Could this be MS?

[seedtime]

Okay, so my medical history is pretty irremarkable up until feburary of last year when I had an apendectimy.

After about a month after my apenedectimy I my left arm started going numb. I went to my PCP, he did an MRI of the C-Spine (without contrast) and it came back normal. At that point he reffered me to a sports medicine doctor and he did an EMG, which came back normal with the exception of some slowing of the ulnar nerve through the cubital tunnel. At this point he told me it was probably just reffered pain and sent me to physical therapy. I went to all my apointments and my pain just kept getting worse. THe numbness was now pain. The PT kept evaluating me for TOS and treating me as though I had it.

After PT I kept up with the exercises and did them regurlary up until about two months ago when my arm was in constant aching / buring pain. At this point I called my PCP back up and made an appointment. He reffered me to a vascular surgeon to rule out TOS.

Before I had the appointment I had severe chest pain, burning from the chest up through the neck, and made a trip to the ER to rule out anything lifre threatening. The checked me out for an aortic dissection by giving me a CT and they found nothing. The wednesday after this I had a bout of hazy vision lasting about 5 hours. I called my PCP and we both thought that this symotom seemed more like a neurologic issue, such as MS. He scheduled me for a Brain MRI with contrast, I went and got the MRI and during this the Radiologist elected not to use contrast because he felt that is was not nessecary since he did not see anything without it. The MRI of the Brain came back normal.

Since then I have an appointment with a neurologist but I have no idea what is going on with my body. I am not convinced that a brain MRI without contrast will show MS. Although my doctor and the radiologist both seem to think so.

Since then the symotoms continue to get worse, the new thing I noticed today is that when I wash my hands with hot water my entire arm aches along with my neck and head. All on the left side.

I also get left side facial numbness and lightheadness.

[kimberleydust]

Hi Seedtime

If I Were You I Would Persist At Having Another Mri With Contrast Of Both Brain And Cervical Spine. The Symptoms You Describe Are Definitely Neurological. One Of The Symptoms Of Ms Is That Whatever Symptoms You Are Having Get Worse When You Are Under Stress Or Get Overheated. I Don't Want To Scare You But I Have Very Similar Symptoms To You - Especially The Burning Sensations And Arm Pain - And Had An Mri With Contrast A Few Weeks Ago And They Found A Lesion In The Brainstem. They Are Still Not Saying I Have Ms But It Is The Highest Choice On The List - I Have Another Mri In 2 Weeks Time.
There Is A Small Percentage Of People With Ms Where The Lesions Don't Show Up In The Early Stages. You May Not Have Ms But I Would Definitely Get Another Opinion And Don't Stop Until You Get Results. The First 2 Drs I Went To Told Me I Just Needed To Have A Good Nights Sleep!! Can You Believe That!! I Have Had Many Since And Still Have All These Symptoms!!!
All The Best - Let Me Know How You Go.

Louise

[hurtin in tenn]

I For One Know How You Feel .i Have Been To The Doctor So Many Times I Can't Even Count Them.i Have Severe Burning Pain In My Upper Back, To The Point To Were It Almost Makes Me Sick. My Vision Sometimes Gets Real Foggy.my Doctor Seem To Think I Have Osteoperosis.i Go For A Bone Scan In 2 Days. I Just Don't Think That's What My Problem Is. Maybe I Should Research A Little More. I Myself Have Never Heard Of Mri's Given Without Contrast. Hope You Get A Real Diagnosis Soon I Know I Am Out To Find One.

[sleeaa]

Do any of the 3 of you have any inflammation (even slight) or rashes or small breaks in the skin around where the pain is?

[kimberleydust]

No sleeaa - I don't.

[HeidiBaltom]

I know what the pins and needles are like. I am going for a brain scan soon to find out if i have MS. I have had this for nearly 2 years and the doctors told me it was trapped nerves untill i started getting it every couple of months. Then i got blured vision and facial paralysis on the right side. I kept on and finally something is being done. So you just need to keep on at them if you are worried. I hope it works out for you.

[kitkat2]

Hi to all, I also have a frustration in this area. I have had pins and needles in both feet and muscle weakness in my arms and legs for about 3 months now. It all started with a stiffness in my neck on the left side that wouldnt go away for about 3 weeks. I have had 4 MRI's and none show any lesions and I am waiting for a spinal tap to be approved by insurance. I am worried the spinal tap wont show anything either and I will still be left without answers. But, I will stay the course with my Docs until I get an answer and I hope that you do the same. As women we are often times dismissed quickly as emotional and put on antidepressants or told to reduce our stress! I wish all of you well in your quests for answers to your medical woes and God bless!
Kathy

[kimberleydust]

I think it is important to do our own study as well so when we see the Drs we have some knowledge (knowledge is power!!!) and so they don't treat us just like another number. I hear so many stories from women who feel the same way. I've told my dr that if I'd had good health I would have liked to have been a nurse and he treats me with respect!!! You just have to let them know that you study these things and you are not ignorant and it helps!!

good luck in our quest to be listened to.........

[needsomehelp]

I totally understand your frustration and worry. I have been told that my problem is definaltely neurological, yet no one can give me an answer. I have been through a spinal tap and a 3 hour nerve conduction test to determine if I have MS. Both showed nothing remarkable. However, I have a cousin who was diagnosed with MS only after having a brain scan. I would definately have it done and I hoping that I may have one soon. I am sick of being sick!!!! Especially when all these specialists insist on telling me I am fine. Hang in there!!

[sulejo]

Hi everyone,
I just stumbled across this thread and felt I had to respond. I was finally diagnosed with MS one month ago after a contrast MRI of BOTH the brain and the cervical spine. Since then I have researched all my symptoms and read postings from numerous MS websites. Everything you all describe are common MS symptoms. Heaviness in the legs where you feel you can barely move, stiffnessof the muscles, tingling, numbness. What drives me crazy is the burning sensation in my legs that feels like a bad sunburn. And twitchy little muscle movements - sometimes internal, sometimes causing external little jerks. All apparently worse and more noticeable at night when you are in a prone position. All these symptoms can occur anywhere in the body and are different in each MS patient. And many people experience what is called the MS Hug, which is a feeling of constriction around the chest and ribs. Hot water can affect some MSers very badly and trigger nerve reaction. I could go on and on. But my point is that you all need to get diagnosed and don't stop until you find a neurologist who understands. Because the medicines they now have are very effective in inhibiting the progression of the disease. I only wish mine had been diagnosed 10 years ago so I could have been on them. Good luck and god bless you all.