I am worried that I may have MS, and discovered this site, so thought I’d join & try to obtain some more info.
I have had various symptoms since June this year which I will try to describe to you.
It began with my feet burning when I walked. They burned/stung on the top & the bottom. The pain is hard to describe really, as well as burning, it tingles & prickles like pins & needles. I also developed a totally numb spot just above my big & second toes. On an evening I get shooting pains up my legs. I wake up & am still tierd. I get blurred vision throughout the day & sometimes feel really dizzy. I also have severe itching on my upper arms. Headaches are quite common too.
My GP tested for, diabetes, Vit B12 difficiancy, inflamatory markers & did a full blood screen…all came back clear.
I have seen an ortho (who took Xrays & ultrasound of my feet) who says I have elongated metatarsals on one foot ( this however doent explain the pain in both feet, the blurred vision or tierdness. I have no neuromas.
Then my GP suggested I may have peripheral neuropathy & has referred me to a neurologist (appointment is on 13/11/12)
I have had a nerve conduction test which I have not had the results for as yet.
I went to the opticians as my eyesight had deteriorated since January. He was surprised how much worse my eyesight was in just a few months & told me to mention it to my GP.I will see him next week.
I seem to have so many symptoms & feel I am ging crazy. Today,the tingling has started in my righthand at the base of my thumb.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wondered if it was possible that I have MS???
Limboland; the place your in at the moment when you know something is wrong with your body but it cannot be diagnosed is without question the worst time. This will give some insight into the diagnostic procedure written by a doctor about his diagnosis http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/diagnosingms.html
Yes MS does cause headaches but they are worse with a complaint called Hughes Syndrome or Sticky Blood. It’s a complaint that mirrors other MS type symptoms so is often mis-diagnosed. Check out http://www.hughes-syndrome.org/symptoms.htm and get your GP to have a blood test (not his; yours) for APS antibodies. This complaint; if it is can easily be controlled.
Unfortunately Neurology is not an easy complaint to diagnose and a lot of educated guess work is made by the Neurologist; but answers and many palliative drugs and treatments are now being found.
it took me roughly 17 months from first affects to a dx of RRMS but as others will say their is lots of things that could be wrong so hopefully your neuro will get you booked in for MRI’S which should help with finding out whats going on.
even if it does eventually lead to MS try and not think it’s the end of the world as i’m still driving a taxi for a living and taking a few different pills but aches and pains are bearable
One of the difficulties with neurology is that there are only so many symptoms, but literally hundreds of conditions that can cause them which can mean that working out what’s going on can take a while. So, yes, it might be early MS, but it could also be something completely different - and it might take a wee while to work out what. You’re on the right path though so hopefully it won’t be too long till you get some answers.
It would be sensible to get a referral to an ophthalmologist to get your eyes properly checked. Eyesight starts to deteriorate in our 40s, so it could be that your decline is normal (albeit faster than average), but the blurred vision does suggest that something else might be going on. Your GP can do the referral for you. The neuro will also be interested in the results so best to get it done asap.
There are one off as well as easily treated conditions that can cause neurological symptoms so try and keep an open mind and stay positive
Some hospitals have walk in ophthalmology clinics. You need a referral letter from your GP, but no appointment. Your GP will know where your nearest one is. There’s some waiting around and you might want to arrange a lift home in case they dilate your pupils, but it’s infinitely quicker than neurology! Kx
I received the results from my nerve conduction test today. It says…
".the results are entirely normal including size, velocity & motor parameters. At this stage there is no evidence of suspecte large fibre peripheral neuropathy.
Some of her symptoms can be explained by short fibre dysfunction. Biopsy & thermal threshold testing are 2 ways to investigate small fibre neropathy.
As the she has only had the symptoms since May, if the symptoms continue to remail unexplained, repeat neurophysiology in 6 to 9 months is advised."
I see a neuro for the first time next tuesday (13/11/12). Will he still keep an open mind as to whats happening?? I’m worried that he will read this & not do anything else for 6-9 months. What do you think?
