Brain lesions and chronic pain: MS or FMS?

[jcg43]

Dear reader,
For the last 9 months, I've been experiencing a variety of symptoms which have become persistent and disabling: fatigue, difficulty concentrating, severe neuralgias, allodynia, hyperalgesia, hypertonia. I also had several episodes of balance and orientation difficulties. An MRI revealed several lesions on both sides of the frontal cortex and the left temporal lobe. Serum CPK was consistently high (around 300-400 on four separate occassions). Serum and CSF testing ruled out Lyme disease, lupus, and RA but did not confirm MS. Consult with a couple of neurologists and rheumatologists have yielded no definite diagnosis but a "mistery condition." I've been told that the brain lesions and symptoms do not support or rule out MS and a 6-month follow-up MRI was suggested. I'm a 43 yo female otherwise healthy with no prior hx of medical conditions. I've done some reading on MS and FMS but I'm still unclear as to what are the differentiating characteristics: Are brain lesions found in FMS patients also? are the locations different from MS?

Sufferring and totally confused. Many thanks in advace for your feedback!

[Doeyes13]

I've had FMS for 32 years now, I was young, healthy and strong female! Now getting much worse extreme pain numbness balance problems while left side if body site and painfully stiff! My sons been researching all and has come to the conclusion that all if it, FMS, md, lupus and psrkinsons us a genetic immune system disease. I agree as my symptoms and pain get worse every year. I still fight it and keep moving as much as I can, when I get hurt by simply picking up my Chihuahus or doing laundry, I pay for it miserably. I believe that my loving brilliant son is truly onto the genetic link to this enigma that's ruined our lives. I'm a fighter and keep mobile every day until a major flare up or crippling pain just Knicks me down and out! Then I give in and rest it is. Just got over a two months straight endless bout of agonizing pain with multiple symptoms!  I have warranted fears that is MS and or Parkinson's.. I fear for my sons and grand kids since autoimmune diseases are genetic!

[dottypotty]

I lost my password Hope you are not to bad The pains i get get sharper its the numbness down one side of face Used to get in my leg for about 3months then it went Drs says cant do anything for numbness it comes and goes in my hands and fingers He does not want to send me any where because rumbatoloist named the condition and had mr scan on back showed my disc s rubing together then car accident 3yrs ago has made it worse love from dorothy x

[patsy10]

A neuro work-up would be seeing a neurologist and getting tests run.  Numbness and tingling can be  a sign of a neurologic problem like MS.  At the very least, an MRI of the brain to see if there are any abnormalities which may be causing symptoms all over your body.  I've heard of sinusitis causing pain and pressure in your face and head but I have never heard of it causing numbness on the face.

[dottypotty]

Am sorry dont know this one hope y get soughted

[dottypotty]

i should have added this  What is a neuro work up  with mris etc I had a mri on my back because i was having a lot of pain They found my disc was rubbing together I WAS ALSO IN A CAR ACCIDENT SO I HAVE GOT MORE THEN ONE THING WRONG

[dottypotty]

I b  but ti  went drs today and what a releve numness and pressing in my face was sinuses

[taniaaust1]

Brain lesions are found in ME (also called Chronic fatigue syndrome by many), FM patients very often have CFS/ME (the statistics are 25% of those with FM)  ...so hence I know that brain lesions in this case may certainly be found in a large group of those with FM.

MRI scans of someone with CFS .. may show elevated numbers of punctuate lesions, particularly in the frontal lobes and the subcortical areas.  

(im no medical person..but just someone with CFS and FM)

  

[patsy10]

Have you had a full neuro work-up with MRI's, etc..?  I personally don't believe the numbness is from fibro.  I think it's something else.  I think the fibro is secondary to something else.

[dottypotty]

Thats whats bothring me it horrible my face is numb and tingling and also pain Irung the drs he said it could be meds i am taking but the numbness is part of the condition

[patsy10]

I've had this for 3 years.  I have a very high pain tolerance.  The tingling and numbness bothers me more.  I have just learned to live with it.

[dottypotty]

silly pc ive sent it twice again

[dottypotty]

How do y not take any meds I dont know how y stand the pain and get to sleep The numbness and tingling in my face is sending me crazy It goes off for a bit but soon returns ps how long have y had this

[dottypotty]

How do y not take any meds I dont know how y stand the pain and get to sleep The numbness and tingling in my face is sending me crazy It goes off for a bit but soon returns ps how long have y had this

[dottypotty]

How do y not take any meds I dont know how y stand the pain and get to sleep The numbness and tingling in my face is sending me crazy It goes off for a bit but soon returns ps how long have y had this

[dottypotty]

How do y not take any meds I dont know how y stand the pain and get to sleep The numbness and tingling in my face is sending me crazy It goes off for a bit but soon returns ps how long have y had this

[patsy10]

I don't take any meds.  I just live with this stuff.  Fibro is not a disease.  It's a group of symptoms without a known cause.  So even with a fibro diagnosis you really don't know what you have. I really think I have something much worse causing the fibro symptoms.  My neuro gave me neurontin to treat the numbness and tingling.  It didn't work so I stopped it.  I'm not sure if it can cause numbness and tingling.

[dottypotty]

So do y think with fms that is with the condiner that y get the numness and the tingling My tingling has only started  since i went on gabapentin What med are y taken and does it help from dorothy

[patsy10]

It does cause weight gain.  I tried it for my numbness and tingling and it didn't do anything.

[dottypotty]

sorry its put it though twice pcs

[dottypotty]

Patsy its me again think the tingling could be med Gabapentin also caused me to put on weight a stone in one month i dont know whats the answer

[dottypotty]

Patsy its me again think the tingling could be med Gabapentin also caused me to put on weight a stone in one month i dont know whats the answer

[dottypotty]

Doy suffer from this ive had it about 8yrs me and my daugher was in a car accident thats what made it worse whats bothering me is the numness in my face i have had it all day

[patsy10]

FMS and MS do have similar symptoms.  Primary FMS is just fms in itself.  Other conditions can cause secondary FMS like MS.  FMS doesn't cause brain lesions.  I'm not a doctor but I would suspect whatever is causing your brain lesions is causing fibro symptoms as a secondary problem.  Just my opinion.  Is your neuro an MS specialist?  An MS specialist can rule in or out MS or conditions that mimick MS.

[dottypotty]

fms ad ms ae very simmilar done ll that with hospitals i get down sometimes hubbydosnt under statnd