Just newly diagnosed with MS based on MRI ; waiting on Lyme Disease results to come back. My only sxs are tingling and numbness in feet, muscle spasms in left leg and intense burning in right thigh ( intermittently ). Has anyone had similar symptoms or known someone with such. I am pending an eye EVOC test.
A diagnosis of MS solely based upon an MRI would not be a good diagnosis. The diagnosis should be made by eliminating possible diseases sing the Revised McDonald Criteria. The test for Lyme Disease should have been part of the elimination process and Lyme should be eliminated long before MS is diagnosed.
Your symptoms can be from a multitude number of causes all of which can mimic MS symptoms and would include Lyme.
Are you on a military base or are you in a private enterprise in Japan? I lived and worked there for many years.
__________________
MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
A diagnosis of MS solely based upon an MRI would not be a good diagnosis. The diagnosis should be made by eliminating possible diseases sing the Revised McDonald Criteria. The test for Lyme Disease should have been part of the elimination process and Lyme should be eliminated long before MS is diagnosed.
Your symptoms can be from a multitude number of causes all of which can mimic MS symptoms and would include Lyme.
Are you on a military base or are you in a private enterprise in Japan? I lived and worked there for many years.
A diagnosis of MS solely based upon an MRI would not be a good diagnosis. The diagnosis should be made by eliminating possible diseases sing the Revised McDonald Criteria. The test for Lyme Disease should have been part of the elimination process and Lyme should be eliminated long before MS is diagnosed.
Your symptoms can be from a multitude number of causes all of which can mimic MS symptoms and would include Lyme.
Are you on a military base or are you in a private enterprise in Japan? I lived and worked there for many years.
Yes we are awaiting Lyme results; the doctor is not sure that is MS; she ants to rule out other things as well. I have been reading a lot about missed diagnosis; some of them taking years to finally being diagnosed with Lyme's. I do have a sister with MS as well. Yes I am on base here.
Since you are on base, you should make sure that the doctor has run the Revised McDonald Criteria to eliminate everything possible. If you are in the military, MS is a career ending disease according to the military manual. It ended my military career. You should have excellent access to qualified neurologists, but as MS is incompatible with the military, it might be difficult to get to see an MS Specialist. You might need to request a consult which the neuro can do by sharing your records with an MS Specialist. My original MS Specialist often consulted with different military doctors long distance.
The Lyme test if it is handled at a regular testing lab may return false positives. A VEP Test should be available at the base hospital.
Please let us know how things go and if you have questions you need answered. There is an MS Association in Japan, but they do not speak English. I translate some things for them. Some of the better Japanese MS Specialists are found in Northern Japan. I do not know any who speak English.
__________________
MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
Last edited by MSJayhawk; 09-28-2012 at 09:36 AM.
Reason: add
Thanks for all your info. I will discuss with my doc. Will keep you posted. I am at the end of my career with almost 22 years in but would like all of this resolved before I retire.
If this is a career ender, I would want to have this handled by the VA post diagnosis and post service because long term you will have better access to any equipment you might need in the future. Medicare is much less friendly than the VA regarding durable medical devices.
__________________
MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
The Following User Says Thank You to MSJayhawk For This Useful Post: texas71 (09-28-2012)
No worries. I wish you the best and I certainly hope that MS is not "in the cards" for you. I look forward to your update- whatever the result! You are not alone!
__________________
MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a characteristic circular skin rash called erythema migrans (EM).
As to the question. MS is worse than Lyme Disease from the stand point that MS has no identified cause or cure. Lyme Disease is known, however, to be caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in North America, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii are the cause of most cases presenting in Europe. Early treatment is effective. Left untreated Lyme disease can cause disabling conditions and becomes more difficult to treat.
Lyme is normally ruled out early in the MS Diagnosis or even before an MS Specialist is consulted because it can be specifically tested.
__________________
MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
The Following User Says Thank You to MSJayhawk For This Useful Post: matrix456 (09-29-2012)
When I was in the hospital before I was diagnosed, the doctors kept telling me I most likely had ms. However, I didn't. I had lyme. My tests in hospital were negative. It wasn't until I got into my llmd and was tested thru igenex that I got my diagnosis of lyme.
The Following User Says Thank You to annalisa9397 For This Useful Post: matrix456 (09-30-2012)
Visual Evoked Potentials- a test which measures how quickly what is seen by the eyes is evaluated by the brain or how the pathways to the brain react from visual stimulus....A completely painess test which involves hooking up electrodes to the scalp while watching a TV type monitor and the doctors read the printout as reaction times.
Visual Evoked Potentials- a test which measures how quickly what is seen by the eyes is evaluated by the brain or how the pathways to the brain react from visual stimulus....A completely painess test which involves hooking up electrodes to the scalp while watching a TV type monitor and the doctors read the printout as reaction times.
The VEP is a non invasive test. They will "glue" electrodes to your scalp and when the test begins you will stare at a screen with one eye covered at a time. You stare at a dot on the screen while a pattern moves in the background.
__________________
MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
FYI, If you were ever stationed in Europe, you need to advise the testing facility so that they can look for the correct antibodies because Lyme disease in Europe and the US are different.
__________________
MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
Welcome.
