tattoos
07-10-2007, 09:54 PM
Hi everyone! I am new to this board. I was wondering what specific tests are done to diagnosis MS? I have been having multiple problems. My doctors seem confused. I went into my orthopedic surgeon today because I was in so much pain. I have pins and needle feelings all over. I barely can use my arms the muscle pain/movement is excruciating. I have been having dizziness, vision problems, itchy skin and stabbing and burning pains in joints. I feel like I am 80 when I try and move (I'm 31). Some days I can't even lift my arms to wash my hair, putting on clothes hurt. I am going to a neurologist on the 22 of August. I have an appointment with my PCP on July 18th. Anyone have any suggestions for me as to what I should ask her about. What blood tests or other tests I may need. It seems no one can ever figure out what is going on. I am just getting really sad and frustrated. Thanks all for reading this. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated:) .
Bella
Bella
Sponsor
duttin
07-10-2007, 10:30 PM
Welcome Bella,
Normal protocal would be to do brain MRI with and without contrast.If these test are normal,abnormal or inconclusive they may order a lumbar puncture to test the spinal fluids to rule out or in many disorders.
Routine blood work is usually done complete standard panal ,then many GP's do muscle enzyme test and so forth.
Other test that may be scheduled or EMG/ncs to check muscle and nerves in the body.
EEG to check for seizures and brain waves.
Evoked potentials to see if the brain is sending and receiving the proper signals to the nerves and muscles.
They may send you to a ENT to do testing for the dizziness a ENG/VNG to see if its central or peripherial.
An opthamologist for your vision.Which you could probably make your own appointment for that.He will check for optical neuritis or imflamation of the optical nerves,if he finds this he can schedule some test a head of time like the MRI's.
A neuro will do a standard neuro test in his office,heel to toe walk,reflex's,basinski,touch your finger to your nose.stand with your eyes opened,with them closed.Follow his light with your eyes.
I hope this helps,not all DRs do these test,but a good one will.hang in there.Try to get into an opthamologist real soon,don't mess with your vision.
Normal protocal would be to do brain MRI with and without contrast.If these test are normal,abnormal or inconclusive they may order a lumbar puncture to test the spinal fluids to rule out or in many disorders.
Routine blood work is usually done complete standard panal ,then many GP's do muscle enzyme test and so forth.
Other test that may be scheduled or EMG/ncs to check muscle and nerves in the body.
EEG to check for seizures and brain waves.
Evoked potentials to see if the brain is sending and receiving the proper signals to the nerves and muscles.
They may send you to a ENT to do testing for the dizziness a ENG/VNG to see if its central or peripherial.
An opthamologist for your vision.Which you could probably make your own appointment for that.He will check for optical neuritis or imflamation of the optical nerves,if he finds this he can schedule some test a head of time like the MRI's.
A neuro will do a standard neuro test in his office,heel to toe walk,reflex's,basinski,touch your finger to your nose.stand with your eyes opened,with them closed.Follow his light with your eyes.
I hope this helps,not all DRs do these test,but a good one will.hang in there.Try to get into an opthamologist real soon,don't mess with your vision.
tattoos
07-11-2007, 09:35 AM
Thank you Nuffs3-
I made a copy of the things you suggested. I am going to call an opthamologist today. Hopefully the doctors will schedule needed tests. I will ask my GP about ordering an MRI.
Now what exactly do blood tests for muscle enzymes indicate/show. Would #'s be high, low etc. What other abnormalities will the basic CBC reveal. I am on an anti-seizure medicine so not sure how an EEG would work. I had an EMG not too long ago but I am being sent for another one.
Thank you so much for your help. I just want to be armed with information so I don't go into the doctors blind. Can you also tell me how the initial symptoms present themselves. It seems I have like "flare-ups" and the symptoms get partially better for a short period of time. Then they just show up for no rhyme or reason, just out of the blue and it gets debilitating.
Thanks Again!
Sorry so many questions....
Bella
I made a copy of the things you suggested. I am going to call an opthamologist today. Hopefully the doctors will schedule needed tests. I will ask my GP about ordering an MRI.
Now what exactly do blood tests for muscle enzymes indicate/show. Would #'s be high, low etc. What other abnormalities will the basic CBC reveal. I am on an anti-seizure medicine so not sure how an EEG would work. I had an EMG not too long ago but I am being sent for another one.
Thank you so much for your help. I just want to be armed with information so I don't go into the doctors blind. Can you also tell me how the initial symptoms present themselves. It seems I have like "flare-ups" and the symptoms get partially better for a short period of time. Then they just show up for no rhyme or reason, just out of the blue and it gets debilitating.
Thanks Again!
Sorry so many questions....
