Can MS or Demylinating Disease cause heart pain?

[ku111]

Hi all!  It's me again.  Jordan, my 12 yr old son, has been complaining about heart pain in the last few days (left side below nipple).  One day he took 5 showers and said it made him feel better and then the next day he slept for about 14 hours.  He said he just wasn't thinking very well that day and felt he needed to sleep.  Lots of leg pains lately.  Probably another episode of whatever this is.  He has so many symptoms so often that I don't want to over react.  Can this effect the heart also or pains near the heart?  

[ku111]

Thanks to all.  I will call his dr. this am.  Jordan is having another episode for sure.  He is having a lot of trouble concentrating and says everything feels really heavy.  His speech is slurred, taking time for eyes to focus and he is sleeping a lot.  He said his legs are just not working for him and the pains are much worse than usual.  I had to help him walk up and down stairs last night.  His symptoms get better and then much worse and the pains and symptoms are just relentless some days.  I try not to over react so as not to, "I don't know...get told there is nothing wrong or I don't know, scare him, have him poked all the time, geez...".  Knowing from all this is not a "normal" symptom helps me so much.  I appreciate all your input so very much. I don't feel alone anymore.  No school for Jordan today!  Dr. and ice cream if he is up for it!  Thanks!

[anon07072023]

I was thinking along the same lines as Jen. Go to your family doctor and have an EKG or whatever they need to do to make sure everything is alright with his heart.

I've gone to the ER at least twice because I was having chest pains. Each time that I went, they did all the blood work, EKGs, and x-rays.  They came to the conclusion both times that it was my intercostal muscles between my ribs spasming from my MS.  
For me, personally, my spasticity is worse with cold temperatures. So, if he's taking a warm/hot showers, I can kind of see how that would make him feel better (if this is the case).

Take care,
Kelly  

[jensequitur]

Hey, just wanted to throw in my 2¢ here.

I don't know exactly what kind of pain your son is experiencing, and of course the first thing to do is take him in and check heart function.  But if you establish that it's not his heart, then there are some other possible causes.

My PCP, back before I was diagnosed, decided that I was having esophageal spasms.  These manifest as a pain in the throat, right behind the sternum.  I was tested for heart trouble and they found that everything was fine - blood pressure low, and a healthy heart.  But the PCP couldn't find a reason why I was getting the spasms, so she assumed that I was having acid reflux, and recommended antacids.  So I took antacids for a year.  Then one day I didn't have a pill, and just swallowed water - and the pain went away.  I realized that the antacid wasn't the solution.  My esophagus just wanted to cramp up.

After diagnosis and a 3T MRI, they found that I have several lesions in my upper spine.  Lesions in the spine cause problems right below the level of the lesion.  These can manifest as intercostal spasms between the ribs, or as esophageal spasms, or pain across the shoulders.  Sometimes even pain all the way around the torso.  If your son was able to get some relief from hot water, possibly that's the problem.  Try a heating pad on the area and see if that helps.

>  Can someone describe to me what "fog" means to them so I can determine whether this is what my son feels instead of calling them "time warps".

Hmmm...  Personally, I don't think that is cognitive impairment.  This sounds more like seizure activity to me.  He needs some testing.

It does sound like he has cognitive impairment - the inability to concentrate is part of that.  When I was bad off, I lost language skills, and couldn't track events from one moment to the next.  

Hope this helps!  First things first, get to the PCP and check everything.

[Sumanadevii]

I am a mother with a son that has a heart condition.  Twice they have had to stop and restart his heart.  I think it is risky to wait thinking it is an MS symptom.  It may turn out to be MS but what if it isn't?  Personally I would contact his PCP immediately or get to an ER.

[sllowe]

Nice to see you back.

All,
this link is a reminder post of Ku's son situation (hope you don't mind the paste, Ku - easier to keep track this way and so you don't have to explain again an a good reminder to us)

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/GABA-for-MS-in-a-child/show/1609689#post_7330628

I cannot say what could be happening, but for certain, as a Mom of three, I don't feel you are overreacting.

Did you end up going to one of the specialist neuros?

As to the pain, fatigue, and legs - and your concerns - GO with your gut, and if it's saying to have an MD or neuro give him a once over, please do it.

Please keep us posted, and I hope in the end it's nothing to worry about :(
(((Hugs)))
shell