Aa
Multiple Sclerosis
Hi All,
I am hoping someone can give me some type of info. I have been experiencing symptoms that are preventing me from going to work and are affecting my life. I have had bouts of this on and off for a number of years, but this fall it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I have muscle weakness in my lower legs, with constant aching. I have weakness in my hands as well. I can no longer open anything with a lid. I am having to use a cane at times to walk, as my legs are so weak. I favor one leg over the other. I have extreme fatigue and tiredness. My feet are cold all the time, with electric sensations in my legs on and off. I also have pins and needles in my arms and legs intermitently. Starting this past August, my toes on my right leg were having Charlie Horses in them every night. I have times where I trip over my right foot when walking. I am out of breath at times, and cannot sleep through the night. I have pain in my lower legs.
My family practice doctor currently has me on meloxicam and soma and oxycodone. She thinks I have fibromyalgia, but I do not have the pain pressure points that would be normally be sensitive to touch.
I have been to a Rheumatologist to rule out Rheumatoid Arthirtis and Lupus. I do have Ostero arthrtis, but it is not a issue to where I complain about it. I had a lumbar MRI to check on my pins and needles symptoms, etc. They found a bulge in a disc, but nothing to indicate major pain or sensory sensations in my limbs. I am now being sent to a neurologist.
I am foggy in my brain and feel out of sorts. At times I can't so anything but lay down. I have a hard time walking up my stairs in my home.
Could I have Multiple Sclerosis. I asked the Rheumatologist this, and he said no, that my blood work does not indicate any sort of autoimmune disorder. I feel that maybe I could. I get the feeling that he thinks this is all in my imagination. I have never had health issues before except for depression after the birth of both of my kids. That has not been an issue since.
I am a female who is 49 years old. I feel as if I am disabled without a diagnosis. Will the neurologist take me seriously, or only say I might have this based on a full MRI.
Any thoughts would be great.
I am hoping someone can give me some type of info. I have been experiencing symptoms that are preventing me from going to work and are affecting my life. I have had bouts of this on and off for a number of years, but this fall it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I have muscle weakness in my lower legs, with constant aching. I have weakness in my hands as well. I can no longer open anything with a lid. I am having to use a cane at times to walk, as my legs are so weak. I favor one leg over the other. I have extreme fatigue and tiredness. My feet are cold all the time, with electric sensations in my legs on and off. I also have pins and needles in my arms and legs intermitently. Starting this past August, my toes on my right leg were having Charlie Horses in them every night. I have times where I trip over my right foot when walking. I am out of breath at times, and cannot sleep through the night. I have pain in my lower legs.
My family practice doctor currently has me on meloxicam and soma and oxycodone. She thinks I have fibromyalgia, but I do not have the pain pressure points that would be normally be sensitive to touch.
I have been to a Rheumatologist to rule out Rheumatoid Arthirtis and Lupus. I do have Ostero arthrtis, but it is not a issue to where I complain about it. I had a lumbar MRI to check on my pins and needles symptoms, etc. They found a bulge in a disc, but nothing to indicate major pain or sensory sensations in my limbs. I am now being sent to a neurologist.
I am foggy in my brain and feel out of sorts. At times I can't so anything but lay down. I have a hard time walking up my stairs in my home.
Could I have Multiple Sclerosis. I asked the Rheumatologist this, and he said no, that my blood work does not indicate any sort of autoimmune disorder. I feel that maybe I could. I get the feeling that he thinks this is all in my imagination. I have never had health issues before except for depression after the birth of both of my kids. That has not been an issue since.
I am a female who is 49 years old. I feel as if I am disabled without a diagnosis. Will the neurologist take me seriously, or only say I might have this based on a full MRI.
Any thoughts would be great.
Did your surgery help?
Hi everyone,
Been a while since i have been on this site. I finally have a diagnosis. It is my back. I am having back surgery, a fusion at the l-4 and l-5, a laminectomy and a scoliosis fusion. You may not remember me, it has been t w o years, but finally i have answers! :)
Karen sebben
Been a while since i have been on this site. I finally have a diagnosis. It is my back. I am having back surgery, a fusion at the l-4 and l-5, a laminectomy and a scoliosis fusion. You may not remember me, it has been t w o years, but finally i have answers! :)
Karen sebben
Foot drop is a problem with turning the ankle and toes upward. and will cause foot will hang downward. There's varying degree of this problem. Some people can't walk with this problem and other people will catch the front part of their shoe and stumble. My sister has this problem and can't walk. I will take a graceful stumbles into walls, etc. Some of the shoes I wear makes it worse.
Best wishes at your neurologist. Keep us posted!
Deb
Best wishes at your neurologist. Keep us posted!
Deb
I went to a internist today, who automatically said MS when I told him the symptoms. I will go to the neuologist next week.
What is foot drop? I have tripped with that foot several times, but thought it was just the lip of my tennis shoe hitting the cement cracks.
What is foot drop? I have tripped with that foot several times, but thought it was just the lip of my tennis shoe hitting the cement cracks.
Primitive,
Can we take it that you got a diagnosis of MS? If that is the case, when you feel up to it, would you please start a new thread so everyone can read your change of status?
We'll be waiting to hear from you,
Lulu
Can we take it that you got a diagnosis of MS? If that is the case, when you feel up to it, would you please start a new thread so everyone can read your change of status?
We'll be waiting to hear from you,
Lulu
I was just going to respond to your foot problem, and was going to ask you if you tripped over your foot. It sounds suspicious for foot drop. Then I saw your last post. Have you just been diagnosed?
It's MS.
Thanks so much for welcoming me. I have read some info so far on your site, and it is very helpful. I have started the symptom check to take with me to the neurologist.
