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neuro symptoms in teen
Thank you in advance for your help. My daughter is 16. At age 13 she complained of periodic stabbing pains in the muscles in her legs and experienced bouts of extreme fatigue which come and go. This past summer while jogging in the heat, she exp. blurred vision (said it seemed like her eyes were moving back and forth quickly). This happened twice. Two or three times she complained of pain in her eyes when exitng the school building into the sunlight. (Said no pain upon moving eyes.) She has slight tremor in hands that comes and goes, tingling sensation on her back, single hiccups several times a day (loud!), and now over the past 6 mo., I have noticed speech difficulty. This past summer, she got fatigued and nauseated when exercising in heat. Six months ago, she had c-spine and brain MRI with and w/o contrast. It was clear. Her office exam was normal. No further testing was done. Saw opthamologist 3 months ago who said optic nerves looked healthy.
The clencher - her father has MS. His father has Parkinson's. I was thrilled that her MRI was negative but was also shocked. I guess I am convinced that she has MS. I can't imagine what else would be causing these weird symptoms in a young child.
I regret that further testing (LP and evoked potentials) was not performed but am torn between requesting this now as she is feeling better lately and I hate to burden her with it.
Do you think that after 3 yrs. of symptoms, something would have shown by now? Is there a chance that this is something else? Thank you so much for giving of your time!
The clencher - her father has MS. His father has Parkinson's. I was thrilled that her MRI was negative but was also shocked. I guess I am convinced that she has MS. I can't imagine what else would be causing these weird symptoms in a young child.
I regret that further testing (LP and evoked potentials) was not performed but am torn between requesting this now as she is feeling better lately and I hate to burden her with it.
Do you think that after 3 yrs. of symptoms, something would have shown by now? Is there a chance that this is something else? Thank you so much for giving of your time!
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
The symptoms that you describe are not speicific for any disorder, but I think your concern about Multiple Sclerosis (MS)is a valid one. The cause of MS is not known and all the risk factors etc that predict who gets MS are also not well understood. Things we do know is that your location in childhood (0-15) can be coorelated to your risk of developing MS later in life (children that grow up in the northern part of the United States have a higher risk of MS than children who grow up in the southern states). After a patient reaches adulthood there is no increase risk for MS by living in or moving to a more northern location. There is also a risk of MS with a first degree relative who also has MS. Some some studies have suggested a 7 fold increase in risk compared to the background population. The symptoms that you described may or may not be relatd to MS, but it seems less likely at this point given her normal MRI and eye exams. If her symptoms are resolved now, I would suggest a repeat visit to her neurologist in 6months-1 year to evaluate for anything concerning in history and/or exam. If there is continued symptoms then I would suggest a repeat MRI of the brain and cervical spine with GAD contrast. I would only suggest a lumbar puncture and/or visual evoked potentials if the clinical exam and MRIs could not fully answer the question.
I hope this has been helpful.
The symptoms that you describe are not speicific for any disorder, but I think your concern about Multiple Sclerosis (MS)is a valid one. The cause of MS is not known and all the risk factors etc that predict who gets MS are also not well understood. Things we do know is that your location in childhood (0-15) can be coorelated to your risk of developing MS later in life (children that grow up in the northern part of the United States have a higher risk of MS than children who grow up in the southern states). After a patient reaches adulthood there is no increase risk for MS by living in or moving to a more northern location. There is also a risk of MS with a first degree relative who also has MS. Some some studies have suggested a 7 fold increase in risk compared to the background population. The symptoms that you described may or may not be relatd to MS, but it seems less likely at this point given her normal MRI and eye exams. If her symptoms are resolved now, I would suggest a repeat visit to her neurologist in 6months-1 year to evaluate for anything concerning in history and/or exam. If there is continued symptoms then I would suggest a repeat MRI of the brain and cervical spine with GAD contrast. I would only suggest a lumbar puncture and/or visual evoked potentials if the clinical exam and MRIs could not fully answer the question.
I hope this has been helpful.
Nelo1,
Sorry no one has responded to your thread. I wish I had something to offer. Hope you are feeling better these days.
Sorry no one has responded to your thread. I wish I had something to offer. Hope you are feeling better these days.
Hello, I'm trying to look into something that might be going on with me. When I was little, I had speech problems caused by mal petite seizures. I was on some weird medication that stopped the seizures at six. Since then, I've had migrane problems among other things and recently, been having dizzy spells at work. They're accompanied by temporary blindness in both eyes, and it got so bad I just slid to the floor and laid there. I think it might be a blood sugar thing, since eating makes it go away in about 30 minutes, but I'm left feeling unbelievably tired and with a huge headache. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much - I will definitely be sure to watch that program. If you don't mind me asking, what significance does your nickname "AfterTheBite" have? I was wandering if it had something to do with Lyme disease (tick bite)? I may be way off base.
Sorry to hear your daughter is having these problems.
You said.. "I guess I am convinced that she has MS. I can't imagine what else would be causing these weird symptoms in a young child."
From what I understand.. Primetime- ABC Medical Mysteries is doing a special segment on this very topic on January 10, 2007 at 10 PM. Perhaps it will give you some things to consider?
I hope you both are doing better soon. It must be an awful burden to watch your child have all of these symptoms... and no answers.
You said.. "I guess I am convinced that she has MS. I can't imagine what else would be causing these weird symptoms in a young child."
From what I understand.. Primetime- ABC Medical Mysteries is doing a special segment on this very topic on January 10, 2007 at 10 PM. Perhaps it will give you some things to consider?
I hope you both are doing better soon. It must be an awful burden to watch your child have all of these symptoms... and no answers.
Your welcome and again best wishes for you and your family
Thanks for your comment! It is possible that she was dehydrated because she drinks very little water. She says she doesn't like it! Imagine that. It is good to hear about the photophobia being pretty common. I didn't know that. None of these things really concerned me until she mentioned a tingling on her back. That's when I became alarmed and took her to the neuro. Prior to the neg. MRI, I was worried like never before. It was quite a relief, but I still fear that it's lurking around the corner. I guess because of her father having it. I know you can't live your life in fear and I try to forget about it, but I do find myself at times watching her every move for anything abnormal! She doesn't know that I suspect this. Anyway thanks for caring!
Hi sorry about your daughter my aunt had something similar to ms which progressed, if your daughter has not progressed I would think (though I am not a doctor) something would have changed. As for the exerscising in the heat it is very possible she was suffering from heat stroke and maybe a little dehydrated. for the pain in eyes with direct sunlight I know that happens to many people lots of family memebers and friends have all said the same thing. But being she is your daughter it could never ever hurt to get another set of testing done and have someone else look at her MRI's. I wish her well. I know what my sister went thru trying to find help for her daughter when she was young and not well, to upsetting.
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