worried about neurologicl symptoms

[Unregistered]

Hi

I apologise for the long windedness of this post, but there's been a lot of symtptoms over the past year. I've been to see a neurologist and he's going to be doing an mri scan, and possibly a lumbar puncture, but i'm currently waiting to find out when, and might not be for a couple of months. I've a suspicion about what it coule be, but i'd like someone else's thoughts on it.

There's a full run down of my situation at present, and list of symptoms over the past year.

I'm 22, male, live in the uk, non-drinker and non-smoker, fairly poor diet, overwieght. I'm active, have had no serious illnesses in the past, and rarely get ill.

in all cases of my numbness has felt as if the limb had "fallen asleep" tingly when touched/touching something otherwise just numb, with a reduction in feeling, sensation towards hot/cold

Jan06
Numbness in right leg, lasts approx 2 weeks, diagnosed as sciatica as the time. Numbness seemed to subside when I went snowboarding and twisted my back geting up multiple times, resulted in the reduction of the numbness in the week(possibly freeing a rapped nerve?)

April06
I had an unknown virus(?) made me feel light headed and dizzy, this was followed shortly by pain in the right eye upon looking to far left or right, followed approx 5 days later by loss of vision in said eye, No pain after that, eyesight eventually returned to virtually full vision. Diagnosed as optic neuritis, visusal field test came back as normal. I had an ongoing problem with double vision, lasted approx 4 weeks more, then back to normal.

June06
Another virus(?) same as before, dizziness for approx 1 week followed again with double vision, returned to normal after 4ish weeks

Aug06
Numbness in rt leg, then both at the same time, finishing in the lft leg. Numbnes also spread to my side/middle/stomach area and also my groin. Had a very similar feeling to the sciatica at the start of the year, except now, all over.

Oct06
chicken pox(yes, at 22 yrs old) followed by double vision again for approx 4 weeks

Jan 07
I've noticed a gradual loss in my sense of balance over a few weeks, and most recently(last week) a numbness in my hand and now my left arm.

I have also been experiencing poor short term memory over the last few months as well. I'll be easily distracted when surfing the internet, forgetting the pageI was about to browse and struggling to recall what it was.

The other wierd symptom i've had is a tingle that runs own my spine if i tilt my head forward when sitting. I've had this for approximately a year, although it wont happen all the time.

I think that covers everything, tanks for reading this far

Gav

[worriedsik]

I have just a few quick questions: 1) Do you have alot of headaches? 2)Double Vision or blurred vision? 3) Difficulty swallowing? If you answered yes to any of these questions PLEASE get checked for a condition called Arnold Chiari (pronounced KEY-ARE-E) Malformation. The symptoms you described in your post match those to this condition IF you have any of the above as well. MY daughter has this, it can go virtually undetected until adulthood or smptoms arise (your case). If you want anymore info on this let me know.

[Unregistered]

first of all, I had chicken pox at 28 yes old and boy did that suck! I was quarentined for 5 days!

second, I suggest you ask to have an EEG. This is a fairly simple, a tad uncomfortable test that can show exactly where your numbness is coming from. Like if you have any pinched nerves in back. I had this and then Dr. did Steroid injections which did not help me but help about 40% of patients

Good luck

[Unregistered]

Thanks for the replies.

Worriedsik-I had double vision, as opposed to blurred vision, and have had neither headaches or difficulty swallowing.

Had a chat with my GP today, trying to get my MRI hurried along as thats the only real way to tell what I have, however they did say it could be MS, but wouldn't know until the results came back. Likewise, it could also be something else, but again, need an MRI before they can say anything.

They said the big indication of MS were the symptoms going after a few weeks, the question I have is why do they do this? From my understanding of MS, the immune system attacks the nerves, causes delymination(sp) hence numbness/other symptoms and then they return to normal, why?

Anyway, no point worrying too much about something I may or may not have untill I know what it is, I was pretty much expecting MS anyway, since I have a lot of the common symptoms.

laters

Gav

[amy hoskins]

Hi, I just joined this sight. All these things you put down, I have plus more. I have Muscular Distrophy. I have to wear braces on my legs. I have had hip surgeries, and have to go through more. My daughter also has it. It is tough to deal with. I have days I cant walk at all. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the mornings.

[Unregistered]

Hi,
In October last year I had the numbness and tingling all down my left side for a few hours. I went to the hospital and I was told it MAY have been a TIA (Mini stroke). Were you tested for this?

Charms

[amy hoskins]

Hi, I was told when I was younger I had a mini stroke but no one has tested me for that since I got older.

[Wens]

Hi
It sounds like something I had too few times.
I went to the ER too and they thought it was anxiety
Anyway you are not alone and don't think it is anxiety before checking it. You can read my story in here : url="http://www.discussfitness.com/forums/f68/heart-problems-continue-for-me-37487.html?highlight=stroke"] stories in here and I hope you will be better soon.