I wanted to add to my post that another symptom I am having is my foot sometimes feels huge, and I cannot get my shoe on it. Just the one foot. I went to my doc and she did not find anything wrong. Edema? Not sure, but it is really a weird feeling.
I wanted to add to my post that another symptom I am having is my foot sometimes feels huge, and I cannot get my shoe on it. Just the one foot. I went to my doc and she did not find anything wrong. Edema? Not sure, but it is really a weird feeling.
I would also like to welcome you and as the others have already said I'm sure you will be able to get a lot of information here. Any time you have a question please post it. You are one of us now so again welcome to our family. My one piece of advise would be to keep a journal of your symptoms and pain. This will help your doctor out more than anything. It also keeps you from forgetting something very important that your doctor may need to know.
I'll be praying,
Carol
I'll be praying,
Carol
You definitely came to the right place, there is a lot of knowledgeable people here. I took a time line with me to my neurologist, there is a health page here on it, and it was a big help. While you wait you might want to put on together and use the med help trackers to keep up with your current symptoms, they are easy to use and it does not take a lot of time to fill out.
Good luck to you and I hope you find out what is causing these symptoms!
Good luck to you and I hope you find out what is causing these symptoms!
I see you have been warmly welcome and helped with your questions - there is little I can add at this point.
While you are waiting to see the neuro you may want to spend some time reading the health pages here (yellow icon, upper right side of this page) and learn as much as possible about MS. Its important for you to understand the diagnostic process of MS and how to approach your neurology appt. All of that is in the health pages, and much more.
welcome again - I hope you'll find being here useful.
be well,
Lulu
While you are waiting to see the neuro you may want to spend some time reading the health pages here (yellow icon, upper right side of this page) and learn as much as possible about MS. Its important for you to understand the diagnostic process of MS and how to approach your neurology appt. All of that is in the health pages, and much more.
welcome again - I hope you'll find being here useful.
be well,
Lulu
I also want to welcome you to our forum. You definitely have medical issues that need to be diagnosed and treated.
Deb addressed your questions and concerns very well and really there isn't much more that I could sugges except to reiterate that the referral you received to see a neurologist is a step in the right direction.
You should try to prepare your this appointment if possible. Many of us bring a timeline of our symptoms to our first appointments so the doctor can see in writing what is going and when it all started. We'd be happy to help you get ready for the appointment if you would like it.
Do you have an appointment scheduled yet?
Again welcome and let us know if we can help with any other questions or concerns.
My best,
Julie
Deb addressed your questions and concerns very well and really there isn't much more that I could sugges except to reiterate that the referral you received to see a neurologist is a step in the right direction.
You should try to prepare your this appointment if possible. Many of us bring a timeline of our symptoms to our first appointments so the doctor can see in writing what is going and when it all started. We'd be happy to help you get ready for the appointment if you would like it.
Do you have an appointment scheduled yet?
Again welcome and let us know if we can help with any other questions or concerns.
My best,
Julie
First of all, welcome to the forum. It is nice to "meet you"! You've found a good place to get answers to your questions and support.
Your rheumatologist is wrong about ruling out MS based on your blood work. Blood work is ordered in the diagnostic phases to rule out autoimmune disorders like lupus and Sjogren's that can be mimics. There's no markers for MS in a blood test. Other diseases to be ruled out are vitamin diffencies (like B12), tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, thyroid disorder (which can cause lots of neurological symptoms), and vasculitis to name a few. Certain types of cancer can also cause neurological symptoms sometimes. A good neurologist knows this and will order many tests to rule these out.
MS is a clinical diagnosis. There's not one test that will give someone a diagnosis of MS. You'll be asked about your symptoms, be given a full neurological exam, and other tests will be ordered to give a picture of what is causing the symptoms.
Your neurologist will take you seriously. Anyone that is having the trouble that you're having needs to have MS ruled out. You will have an MRI ordered, I'm certain. If not, you need to see a different neurologist. It needs to include the brain and cervical spine with MS protocol.
It may be possible that the bulging disc in your spine may cause some of the issues that you're talking about, but then again it may not like you say--especially if it's not pressing on the spinal cord. The hand involvment doesn't appear to be related to a disc problem in the lumbar portion of the spine--I don't think (I'm not a doctor). Plus the foggy-mindedness couldn't be related to disc problems either.
Warm regards,
Deb
Your rheumatologist is wrong about ruling out MS based on your blood work. Blood work is ordered in the diagnostic phases to rule out autoimmune disorders like lupus and Sjogren's that can be mimics. There's no markers for MS in a blood test. Other diseases to be ruled out are vitamin diffencies (like B12), tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, thyroid disorder (which can cause lots of neurological symptoms), and vasculitis to name a few. Certain types of cancer can also cause neurological symptoms sometimes. A good neurologist knows this and will order many tests to rule these out.
MS is a clinical diagnosis. There's not one test that will give someone a diagnosis of MS. You'll be asked about your symptoms, be given a full neurological exam, and other tests will be ordered to give a picture of what is causing the symptoms.
Your neurologist will take you seriously. Anyone that is having the trouble that you're having needs to have MS ruled out. You will have an MRI ordered, I'm certain. If not, you need to see a different neurologist. It needs to include the brain and cervical spine with MS protocol.
It may be possible that the bulging disc in your spine may cause some of the issues that you're talking about, but then again it may not like you say--especially if it's not pressing on the spinal cord. The hand involvment doesn't appear to be related to a disc problem in the lumbar portion of the spine--I don't think (I'm not a doctor). Plus the foggy-mindedness couldn't be related to disc problems either.
Warm regards,
Deb
You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Australia
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
