Living With Non-MS Symptoms

[LisaQ.]

Hi.
MS can start with pins and needles, but it most often begins with eye symptoms.
I've been worked up for MS too, 3 times in 7 years with 3 sets of clean mri's and 2 MS specialists.
Dx=bfs.
I've had numbness, tingling, brisk reflexes, weakness, tremors, even eye jumping sensations in addition to twitching.
Twitching is unusual in MS. Not impossible, but not something most folks with MS often complain of.
MS is very treatable and can be benign in many cases. Some cases of MS aren't even discovered until autopsy, the symptoms can be so minor. It is in only 20% of the cases (looking to lower the # substantially with all the new treatments though,) that the person ends up in a wheelchair within 20 years of diagnosis.
Whatever you do, stay off the MS boards, because MS can mimic so many other symptoms, some of which many people may experience at least once in their lifetime and can be caused by many benign processes(like the tingling sensations.) In addition, those boards attract confused, frustrated people who feel ill, as we do, and they want answers. They are frequently convinced they have MS (as I was) even though they have negative MRI's and negative lumbar punctures (as I did. ) Fibromyalgia can be clinically identical to MS. That was what I was dx'ed with just before bfs.

The time of my life I threw away worrying that I had MS I will never get back. Now all I can do is share my experience with others so they don't have to go through what I did.

 

[AlexAls23]

I too am going through the MS scare. Well i really hope i don't have it. So i pray to god.

This thing said i have found some very excellent web sites where neuro exams are being demonstrated. I have gone them through several times. Neuro's make some tests on you in order to detect abnormalities that would show in a certain lesion somewhere in the brain/spine. I'll post this 2 sites here for anyone who likes playing doctor.

 

[EyeoftheWild]

Alex, I understand that you may find those sites informative but I would stay off those sites, especially since you obviously still have anxiety about MS. That goes doubly for Saundra. We are not Dr.s and we need to get on with living, not obsessing. Unless your obsessing about having a great time, shouting for joy, skipping, laughing with your family, singing corny songs, and sitting in quiet contemplation of the blessedness of your life.

Cheers,
Basso

 

[LisaQ.]

When the tech makes phone calls during the test, it is usually to consult the radiologist to see if he wants more films taken.

If they see something that bears further investigation, they generally take more films and different angles to get a better look. The radiologist will determine if this is needed or not.

That doesn't necessarily mean something serious has been found, either. I once had the tech come in and take different views (an hour's worth of more films.) It turned out to be a lesion on my liver that was a non-issue. In fact, on follow up testing, there was no lesion there.

The tech will generally tell you when the radiologist wants more films done. If that didn't happen in your case, chances are, nothing was found.

 

[sherlockholmesz2]

Hi there.

I had the MS scare thing last summer too. The most important thing to remember, in my opinion, is that GP's and neuros are not lying when they say that they can "spot MS when it walks in the door"! I even went to another GP for a second opinion and he said the same thing. The neuro once again confirmed this. Please try not to fret!

 

[JohnnyRocket]

Yeah, I guess the tech was probably just calling her friend about lunch plans because the MRI came back completely negative, much like the EMG and blood tests. Benign twitching!

 

[TatsuDragon15]

Usually doctors call you right away if there was something. I had MRI with and without contrast twice on two separate occassions years apart from another and I had to call them cause they were taking too long- results were normal.

 

[LisaQ.]

Wow, this is an old dinosaur of a thread!I had to come back in here, just to see what all the ruckus and bumping were about. Glad to see the peeps are utilizing the search feature. )I'm still alive, and yes, still experiencing this goofy little syndrome called "bfs." I barely give it any thought, anymore, though. The only time I remember I even have it is when I get an e-mail that one of my threads has been bumped. lol. Blessings, peeps. Sue