Think I finally got a diagnosis! - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Renee016 · 08-01-2003, 06:19 PM

Hi all. I went to see a spine specialist in Manhatten on Wednesday. Diagnosis: Degenerative Disc Disease. I have it in my lumbar spine. It causes back pain, weakness in the legs, sciatica-type pain in buttocks and down leg to ankle. As far as my dizzy spells go, he believes its cervicogenic vertigo due to my recent neck surgery, which has yet to completely heal.

So it looks like I didn't have MS after all. I guess I'll be on the back board from now on. To all of you who have symptoms mainly from the waist down, it is something to look into.

Thanks for all your advice and good luck to you all.

Wishing everyone good health.
Renee

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1982 Fusion surgery for scoliosis with stainless steel Harrington Rod (T5 - L3) using pelvic bone for grafting
1999 Neck problems began
2001 Cervical Kyphosis
2002 Diagnosed with Epstein-Barr (level was 7+) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
2003 3 Herniated Cervical Discs - C4 thru C7. One disc (C5-6) pressing on the spinal cord (no nerve root compression) causing leg weakness, tingling, burning and numbness - diagnosed with myelopathy and ACDF recommended.
2/24/03 One-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy with donor bone and titanium plate (C5-6)
Post 2/03 - Symptoms returned and worsening. Weakness in my legs is like walking against a 50 mph wind - pain in lower back and all the way down my right leg to the ankle - vertigo, muscle spasms in trunk and legs
7/03 MRI of lower back just showed some mild DDD
7/03 EEG, BAERS and MRI of brain all normal

harley · 08-01-2003, 08:36 PM

Hi Renee,
I have all your symptoms and I have Lyme Disease.
You should listen to Ticker and see a LLMD.
How long have you been sick????
I've had lyme Disease for 2 years.
I also have 2 degenerative discs I think T4 and T5 are damaged.
I was also told probable Ms,Lupus,RA,Fibromyalgia,CFS.
Took me 10 months to get diagnosed and now I have so much damaged I'm in a wheelchair.
My symptoms are mainly left sided from my neck to my numb toes but it moves around to my right knee.
My hip bone makes poppimg noises when I move it.

Renee016 · 08-03-2003, 07:15 PM

Harley, my hip makes popping noises too. I am still thinking about seeing a Lyme doctor to rule it out. I have a lot of muscle pain, which I don't understand how can be caused by DDD. I get pulling in my thigh, on the inside. I also get that same pulling feeling at the back of my knees and in my foot.

Another weird thing I've had now for three weeks is a very tender painful spot on the side of my left foot. It does not hurt unless a bang it or accidentally brush it across something. Sometimes I touch it to see if its still there and when I find it, the pain is excruciating - like electrical. There is no bruise or redness or mark of any kind and it does not hurt without contact.

I am still not convinced this is all disc disease. Right now it is the only explaination I've got, though.

Thanks for the advice - I'll let you all know how it goes.

Renee