Aa
Multiple symptoms
For the past couple of weeks, I have been dealing with a wide range of neurological symptoms: numbness in the left side of my face, pins and needles in my left arm/hand and left leg/foot. I am also having balance problems. Finally, my nerves are super-sensitive-sometimes just the feeling of pants rubbing against my leg is almost overwhelming.
My doctor said that my neurological exam is abnormal. She ordered a CT scan of my brain and ruled out stroke and aneurysm. Coming up this week I have an MRI of my brain and spine (with and w/o contrast) and am MRA of my brain. She also ordered bloodwork to check for vitamin deficiencies and Lymes (results aren't back from this yet).
I am 38 years old, reasonably healthy. I have a history of disc problems in my lumbar spine, but no problems in any other part of my spine. I am a recovering alcoholic.
Have any of you dealt with this combination of symptoms? Did you ever get a diagnosis?
Thanks,
Bryan
My doctor said that my neurological exam is abnormal. She ordered a CT scan of my brain and ruled out stroke and aneurysm. Coming up this week I have an MRI of my brain and spine (with and w/o contrast) and am MRA of my brain. She also ordered bloodwork to check for vitamin deficiencies and Lymes (results aren't back from this yet).
I am 38 years old, reasonably healthy. I have a history of disc problems in my lumbar spine, but no problems in any other part of my spine. I am a recovering alcoholic.
Have any of you dealt with this combination of symptoms? Did you ever get a diagnosis?
Thanks,
Bryan
Best Answer
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi there. You need to be examined for an alcoholism based B complex deficiency causing tingling and numbness, cervical spine degenerative disc disease causing myelopathy and hence upper and lower limb neurological symptoms. A blood test has been ordered and hopefully will help in arriving at a diagnosis. Get an MRI spine to assess the disc at various levels. You will need to exclude multiple sclerosis. MS is a chronic demyelinating disorder where the disease phase is characterized by active phase and remissions. It has multiple symptoms and signs and is a diagnosis of exclusion. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are loss of balance, muscle spasms, numbness in any area, problems with walking and coordination, tremors in one or more arms and legs. Bowel and bladder symptoms include frequency of micturition, urine leakage, eye symptoms like double vision uncontrollable rapid eye movements, facial pain, painful muscle spasms, tingling, burning in arms or legs, depression, dizziness, hearing loss, fatigue etc. The treatment is essentially limited to symptomatic therapy so the course of action would not change much whether MS has been diagnosed or not. Apart from clinical neurological examination, MRI shows MS as paler areas of demyelination, two different episodes of demyelination separated by one month in at least two different brain locations. Spinal tap is done and CSF electrophoresis reveals oligoclonal bands suggestive of immune activity, which is suggestive but not diagnostic of MS. Demyelinating neurons, transmit nerve signals slower than non-demyelinated ones and can be detected with EP tests. These are visual evoked potentials, brain stem auditory evoked response, and somatosensory evoked potential. Slower nerve responses in any one of these is not confirmatory of MS but can be used to complement diagnosis along with a neurological examination, medical history and an MRI in addition, a spinal tap. Therefore, it would be prudent to consult your neurologist with these concerns. Hope this helps. Take care.
A new twist. Over the past couple of days I've been having muscle spasm/jerking when I've gone to bed. Yesterday, after a full day at a museum which involved a lot of walking, I ended up having severe muscle spasm, about every 20-30 seconds for several hours. When I finally took a muscle relaxer, they eased up about 30 minutes later but never fully resolved.
My brain MRI was clear, but all of this looks/sounds SO much like MS that I don't know what to think. I feel like I'm going a little crazy.
I have a friend who is a neurologist who is trying to get me in to the neurology clinic at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia on an urgent basis. Will keep you posted.
My brain MRI was clear, but all of this looks/sounds SO much like MS that I don't know what to think. I feel like I'm going a little crazy.
I have a friend who is a neurologist who is trying to get me in to the neurology clinic at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia on an urgent basis. Will keep you posted.
Interesting- I have a retention cyst in my right maxillary sinus as well. They say not to worry about that, but I admit I am learning to pay attention to just about everything in trying to figure out WHAT is going on! Best of luck you! Please share what your doctor mentions about your MRI. I am so glad to hear that your Lyme test came back negative. :)
Just got the report from my brain MRI. It was normal except for a couple of small things-"small venous angioma right frontal lobe laterally" and "retention cyst right maxillary sinus."
Having MRA of my head next week.
Am currently appealing insurance company's denial of coverage for MRI of neck and cervical/thoracic spine.
Having MRA of my head next week.
Am currently appealing insurance company's denial of coverage for MRI of neck and cervical/thoracic spine.
Just got results from my bloodwork. Everything is normal (including B vitamin complex and Lyme's test).
MRI tonight.
MRI tonight.
Thanks for the very helpful information. I have an MRI this evening (assuming that my insurance company lets the authorization go through).
Yesterday, my doctor told me that my reflexes on my left side are overly responsive. I have also had a positive Romberg test and several other abnormal neurological exams. From what I've read, MS seems like a real possibility with my symptoms.
This is not the first time I've had these kinds of neurological symptoms, but this is far and away the worst episode that I've ever had. Five years ago I was diagnosed with "atypical migraine" following a similar episode, but to me that always felt more like a "we don't know what's going on" diagnosis.
I will keep everyone posted.
Yesterday, my doctor told me that my reflexes on my left side are overly responsive. I have also had a positive Romberg test and several other abnormal neurological exams. From what I've read, MS seems like a real possibility with my symptoms.
This is not the first time I've had these kinds of neurological symptoms, but this is far and away the worst episode that I've ever had. Five years ago I was diagnosed with "atypical migraine" following a similar episode, but to me that always felt more like a "we don't know what's going on" diagnosis.
I will keep everyone posted.
Hey, the western blot sometimes needs to be repeated. Alcoholism does a number on your liver, stomach, espho-tract, and kidneys. However, people live long lives after drinking regularly. I am sorry to read that you are going through that. Again, Lyme Disease will be a tough diagnosis to get. Are you taking any medicine right now? We had to rule out medicine side-effects first with my symptoms. You take care and know that there is a light at the end of the pain tunnel! It's just a journey to figure out what is going on. Take care and know that you will eventually receive a conclusive diagnosis, if it is Lyme.
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