Why does he keep going back to MS

[Melleedawn]

I am a 44 yo female with a history of Fibromyalgia and degenerative disc disease. I have had in the past 6-9 months new symptoms that are as followed. Balance problems(3 significant falls) tingling in extremeties, worse in hands with pain in the hands(Arthritis?) Severe increase of R flank pain. Bladder problems but negative for UTI. Shoulder and hip pain.
    My MRI showed multiple white matter lesions suggestive of inflammatory process or demylineating disease. I had a Spinal tap which were negative and nerve conduction was negative for significant problem and negative for carpal tunnel. So the neurologist is sending me to a ms specialty clinic. What else can they do that has not been done. And why does he keep coming back to MS.
One last thing. I was positive for Lyme antibodies. The PCP says this irrelavant and has nothing to do with the current problems and likely is "a done deal" after 21 days of doxycline. If it is lyme, I was exposed to it 3 yrs ago. Is the lyme a player in this deal?

[Sarahsmom46]

I think it would be worthwhile for you to go ahead with seeing the MS specialist.  General neurologists, and I assume that you were seeing, may see patients who present with a variety of neruo problems, but may rarely if ever get an MS patient.  They should know what MS looks like neurologically and know what tests to do etc, but they may not feel comfortable with their level of experience with MS patients to really be able to recognize it.  So, I think your neuro is doing the most prudent thing by sending you to another neuro who deals with MS patients every day and knows what to look for.  When you see the MS neuro, he/she may think of something that the other neuro hadn't considered.  For example, did you have any evoked potential?  You had a nerve conduction tests, but that is not the same test.  Have you had follow-up MRI or just that one MRI?  Did they do your spine as well as the brain?  Again, I think that going for a 2nd opinion is a good idea and I hope you will seriously consider it.

I wish you the best and please keep searching for the answers.

Julie (Sarahsmom)

[Lulu54]

there is an excellent Lyme Disease forum here at MedHelp - you may want to go over there and chat with them about the treatments and diagnosis process for lyme.

It does mimic MS a lot...

Your results of the tests sound like it could be MS or Lyme and you definitely need to be seen by a specialist.  Either one needs to be treated with specialty drugs and the sooner you start, the greater the chance you have of keeping it controllled.

My best,
Lulu

[uk2]

Hi

I have been dx for a yr with fibro but have gotten to the point of muscle weakness being so bad that i am wheelchair bound outside and now they are re testing for MS and other things.

If you were positive to lyes should you not of been treated?? as lymes is simular to MS and fibro.

How long have you been dx with fibro?

I can see why your dr is thinking MS with your MRI results and about 15-30 % of people with MS have negative LP's but i do feel the lymes thing has a part here.

sam