Bella
TXChica70
07-11-2007, 10:19 AM
Are you going in to be tested for possible MS? I only ask because if MS has never been mentioned, I wouldn't bring it up. It seems from reading many of the posts here that if MS is brought up first by the patient many neuros shut down and start treating their patients like self-diagnosing lunatics. Lay out your symptoms and just let the doctor take it from there.
duttin
07-11-2007, 10:23 AM
Bella,
Muscle enzyme test are done to rule out muscle diseases and to make sure that there's no inflamation in the muscles.
standard blood test,white and red blood count ,potassium,liver function.
Blood work is standard place to start.If B-12 or folic acid levels are low they can cause numbness,dizzyiness,present itself with neurological symptoms.
Please keep in mind MS is an individual disease and most symptoms depend on location of lesions,with that said,many have numbness,tingling,visual pain(optical neuritis)these are what neuro's classify as standard symptoms.Other symptoms are fatigue,muscle spasms,weakness,blurred vision,double vision,off balance,memory issues.There's several more.
I have symptoms that are permanant---spacticity.Other symptoms come and they annoy me then leave only to return again.Wax and wane.My right leg is numb from the knee down.I have a loss of peripheral vision in my left eye,its been that way for about 6 weeks.After a while the vision returns.
Alot depends on what I'm doing if symptoms creep up on me,heat or exercise induced .And the heat has been really bad.
I hope you get into the eye DR before GP appointment,when ever your eyes get blurry thats cause for alarm.
Stay positive and stress free!!!You'll get through this.This forum has great support,keep asking questions we will answer.
Muscle enzyme test are done to rule out muscle diseases and to make sure that there's no inflamation in the muscles.
standard blood test,white and red blood count ,potassium,liver function.
Blood work is standard place to start.If B-12 or folic acid levels are low they can cause numbness,dizzyiness,present itself with neurological symptoms.
Please keep in mind MS is an individual disease and most symptoms depend on location of lesions,with that said,many have numbness,tingling,visual pain(optical neuritis)these are what neuro's classify as standard symptoms.Other symptoms are fatigue,muscle spasms,weakness,blurred vision,double vision,off balance,memory issues.There's several more.
I have symptoms that are permanant---spacticity.Other symptoms come and they annoy me then leave only to return again.Wax and wane.My right leg is numb from the knee down.I have a loss of peripheral vision in my left eye,its been that way for about 6 weeks.After a while the vision returns.
Alot depends on what I'm doing if symptoms creep up on me,heat or exercise induced .And the heat has been really bad.
I hope you get into the eye DR before GP appointment,when ever your eyes get blurry thats cause for alarm.
Stay positive and stress free!!!You'll get through this.This forum has great support,keep asking questions we will answer.
tattoos
07-11-2007, 02:11 PM
Hi TXChica70-
Well I'm not sure what they are testing me for specifically. I have had other things mentioned such as rheumatoid (which runs in my family), fibromyalgia (sp?), lymes disease...and basically the majority of autoimmune disorders. I will definitely won't mention MS to the doctor. I will just give him my symptoms and see what he suggests. I definitely can agree with the "self-diagnosing" lunatic assumption by doctors. I appreciate your input.
Bella
Well I'm not sure what they are testing me for specifically. I have had other things mentioned such as rheumatoid (which runs in my family), fibromyalgia (sp?), lymes disease...and basically the majority of autoimmune disorders. I will definitely won't mention MS to the doctor. I will just give him my symptoms and see what he suggests. I definitely can agree with the "self-diagnosing" lunatic assumption by doctors. I appreciate your input.
Bella
tattoos
07-11-2007, 02:38 PM
Hi again:) Nuffs3-
I don't know if this is related to muscle diseases but I have High C-reactive protein (which I know is an inflammation marker in the blood). I also have high levels of protein in my urine.
I have numbness, tingling, no vision pain just blurry and feel like I am straining to see and peripherally I see like sparks of light and floaty things, fatigue, muscle spasms, weakness, off balance/dizzy, skin that itches like crazy and feels like creepy, crawly bugs...pain, difficulty moving etc....I could probably go on:) . Heat definitely seems to aggravate the problem.
Thank you so much, once again. The eye doctor is not open this afternoon and I will call first thing in the AM.
Bella
I don't know if this is related to muscle diseases but I have High C-reactive protein (which I know is an inflammation marker in the blood). I also have high levels of protein in my urine.
I have numbness, tingling, no vision pain just blurry and feel like I am straining to see and peripherally I see like sparks of light and floaty things, fatigue, muscle spasms, weakness, off balance/dizzy, skin that itches like crazy and feels like creepy, crawly bugs...pain, difficulty moving etc....I could probably go on:) . Heat definitely seems to aggravate the problem.
