Confusing diagnostic testing

[Amarettoo]

More recently, I have had some physical changes that include loss of balance, numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, foot pain, bladder urges without urinating, constipation, some difficulty swallowing, some changes in my keyboarding and handwriting skills, and mild speech dyslexia occassionally.  (I do spend a lot of time by myself, but do not believe that this is hypochondriasis.)   Two weeks ago I went to a new doctor who ordered an MRI and wanted to check for "white matter diseases".  I thought that I was going for help with fibromyalgia, then ended up being evaluated for more than that.  She said that if it was just severe fibromyalgia and degenerative disc disease that would be nothing to treat, but if the white matter diseases were present that would be a different matter entirely.  About six weeks ago, I began walking with a cane, because of back pain and needing support.  I'm anxious about the findings of this MRI, if it is unremarkable, then the doctor wants to have an MRI of my neck done.  

[Amarettoo]

Thank you, Dr. Noopur.  I had a two hour glucose tolerance test and HgbA-1C a couple of months ago.  The fasting glucose was just around high normal, and the two hour, which if I remember correctly should have come down, didn't.  Anyhow, I will repeat that test in the beginning of September.  I have been home from work on sick leave since mid-July and plan to go back to work after Labor Day.  I have had severe fibromyalgia since the early nineties and just found out about the degenerative disc disease and facet arthritis.  My son leaves for college in a week.  He's the youngest and I am a single parent.  I need to develop some healthy activites for myself for when he's gone.  I'm quite emotional about him leaving home.  All of this on top of the unknown of the MRI is a lot to think about.  

A.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
I would suggest you to get yourself screened for diabetes as well. Tingling numbness, increased urge to urinate and constipation can occur in diabetes also.
Some of your symptoms like dyslexia and difficulty in swallowing can be due to anxiety and stress.
Please make sure you get a restful sleep every night, eat healthy and exercise regularly.
White matter disease causes progressive deterioration of cognitive functions and can occur due to damage to the small cerebral blood vessels.
A nerve compression in the cervical region can also cause tingling numbness in the extremities and needs to be ruled out.
Hope this helps!