzy.
He then tested me in the office for various blood tests and UTIs which came back normal and said I have prostatitus for which he gave me meds.
For the leg issues, he said I could work them out so I saw an orthopedic doc who imaged my lower back and told me I have mild to moderate degenerative disc disease at the L4-L5 region and similair issues right below that. He said it could be causing the leg pins/needles/buzzing but it's not clear. He wants me to have some electric nerve test in a few weeks.
As for the tremors, the doc never mentioned a reason. But I have a family history of Essential Tremor so he'll probably attribute it to that. They are very sporadic now.
Beyond all of that, I am negative for Babinski, I don't think I have experienced L'hermitte's Sign, I haven't had weakness yet that I noticed either and I allegedly passed other clinical tests for MS he gave me.
My GP, who I like a lot, believes explains away my symptoms except for the dizziness (which he thinks is NOT MS). I however, have read many posts and stories on the web and have noticed a traumatic event can be the start of this illness. For me, it was bleeding out after the procedure as everything went downhill since.
When I look at these symptoms separately, I can see why doc is saying it's not. But when I look at them all together, it seems like it is.
I worry about this a lot. My concern over the cause of these symptoms might be greater than the symptoms themselves. My dizziness now comes and goes more often but it is accompanied by tense shoulder, neck and back of the head pain. It's mild to moderate but annoying. The leg issues are now in my left foot as well and it's just a mild buzzing feeling.
My friends: well, they think it is ALL health anxiety and stress except maybe my leg issue which could be a peripheral neuropathy or injury.
If you were me, would you push the GP for a follow up brain MRI? Maybe a spinal MRI as well? He seems pretty sure it's not but I worry about this stuff none the less. Thanks so much, sorry for long post.