Is it possible to have normal strength and yet numbness/tingling in the hands, as well as decreased fine motor skills in early MS? I am still in the process of trying to get a dx to see what's wrong with me, but was just wondering about this.
not usually. when the motor skills go, the strength diminishes as so the reflexes. It might not even be noticable to you, or to others (squeezing their hand, etc) but the tests that most neurologists do show the weakness.
There are isometric and flexion tests which your doctor should have performed in his office manually during your evaluation. There are also tests to measure the nerve reactions done with a machine- Evoked Potentials are also done.
Didnt your doctor do a thorough evaluation at the Duke appointment? Id be surprised if you saw a MS SPecialist who didnt make you walk the line, follow the finger, squeeze the hands, press down when he pushes up, press up when he pushes down...etc etc. Those are all standarized tests for measuring reactions and muscle strength/ coordination.
Yes, he did all those tests, but nothing with a machine. I thought I really had trouble with the heel-toe test. I really had to concentrate to get my feet to move the way they were supposed to. I lost my balance once and had to put my foot out to the side to catch myself.
Thanks for the comments. I'm assuming you have already been diagnosed with MS? I'm still trying to find out what's wrong with me and am in limbo right now, which is really starting to get to me.
Although I've had numbness/tingling in parts of my body, I have always
passed the strength tests too. Occasionally I'd loose a little strength in my left arm, however that didn't/hasn't last...At the moment I still have tingling/stiffness in two toes and two fingers, but I haven't really had strength problems......
Thanks for the comments. I'm assuming you have already been diagnosed with MS? I'm still trying to find out what's wrong with me and am in limbo right now, which is really starting to get to me.
Hugs,
Lynn
I was diagnosed in 1987 - Wow, 20 years and my first symptom was 5 years before that. Things have changed so much. If you have to have MS now is certainly a better time. It can be so frustrating to be in limbo - hopefully soon you will know so you can start appropriate treatment.
Candy
I sure hope so! I am going to get blood work done on Friday to check for diabetes...MS specialist from Duke's recommendation, as my father and brother have had adult onset diabetes. I don't know what to think, because some of the symptoms for diabetes are the same as for MS, although I honestly don't feel it is diabetes.
Oh well...I just have to wait until October 19th until I go to Johns Hopkins for another opinion.
Okay, so what I am hearing is that just because a person's strength is tested and is normal, the person could still have MS, right? I have been having more and more ringing in my ears and feeling like I am looking through a thin film, especially when trying to read, as well as all the other symptoms.
Yes, it's a long wait until I go to Hopkins, but at least I have a date and can start counting down. As fast as this year has gone so far, October will be here before I know it.
Just one of the things that make MS difficult to dx is that it is SO individualized. Specifically in regard to strength, we all have our own issues -- as far as I know, strength is NOT one of mine so take that info. as you will... You can't dismiss MS (or Lyme) because you don't have ALL the symptoms that are listed as being potentially suspicious.
Having not had to have an LP myself, I don't know that much about it. However, from what I understand, a negative LP does not mean you don't have MS and the same goes for Lyme -- in the case of Lyme, especially because of the testing (with blood as well). I haven't come across ONE person who knows about Lyme who doesn't say that there is only ONE lab that is reputable. It's called IGeneX out in California and people who had previously had negative results were later dxed with Lyme because this lab identified one of the infections associated with it (I would say the greatest percentages of regular doctors don't use this lab but every LLMD does!) One warning though -- there can not only be false negatives in Lyme but also false positives. I know, it's a dilemma!!!!
Totally and completely agree with Bearygood about Igenex and the possiblity of false negs and postiives if the work is done anywhere else! Igenex has a sterling reputation as far as getting it right.
As for the spinal tap and the results, it all depends on whether or not they asked for it to be tested for LYme and again, where they sent the fluid. I know so many people who have LYme and had it done at our local hospital and all got negative results, only to find out after it was too late, that they did have the disease. So much of what you hear about LYme, having the bullseye red mark, and having to have seen the tick, its all a joke. None of it is true. You could have had a tick 3 years ago, which fell off you, and you never saw it, never got the red mark, had NO Idea..and now that its in you, you would start having sytmoms but not know what is wrong. ...
SO many of your stympoms sound like LYme, MS, and even Fibro, which isnt always caught by blood work either...you really need additional testing to find out whats going on with you...I feel for you, youve got soo many things going on at once. Try very hard to put all of this away and try to relax until you see the guy at hopkins...theres nothing else you can do. But, in the meantime, worrying about it, WIll make you crazy. Try not to do that.
Nikki
Thank you both! I'm not really worrying, just like to get other opinions from people who have been there. This is a great place to get answers and I appreciate them all!
