What is going on? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Gyrlwriter · 01-06-2008, 02:46 AM

I spent two days in the hospital...left leg was numb for a couple of days, then face and arm (both on left side went numb). went to doctor who was going to discharge me from ER with a 'complicated migraine' until he saw my ct scan...it showed some 'brain lesions'. They thought I may have stroked and admitted me to the hospital.

I had an MRI - it was not 'pristine' - according to the doc. and a spinal tap and numerous - over 20 - vials of blood were taken.

I passed all of the coordination and reflex tests - except for one. Doc beat the crap out of my arm with a mallete and nothing happened. He muttered 'your reflexes seem to come and go'. Doctor also kept telling me to relax my legs during one test - they were relaxed!

I was discharged after two days with nothing definite told to me but I have a VEP test on Monday.

The numbness has happened from time to time over the last few years - just not so much of my body at once! I have pain/soreness/pressure behind my eyes sometimes. I am constantly constipated, but these are not MS symptoms, are they?

I have bad migraines - could these have caused the brain lesions?

Any one with MS - they are trying to rule it out (doc says he doesn't think I have it)- who can give me some insight?

alex74 · 01-06-2008, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gyrlwriter

The numbness has happened from time to time over the last few years - just not so much of my body at once! I have pain/soreness/pressure behind my eyes sometimes. I am constantly constipated, but these are not MS symptoms, are they?

I have bad migraines - could these have caused the brain lesions?

Any one with MS - they are trying to rule it out (doc says he doesn't think I have it)- who can give me some insight?

Dear Gyrlwriter,

I am a Newbie so I will know less than some of this page veterans.

However, I dont think lesions can be caused by migraines (the migraines are rather a symptom than a disease) and in your story, as far as I know, only the numbness and the reflexes issues sound MS-like. I dont think constipation is a common symptom of MS either.

The lumbar puncture and the VEP will probably help your doctors see more clearly. i wish you good luck and keep us posted.

cheers

Alex

Sue56 · 01-06-2008, 07:00 AM

I, too, am a newbie to this site. My Neurologist told me that any constipation problems i was having would not be caused by my MS. Weakness in your muscles that comes and goes sounds like it could be MS ... the problem with MS is that many of the things going on in the body resembles other diseases. And with remitting/relapsing, something happens, goes away, something else happens, seemingly unrelated, goes away ... Frustrating for those of us who have gone through and probably for the docs treating us.

In other words, the best thing to do is get the tests and move on from there. Good luck and please keep us informed!
Sue

MSNik · 01-06-2008, 07:47 AM

HI. Constipation CAN be an MS symtom along with both urination frequency and inability to urinate.....it can go either way.

Lesions can be caused by migranes. Lesions, themselves are scar tissue. Caused by migranes (which might or might not be MS related), brain trauma, MS and other infections of the brain. They show up in different places on the brain, shaped differently and usually a good Neuro can tell the difference between MS lesions and other lesions.

The eye pain you describe should be figured out with a VEP. Its a simple test, where you watch a TV screen while hooked up to electrodes. The only down side is you will get yucky stuff in your hair, as they have to use a gel to attach the electrodes to your head...there is absolutely NO pain involved and it takes only a few minutes to do this test... Optical Neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve can cause the pain which you are describing and it can come and go randomly...this is not always caused by MS, but is a classic MS symtom.

Wishing you well..please keep us posted on what happens. And follow up FOR SURE with a good neuro. Also, keep copies of all films (MRIs especially), reports and test results for future use.

Snoopy61 · 01-06-2008, 08:14 AM

MS can cause bowel problems for many.

Your doctor is certainly looking at MS as a possibility. And, unfortunately the symptoms your describing "could" be attributed to MS but there are many things that can "look like" MS but ends up not being MS.

The diagnosis of MS is about exclusion - ruling out other possibilities. At this time there is no single test that will give a definite diagnosis. Many, if not most doctors follow the "McDonald Criteria" when diagnosising MS. Some neurologists follow it very strictly and others use "parts" of it. I believe it depends on the neuros experience with MS.

I am wondering: As part of the MRIs did they do a cervical spine MRI? If not and depending on how your other tests come out you might ask for one.

MS is a disease of the Central Nervous system (CNS) which includes the Optic Nerve, Brain and Spine. Lesions can and do show up in one or more of those areas.

Yes, migraines do cause lesions but my understanding - migraine lesions are different in appearance than MS lesions.