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6 months till 2nd neuro appt....

Posted , 9 users are following.

mariat63
mariat63

.... but I have the MRI results and am wondering if anyone can help me make sense of it all? I have had many MS-similar symptoms but my worst problem when I saw the neurologist last was leg jerking and arms flailing ( used to be so bad it woke me up!) He only wanted to focus on one symptom so couldn't mention other symptoms. Tingling fingers, stiffness in neck, legs and ankles, pain in feet, lumbar, neck, knees and shins, EXHAUSTION, muscle twitches, words disappearing before i can say them, memory and cognitive problems, tinnitus, etc. So he thought the jerks and flailing may be due to the antidepressants. Seems he was right as a month on I am left with only occasional jerks and a strange wrist rolling action.

MRI (head) shows periventicular high signal white matter foci seen bilaterally at the centrum semiovale in t2 and dp images, may represent small vessel disease, microangiopathy or myelination. In areas of the spine there are a couple of cysts and several mentions of disc protrusions and disruptions. Do you think my symptoms may be due to the spinal problems or does the demyelination suggest ms?

0 likes, 22 replies

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  • justme67
    justme67 mariat63

    Posted

    hi,

    i can't offer any advice but hope you get answers soon.

    i've got to have an MRI soon, just waiting for the appt to come through.

    Do they tell you the results there & then?

     

    • mariat63
      mariat63 justme67

      Posted

      Hello, No the results go back to whoever requested the MRI. In my case it was my GP, who printed a copy off for me to "go home and look all the things up on the internet"! A tip...don't wear anything with metal, then you won't have to get changed into one of those awful gowns! The actual scan is ok, just very noisy (though they give you ear protectors, sometimes headsets to listen to music). Good luck x
    • justme67
      justme67 mariat63

      Posted

      hi

      thanks for the tip over metal :-)

      thanks for the info, bit nervous of small spaces..

      good luck to you also x

  • federico50856
    federico50856 mariat63

    Posted

    I have many of your symptoms since 2006 (diagnosis), but even before of it, and I unfortunally suffer of MS...

    Your neurologist doesn't see any spots without myelin in your backbone though. Therefore, problems in your legs are hard to understand, as they would explain with at least one spot in that area.

    How is your gait ? Have you got some dizziness or balance problem? How is your muscular co-ordination? Have you ever had some sight problems, like double sight? These are other MS classic symptoms.

    I think your neurologist would likely go for other test , like lumbar puncture, as they often take it as last and resolutive test for releasing a final diagnosis (or exclude it)

    I personally would avoid it yet , if possible. I would ask him if there are other better tests, perhaps less invasive.

    All the best  - F.

    • PaineFury
      PaineFury federico50856

      Posted

      Agreed, an MRI and a lumbar puncture is the best tests to take with determining MS
    • mariat63
      mariat63 federico50856

      Posted

      Hello, Thanks for replying. The leg jerks have pretty much stopped since I stopped taking the antidepressants. Yes, I have poor balance, fall to the side if I shut my eyes. And if I'm not looking at the ground where I'm walking I stumble. I tend only to go out with my partner so I can hold on to him! I shuffle like a very old lady in the morning as it feels like my ankles and legs won't hold my weight. I'll bear your advice in mind regarding the lumbar puncture, Thanks. I've just had a DAY scan today so think the neurologist is trying to rule other things (Parkinson's?) out. Do you have relapsing remitting or progressive? How has it all progressed for you?
    • federico50856
      federico50856 mariat63

      Posted

      Hello,

      I find that avoiding refined sugar helps me to control bad mood and depression. Even too much fruits may cause problems and enhance inflammation (as I see on myself) , due likely to their fructose content. Also following a good workout program, doing exercises and movements as physiotherapy is helpful. I mean you may perform significant exercises, but not too heavy...you must always listen to your body. Gym will discharge your tension and have a good influence on your mood as well.

      I would avoid chemical antidepressants, they have too much collateral effects. Go for something natural like Ipericus or other similar herbs. Try it for a while and under your physician control, expecially if you are taking some other medicines.

      Unfortunately the balance problem that you reported is another suspicious signal.

      All these advice are only collected from my personal experience and from other MS patients I knew during many years. Hope they somehow help you in case of adverse diagnosis.

      I started 20 years ago with a relapsing remitting form of MS , but now I no longer have flares up. Neurologist says it is likely turned into a progressive form, but I'm not so sure of it.

      I walk with 2 crutches right now. I think in these last 4 years I have slowed down the progression of the disease but it's still an hard and long fight.

    • mariat63
      mariat63 federico50856

      Posted

      Wow! Thank you for all the constructive advice. I do tend to go for a sweet treat when I'm feeling bad, so I'll have to change that habit! I try to do 10 minutes on the exercise bike each day but sometimes my ankles hurt too much even on the lowest resistance. I will persevere though because I do believe exercise pays off (who doesn't need the endorphins?!).

      You must have been pretty young when this thing first struck?

    • federico50856
      federico50856 mariat63

      Posted

      Nothing at all!

      Bike is Ok. Keep going on it for maintaining the movement ability.

      Pain is often links to sugar cravings. More sugar, more pain, as I found by myself. Such correspondence is confirmed in many cases. It's anyhow true that we all are different , but at least you should try to do your experiments in order to relieve this bad symptom.

      Stay for a while without refined sugar : no cakes of any sort, no bisquits, no ice creams, etc...and pay attention to your body reaction. I know, It will be hard to stick tightly on this regimen but you have to try this to reduce inflammation and improve your health. Also your mood would improve as I said.

      One of my first symptoms was the loss of balance and muscle co-ordination. It occurred when I was about 20 . I'm 46 years old now.

      Take care

      Federico

  • PaineFury
    PaineFury mariat63

    Posted

    Some doctors don't seem to understand the "Multiple" side of MS, and think that we experience only one symptom. I have jerks, spasms, pain, dizziness, memory loss and I've only been diagnosed a year! I'm pretty sure I've got lesions on my spine (I have L'Hermittes which is normally a lesion on the cervial spine) but I've yet to have a spinal MRI. This may be in relation to the spinal issues, and I hope that you don't have MS. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, as I wouldn't wish this even on my worst enemies
  • rosie60552
    rosie60552 mariat63

    Posted

    6 mos is horrible! I suppose I can be patient about having to wait 1 month =) I hope you find answers soon.
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