need some advice

hello everyone, I havent posted here in sometime, because nuero says its not ms, rather migraines and rls.. but i still think something else is going on.. here are my symptoms.... constant twitching in left leg, i cant see the twitches only feel them and its so annoying.. i get a stange sensation around my ankle area when touched, like a numbing feeling but i still have sensation.. I get a static vibrating feeling in both legs and wierd sensation in my head like i have chills in my head..I started going to nuero in the beginning of this yr because I had low back pain that radiated down right leg.. and constant lightheadedness like motion sickness without the motion... doc did brain mri and only thing that showed was a small pineal cyst which he said is quite common.. i had emg and that was normal.. bloodwork was fine.. nuero exam was normal.. at that time i was get tingling in arms and hands.. stange burning sensation in right leg.. constant fatigue and trouble sleeping at nite.. headaches which i thought were sinus allergy problems... the lightheadedness has since gone away... too make a long story short.. i sought second opion with a differnt nureo because first one said i was fine and all my symptoms should go away on their own.. new nuero said something was goin on with me but when I mentiond ms.. he said although i do have some symptoms it wasnt that because tests were normal.... Oh i also have this problem with my hands and feet getting so cold they turn white and then red when feeling comes back.. doc says its called raynaurds syndrome.. and he doesnt think its related to any of my other symtoms.. he says all my problems are because i have migraines and most likely rls.. he put me on amitriptyline which didnt help.. so now i have imitrex which made me feel worse.. and he gave me sinemet for the rls, which didnt help my legs either.. anyway everyday i feel weak on my left side and constantly drop things and loose my balance alot.. i seem to have insomnia now and my legs cramp up at nite and i get that twitching feeling in them and somedays i just ache in my arms and legs,... i do get headaches and take mounds of allergy meds and advil.. nothing really helps but the allergy meds and advil work better then the perscribtions doc gave me for my migraines.. so i dont know what to do.. do i try and get him to retest me or do other test on me.. or do i just except what he said that its migraines and rls?? sorry so long and maybe doesnt make sence.. im just so tired of not feeling well and taking medicine that doesnt help. doc also said the rls is hereditary but noone in family has it.. he said it can be a symtom of another disease but he doenst feel thats the case for me... I just think that there is a link between all my symptoms. He says migraines can cause all sorts of problems in the body,, but why arent i responding to the meds?? I go back to see him in 2 months any advice on what i should do?? thanks
Tiffany

People are going to shoot me for this, but my earnest advice is GO TO A GOOD CHIROPRACTOR.

I warn you that it is difficult to find a good one! It can be a crap shoot. If the first one is just interested in giving you "therapy" (the 5-10 minute sessions with tens machines are great "feel good" extras, but your system won't truly feel the benefit without 30-60 minutes of stimulation); or if they just want to set you up on a schedule of regular visits, he or she is just not worth your time for a second visit because they only want your money. They should be able to give you substantial relief in the first visit.

You HAVE to get x-rays with a new chiropractor because they all have to SEE the problem, but a GOOD chiropractor has "the touch" and they can FEEL the problem. S/He will do some neurological tests that tell them where you're "favoring" and what nerves or muscles might be involved. Look for someone who gets a "far away" look in their eyes when they manipulate you spine during the exam... I worked in a chiropractic college for almost five years and got weekly care from many different people, students AND instructors. Sometimes the students were better! And some were just terrible (the "stack 'em and crack 'em" type are the worst. And some are just too fruity and far out.) I had a GREAT little guy who worked on my MS with me and it actually improved things, but then he graduated and moved away...

People think of chiropractic as just a matter of shifting the bones in your back to relieve stressed muscles. TOO SIMPLISTIC! Chiropractic is more a study of the spinal cord and how the nerves are affected by bones and muscles than the other way around. I'd say chiropractic treats the nervous system on a more practical level than the neurologists... That is JUST MY OPINION, though!!

[Ask about "innate" and Dr. Palmer to see if they ignored their philosophy and only paid attention in the seminars about building a practice and getting rich.]

Your other option would be to find a good massage therapist -- someone who can work with nerves pinched by muscles -- press the area in the hollow above your collarbone, another just in front of your armpit -- these areas can have muscular infringement on nerves that make you feel like you have carpal tunnel or tennis elbow. A deep tissue massage therapist can access the iliopsoas deep in your pelvis to relieve any problems you might have with walking...

Cleacat,

Other than a brain MRI, did your neuro do any other testing?C-spine or thoracic MR?.Lumbar puncture?Theres even evoked potentals.

Keep a journal,this helps you and the neuro,track your symptoms,when they appear and how long they last.

A chiro isn't a bad idea as long as its a good one.

Keep persistant and let your neuro know what works and what doesn't

Thanks for the advice, I have thought about the chiro before, especially when my lower back and right hip really hurt... I just havent had time to search for a good one in my area...
As far as tests go my nuero said since the brain mri was normal and my evaluation with him and previous nuero was normal, then he sees no reason to do further testing because he said he is sure they would all be normal too.. He said he is positive there is nothing seriously wrong with me.. he really believes every symptom i have is from migraines, says migraines can affect your whole body! But I tried to tell him my headaches are only seasonal and change with the weather.. He said I shouldnt worry about every little ache and pain because that is normal for everyone as we age.. (i'm 35) guess im really gonna be a mess in another 10yrs! Since this is the second opinion I dint want to seem like a hypo and go see another one, plus its so diffecult with the insurance companies these days...I have another appt with him the end of nov. so since im not responding to any meds hes given me so far maybe i can convince him to do at least one more test..
Tiffany

Tiffany,

My brain MRI was normal at first.One brain lesion now.My thoracic and c-spine have the lesions.My reflexs went from normal to hyper to non responsive now.

It wasn't until my 3rd neuro before I had a neuro take me serious and look out of the norm.

You know your body best,if you feel that your migrains are not the sourse continue to get an explanation.

Toni

Best to get a 3rd opionion if your insurance will let you. My first tried to tell me it was an "aura" with a migraine, which some people may have. But I don't think all my symptoms were "auras". 2nd neuro thought it was sarcoidosis and now is referring me to my 3rd which is at the MS Center of Atlanta. Maybe I am heading toward MS now? Don't know. But I've been looking for an answer for 1 1/2 years! Getting fed up with all of them!! Good luck!
Peg

Tiffany, I would get a 3rd opinion. I'm seeing my 3rd tomorrow because the first two would not take me seriously. Don't worry about what they think. Someone on these boards has said we have to be our own advocate. I'm finding that to be true. Hope you get some help!
Peggy

Sorry for two posts! I'm having my mental probs this morning! Just ignore me and let me go get a cup of coffee and maybe I'll wake up!!