MS and your nerves

[itsallinmyhead1969]

Hi everyone.  For all you guys that are dx'd with MS.  Have you ever had a nerve conduction study done?  If you have read any of my comments you will know that I have a numb hand.  I have a dx of Fibro.  They did a nerve conduction study last yr because of my complaints that I was having trouble just trying to use my arms to do everyday household tasks like folding laundry, brushing my kids hair and stuff.  They said that the tests were normal.  Now the hand is numb.  They aren't wanting to re-do the testing, after the 30 some needle sticks per arm, wasnt too cool to me either, but who cares, numbness is a weird deal.  I've been reading up on Fibro, and MS because the symptoms are so closely related.  What I noticed was that the nerves were damaged and it didn't look like the impulses completed the cycle or something.  That should show up on a test shouldn't it?  Or does that stuff come and go and testing be inaccurate?  Just kinda wondering...maybe some of you have dealt with this problem and have already been through the test that was negative but have the same thing...just checking.....thx

[JonM]

I do have a DX of MS and I when first saw my Nuero (about a year before my MS DX) to see if I had carpal tunnel.  My hands and fingers were always going numb when I slept or had my hands in certain positions.  Had been going on for several years.  I did a nerve conduction on my hands and he labeled me mildly carpal but not severe enough to perform surgery.  He suggested wearing a wirst splint when I slept.  When I was DXd with MS I reminded him of this prior meeting and he basiacally scoffed at the idea that the two were related.  I still have the numbness in my hands when I sleep.  Its funny how this mild "carpal" symptom and ringing in my ears started about the same time.

I feel that we may both be right.  That I do have mild carpal, but that the MS makes me more susceptable to feeling and noticing it.  I believe MS alters sensory perceptions.  I.e. I have always had very tender aching insteps.  When the MS set in fulltime, the pain went away and was replaced first with a mild searing sensation and then later with a buzzing sensation.  Not sure if that helps you.  Take Care!
Jon

[ctedesc08]

I have chills reading this - this has been my exact experience. I have not been diagnosed, just other things ruled out and then kind of brushed off by a rheumatologist. The ringing/swooshing in my ears in unreal at times! I have been pretty anxious about bringing my recent symptoms up to my PCP but reading this pushes me to believe I should!

[itsallinmyhead1969]

Hey there.  Thats what I thought about the test.  He was stickin those needles in my muscles.  Or I think anyway.  I have tried to get copies of my stuff, but they aren't very forthcoming with them...ie...the military.  I have read up on the health pages....makes me wander even more now.  I am afraid to tell him about this place or the things I have read because he will think it has given me the ideas for the symptoms, I am just gonna wait for those tests then request an MRI with contrast....hopefully I can get it and it will be on a machine that is powerfull enough and somebody doing it that cares and that arent too tired...lol  I just want some closure.  I just know that SOMETHING is wrong.  Thanks for your input.  Take care!

[cjacks]

Its

I think the test you had was an EMG , testing to see were the problem is stemming from ..  My knowledge with techno stuff is limited but I do know that if your test comes back normal then the problem is not in the muscle/peripheral  but in the Central Nervous System(brain/spine)... consistent with MS.

I'm not saying you have MS but some of your sx. suggest more testing ..  MRI , Evoked potential, LP and to rule out all the mimics ,  like Lyme's   etc... all of this is in the Health Pages  ( HP ) Shelly suggested

I think you need a doc who will listen to you .. Don't screw around with the incompetent ones .. it only takes up your valuable time and energy .

There are many people here who will help see you through this process,  

Write up a time line , also in the HP , have questions written down before going to a doc , always get copies of everything for your own files and take copies of these to any new docs ..  it all saves time ..  there's much more ...   there will be other along to chime in .

Welcome  and   stick around

Jo

[itsallinmyhead1969]

Hi Shelly, and thx for the welcome.  The doctor that ordered the test for me was a good and very thorogh regular medical doctor through the VA.  He didn't know what to think about what was going on.  With the problems I was having, I didnt mind the test  either really.  I wouldn't mind doing it again.  Unfortunanately, that doctor left the facility and then I was left with and uncaring and uneducated jerk.  The guy that performed the test was a temporary (there for 3 months...dont know his qualifications) supposed to be a nuerologist, he told me immediately that the test was normal.  It really bothered me because I really had and still have some serious problems doing things with my arms.  That was early last year.  In April this year my hand went numb.  Since August last year the new jerk doctor has just refused to see me no matter what the reason.  He informed me by phone when I kept calling and complaining that "it was all in my head".  That was why I was wondering if the test should've picked up something if it were MS.  I know that people have a hard time getting dx a lot so I figured must get a lot of negative tests like I have or something.  I just can't see a numb hand being in my head.....what purpose would it serve?  I am not seeking meds....I am not after drugs....It is just really really beginning to affect my job and my life, ya know.  It already really was, but the numbness is unnerving!  I am willing to go through ANYTHING for them to just figure out what the problem is.  My hand is not the only thing numb.  I have a large area on my foot, above my ankle, above my thigh..my cheek went numb and a place in the center of my throat went numb twice this last week.  That was really weird!  I have pins and needles feelins in alot of places a whole lot of the time.  It's kinda like places feel like they have fallen asleep, when there is no reason...I haven't been laying on em or anything...just doesn't make sence.  My vision has really gotten blurry, have to blink repeatedly to get anything to focus.  When I have checked out the info and see how close it fits the syptoms of MS it had me wondering.  But then it could fit other things as well.  I just want them to find out what it is and help me.  I am tired of the pain and the discomfort of all of these symptoms and the mistreatment that I have had to put up with from them.  When I go back next week to my NEW quack, I am going to really ask to see a nuerologist and see if I can get somewhere with all of this.

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum.  Yes, so many diseases, with overlapping symptoms.  From what I understand, if there is a problem, this sort of nerve test should pick up on it.  Though, these tests to require qualified technicians and the reports need to be read by those trained in the field.  My husband has had this test as well.  Crazy enough, with what he had going on w/his arm, he actually didn't mind the needles.  I can't imagine it myself.

Sorry to hear about your numb hand. It's aggrevating to not know why.  What sort of Dr. ordered the test? Has he or she offered any insight as to what they thought?  

We have awesome health pages if you are interested in learning more about MS, they are located toward the right hand corner of the page.  

See you around!
Shelly