Suspected MS - seeing Neurologist - advice about tests

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

I’ve had two episodes of pins and needles, slight muscle weakness - last year and two months ago, I’m age 50 and female.

The first episode lasted a week. After a long walk I had shooting electric pains in one leg. Then pins and needles all over intermittently. It then went away completely so I didn’t google it and just counted myself lucky! I went to the GP who did bloods but couldn’t find anything.

A year later I had itchy ankles for a bit, then after a shower my skin was irritated (it often as it gets dry) - but then the pins and needles started again and didn’t go away for 2 months. One of my legs felt a bit numb and weak, and then one of my arms felt heavy and it was a bit hard to move my fingers - like the feeling you get when you’ve been out in the cold. That worried me! But then it all gradually went away again. Went to GP again who did bloods, found Vit D deficiency, had MRI brain scan - clear. She referred me to a neurologist.

The neurologist said that he didn’t think it was MS as my pins and needles seemed to come and go in different parts of my body. He said most people with MS had a constant pins and needles feeling in say their legs which gradually creeps up. He did usual knocking me with hammers tests and all normal. He said he’s 90% sure it’s not anything serious. I’m still due to have B12 and irons done (blood sample insufficient first time) but he said if it was insufficiency the symptoms would not have gone away. But he’s sending me for nerve tests and also a spine CT scan and if they are all fine he won’t see me again.

I’m relieved but also want to really make sure that I rule out MS - worried as this has happened twice is will happen again?

I’ve a couple of questions - I’d be happier with an MRI of the spine and not CT - apparently it’s better for soft tissue - should I push for this?

Does this sound like anything else that I should be tested for? Many thanks for any replies!

2

hello

I’d stop worrying yourself sick if I was you.

I bet that your pins and needles gets worse following the worrying.

If at all possible ask your neuro if the proposed CT scan can be swapped for an MRI. (explain that you feel worse).

The standard test include VEP Visually Evoked Potentials, MRI and Lumbar Puncture (spinal tap).

Also your history as you tell it.

Do try to cut stress out of your life.

Carole x

3

Thanks cat woman just realised I hadn’t thanked you for taking the time to reply before! It is very kind of you. I’m still waiting for the last tests - nerve conduction test and another MRI for the brain (not sure why he wanted another one?) and C spine.

My neurologist has already said he thinks it’s 90% not MS or anything else more serious so that is quite reassuring. Even though I know some of you were told this a few times and then went onto to be told it is MS. However if the MRI doesn’t show lesions then that is probably a fairly certain sign it is not MS.

I hope that you are doing well. Reading about MS gave me more of an insight and living with it and willing to help others by sharing your experiences is really something - I do hope that you are getting good care and support yourself.