MS? Spinal Tumor? Or What?

[stillnoanswers]

I am a 42 yo female with chronic back and neck pain, numbness and tingling in my arm and leg on my right side.  The pain is always there but never really stays in the same area.  Moves around my spine, depends on the day.  Could be mid back one day and hip area the next, or maybe kidney area one day.  Sometimes feels like getting a bear hug, or a crushing feeling.  Mostly just severe pain that nothing takes away.
  History--Nov. 1, 2011: Had mild Bells Palsy that produced no lesions on brain.  Sight started deteriorating right after episode. Apr. 2012-- First went to Dr. for mass on spine in neck area (C-6,7) that moves, some mild neck pain, and numbness and tingling in my right arm and leg.  Nothing showed on MRI, except some mild scoliosis and bulging discs.  Neuro said lump was muscle and sent me to Physical Therapy (6 weeks, twice a week).  Did not work.  Was in more pain and progressively got worse, with pain now in my back. Aug. 2012--Found new Dr. who did a complete blood work up on me to rule out Lyme disease and other diseases, and found that my CRP's (reactive proteins) were high.  Did cardiovascular tests, and found all to be normal.  Finally did another MRI of brain and neck.   MRI showed lesions on my brain and worsening of scoliosis and disc narrowing. Dr suggested possible MS. Still nothing with the lump that is still there.  In the meantime Dr sent me to eye specialist who found no Optic Neuritis. Dr. sent me to another Neuro who said possible MS, maybe Fibromyalga?? Ordered Spinal Tap to help diagnose MS.  This now 2013 people.  Had Spinal Tap, and yes had to get blood patch for headache that lasted too long.  Found out today that the proteins in my CSF are high.  Dr did not diagnose MS, says I am in too much pain for it to be consistent with MS.  Ordered still more MRI's of my spine.  No one seems to be concerned with this lump on my spine that is still there and feels as though it is changing, yet when you research high proteins in CSF, one of the first things to pop up is Spinal Tumor???  And I sit here tonight after another Dr appt still not knowing what is causing my pain.  Any ideas out there??   HELP!!

[PastorDan]

Sounds like you are paying close attention to the steps the docs are taking, which is good.

Would these prior MRIs show anything about the lump?  IMHO, if the docs have left you with unanswered questions, ask again, being very specific.  If it is muscle and the PT didn't do anything to help it, I'd ask both the neuro and the PT what they think ought to happen next.

How big is this lump?  Is the lump itself painful?  It sounds like you intend to describe more generalized back pain, rather than something focused in this particular mass.

I'm not up on protein elevation issues, so I can't help there, but it sounds like you've read more on the topic recently than I have, so you might have your answers there.

We will pray for relief, as well as for credible explanations.

[stillnoanswers]

MRI has not shown anything about the lump.  The Neuro that sent me to PT (I have a new Neuro now), tried to tell me that this lump was muscle.  However, he told me before he even touched my neck that a muscle will not move, and a tumor or cyst will move.  When he palpated the lump, he pushed so hard that the lump moved to the front of my spine.  I tried to tell him that, but he almost argued with me, saying that there was nothing  there but tight muscles from the cervicothoracic scoliosis in my neck.  The PT actually said that maybe it was just a mass of tissue that has always been there and I just noticed it because my neck started hurting.  None of my DR's now seem to be concerned about this mass that is the size of a  shooter marble (you know the big marble).  The mass moves around on my spine around the C6-C7 area and is painful if you press on it.  My back pain (mostly the spine itself) is constant with intermittent episodes of banded pain around my mid and lower back.  My issue is that the MRI (without contrast) shows lesions on my brain.  What is the cause if not MS?  Could it possibly be a tumor? Is it possible that the MRI of my neck missed something?  Why is my CSF protein high?  All of these questions I have asked the DR's and they say not sure about MS, it's not a tumor, the MRI would not have missed anything, and not sure why proteins are high.  In your opinion, do you think I should seek different DR's?  I

[SarahL2491]

darn, it almost sounds like a cyst.  they would have the potential to move if pushed and true, muscles will not move.  I had one on my thumb, size of a pea shooter marble and it hurt like heck.  they took it out and pain went away

hope you find ou twhat it is.........