← Return to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - please introduce yourself

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@tadams1129

Does this clinically sound like MS? To begin, I had a craniotomy in 2014 to remove a benign brain tumor from the left frontal lobe that was causing vision loss, the worst migraines I’ve ever had, and many other issues. Since 2020, I’ve noticed random nerve pain in other places on my body outside of my head. Random hot spots that feel as if someone is holding fire to my skin. Not hot to the touch, not red to the eye, but hot from the inside out. These hot spots are in the middle of my right buttcheek, top of my right foot, on my thighs. Randomly, I’ll get zaps of nerve pain down the middle of my back if I move my head down, like touching my chin to my chest. The muscles in my legs and thighs spasm, my feet throb and tingle to the point of tears, my feet and hands throb and go numb. It hurts to walk. I have night sweats, cannot empty my bowels (it’s as if the nerves of my colon/rectum are dead), the eye pain when I move my eyes. Very blurry vision. Double vision. Tired regardless of the amount of sleep I get. Slurred speech, very bad heat intolerance; the list goes on.

I saw an MS specialist one time in 2021 when it felt like my entire body was attacking itself. He found a lesion in the periventricular area of the brain, which happens to be the location MS is prone to be found. He said it’s been there and always has been, just wasn’t caught on scans from 2014. He did a lumbar puncture, but I had no obands. He said had I not had the tumor removed in 2014, I would have a clinical diagnosis, less the protein in the spinal fluid since I have symptoms and two tumors. He tested the strength and quickness of my legs; my left leg showed slowing and didn’t respond as quickly. He sent me to see a psych when I mentioned how bad my memory was and how badly my brain fog was making my everyday. It’s caused me to leave on stoves, ovens. I’ve even forgotten to take care of my hygiene. I saw the psych as asked, who diagnosed me with conversion disorder, all because I cried when he touched a few nerves about an abusive past I had. You guys, I’ve been to other mental health specialists who have said they can’t diagnose me with anything and they know something real is going on. So, I gave up trying to get answers. Eventually, the symptoms either went away or were so normal I just ignored them. This was two years ago.

Over the last week, it seems I’m having a bad flare of something. My body is attacking itself again. I haven’t been able to have a bowel movement all week, things to help with that aren’t working. My stomach is bloated like I’m pregnant. The nerves all over my body from top of head to toes are randomly zapping me, causing me to cry out loud again. Sometimes the zap is so strong, it makes me fall. My legs from the middle of my calves down are painfully tingly. There’s a spot on the inside of my right foot that burns like fire. I actually caught a skin color change this time. When the pain stopped, the red went away. Last night, my left foot felt like a block of ice while my right foot felt like it was on fire. They were both red, but very different in temperatures. The muscles in my legs spasm. It hurts to walk again. My eyes are very painful to light. The nausea, can’t eat, can’t drink. It’s like my body is short circuiting.

I see my neuro on Monday. What should I ask for? A better work up? The longer this goes on, the worse it gets.

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Replies to "Does this clinically sound like MS? To begin, I had a craniotomy in 2014 to remove..."

Sorry to hear about your struggles! I'm still new to this world, but several of your symptoms definitely send yellow flags up.. Your zaps of pain when moving your neck sounds a LOT like Lhermitte's sign to me. If you're struggling to get someone to really pay attention to all of your symptoms to get a concrete diagnosis, I'd reach out to try and get an appointment at the Mayo Clinic closest to you. Another MS specialist I'm particularly paying attention to is Dr. Aaron Boster (The Boster Center for MS, Columbus OH). Getting more opinions never hurts.

As for what to ask your neuro - I'll defer as I'm still learning, but it does sound like a full review is in order.

I am so sorry for your pain. I hope you get some answers. I have been searching for answers myself to some mysterious symptoms. The most recent diagnosis for me is Migraine associated vertigo and Fibromyalgia, I was tested for every Neurological and Rheumatological disease under the sun. Some of your symptoms sound to me like they could be migraine related, just based on my life long migraine history. Have you ever been treated for migraines in the past? I actually didn't know that they can cause symptoms without the actual headache pain. I only found that out when I went to a Neurologist at Cornell.
Best of luck to you,
Kat