Thank you so much, once again. The eye doctor is not open this afternoon and I will call first thing in the AM.
Bella
c57s53
07-11-2007, 11:16 PM
Hi Bella.....Have they checked you for Lupus? What you are describing could be SLE and the symptoms resemble those of MS so much. just a thought.
Connie
Connie
tattoos
07-12-2007, 08:12 AM
Hi c57c53-
Years ago I was checked for lupus but not recently. Doctors say "I'm a mystery." It gets frustrating because it seems when I don't test positive for things, even with all my physical symptoms, they seem to chalk it up with, "it's all in my head." Thank God my new orthopedic surgeon is validating there is some sort of neurological/autoimmune problem. In the past docs would just put me on endless courses of prednisone and send me on my way. Oh, with the lupus rash...is it itchy? I am itching so bad that I am bruising. Thanks everyone!
Bella
Years ago I was checked for lupus but not recently. Doctors say "I'm a mystery." It gets frustrating because it seems when I don't test positive for things, even with all my physical symptoms, they seem to chalk it up with, "it's all in my head." Thank God my new orthopedic surgeon is validating there is some sort of neurological/autoimmune problem. In the past docs would just put me on endless courses of prednisone and send me on my way. Oh, with the lupus rash...is it itchy? I am itching so bad that I am bruising. Thanks everyone!
Bella
tattoos
07-13-2007, 08:50 AM
Well I went to the eye doctor yetsreday. Everything looks good. The only thing he said was I have alot of floaters in my eye. He said there is another test that can be done if the neuro wants it. Any ideas about the floaters?
Bella
Bella
taosdaphne
07-13-2007, 09:23 PM
I agree--don't suggest a diagnosis. They hate it. I've never been wrong about any of my diagnoses--I love research of all kinds, and got a crash course in medical research when my partner developed Hodgkins. Everyone thought we were nurses so fluent were we in "doctor-ese". One of my annoyances about everything going digital is that I no longer have access to Index Medicus and "Current Diagnosis". The latter is great because it gives all the numbers for what's normal in blood work etc. There are days I wish I'd gone to med school. So,when they say "Strep" or"bronchitis" I just smile and say thanks. My neuro figured out pretty quickly that I was bright and had done a lot of research on MS, so I don't get the dumbed down version. We're develping a nice working relationship.
Daphne
Daphne
lilc
07-15-2007, 12:08 PM
Bella, RE:the extreme itching. For MANY years I've had episodes, out of the blue, where I would get an itch that would NOT go away. I do scratch until I bruise. I tried benadryl (pill and lotion), cortisone cream, ice - nothing helps. Fortunately the next day the itch is gone (at least in that spot!)
I only got the MS dx 2 years ago, and I keep forgetting to mention the itch. But I see my neuro tomorrow, will try to remember this time!
I only got the MS dx 2 years ago, and I keep forgetting to mention the itch. But I see my neuro tomorrow, will try to remember this time!
duttin
07-15-2007, 04:17 PM
Bella,
I'm glad you went to the eye DR.Sometimes floaters are natural we see them to some degree.
In the past I would get an itch,usually right or left torsal.no rash,bug bites or anything just itchy.
Final that annoying little symptom left hopefully for good.I never give it a thought until I seen LILC'S post.
Another annoying symptom was the sensation of water being dropped or running down my skin and I go to check that area and it was dry as a bone.Ya wanna talk about losing it.
There's many little annoying symptoms with MS that our neuro's don't tell us or these little symptoms are not primary so they get shoved to the bottom of the list.
I'm glad you went to the eye DR.Sometimes floaters are natural we see them to some degree.
In the past I would get an itch,usually right or left torsal.no rash,bug bites or anything just itchy.
Final that annoying little symptom left hopefully for good.I never give it a thought until I seen LILC'S post.
Another annoying symptom was the sensation of water being dropped or running down my skin and I go to check that area and it was dry as a bone.Ya wanna talk about losing it.
There's many little annoying symptoms with MS that our neuro's don't tell us or these little symptoms are not primary so they get shoved to the bottom of the list.
tattoos
07-16-2007, 08:47 PM
Thanks guys-
The itch is AWFUL!!! I have bruises all over from scratching as we speak:) . Well my Neuro appointment in August 9th. Can anyone give me a list of helpful questions? Or any advice on what I should say to him? I know many people must have gone to alot of neuro's and must have some good insight. Thanks guys!!!
Bella
The itch is AWFUL!!! I have bruises all over from scratching as we speak:) . Well my Neuro appointment in August 9th. Can anyone give me a list of helpful questions? Or any advice on what I should say to him? I know many people must have gone to alot of neuro's and must have some good insight. Thanks guys!!!
Bella