Help need some advice...is is MS? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

searchout · 12-04-2008, 01:13 PM

HI, I will try and give you guys a brief description of whats been going on...
About 10 years ago had first attack:
I had strong numbness in the base of my spine and lower back
This wore off but never got totally better.

Over the years I have had really bad fatigue, problems with numbness, visual problems...

I now have constant tingling in the bottom of my back which gets worse when I move my nexk, plus I have had some really bad attacks of vertigo...so bad that I couldn't move or see straight, the bad attacks seem to wear off but I now have dizziness a lot.

I have had lots of MRI scans, the last one I had showed 2 small white spots...all my other tests came back normal (i.e lumber punch, blood tests) etc

My dr is saying it is definitely not MS but I am not so sure, my last clinical examination showed a slight problem with my reflexes in my bad leg but when I saw him today that has seemed to resolved.
Deep down I feel like I have MS and I want to start some treatment as I feel like it is getting worse but he has reassured me so many times it is not MS, he reckons there would be more signs by now after 10 years...what do you all think?

MSJayhawk · 12-04-2008, 01:40 PM

I would think that a neurologist would give you a definitive diagnosis. MS proceeds at different rates depending on the person. I would seek out a doctor who might better assist you in a planned offensive. When your doctor told you it was not MS, then the doctor should have given you his reasons or at least what he believed you might have. Not knowing is the most difficult part of our fight- at least for me it was. Once I knew I had MS, my problems continued, but I knew to what to attribute most of them.

Check with the MS Society in the UK. I visited their website before and they seemed fairly well organized.

libybil · 12-04-2008, 06:04 PM

welcome,
sorry to hear of the difficuty with getting it diagnosed, whatever it is! i totallly agree with jayhawk, that you really do need a good neurologist that knows ms! that can be hard to find, since i saw one who mainly dealt with depression, another who mainly dealt with sleep problems! who knew there's that much difference in neurology drs?? anyway, best of luck with this whole thing, and remember, we're all right here for you!
LibbY!

searchout · 12-05-2008, 04:02 AM

Thanks Lib, Its like I want to get a diagnosis which means things have to get worse but I don't want a diagnosis either because that means things have got worse.

I really do appreciate the support, and I am glad I have found these boards

angeles0209 · 12-05-2008, 07:22 AM

Hello

Take one day at a time. And don't worry about the what IF'S. Hope it is not MS. But, then what is it that you have. It took some years for me to be diagnosed. Symptoms started in 1999 and gradually got worst. Saw about 6 doctors and E.R visits before I was diagnosed with MS in late 2002 and I had no idea what the heck MS was. Now in Dec 2008 I feel that I am still in denial. My illness has cost me my marriage, husband left back in feb 2007. I am sitting in my foreclosure home waiting to be evicted, just lost my job in October of this year. And waiting to hear about state disability. Stress in my life is overwhelming but I try to keep calm and yes I cry every now and then. I am sick of being sick. My advise to you is you know your body more than any doctor or specialist out there. And do what you have to do to try to make yourself feel better!

Angeles