Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
Hi everyone. Thanks to this site for allowing me to be a participant on this forum.
Two years ago I suffered from some serious symptoms of extreme dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, and concentration issues where at times I would literally lose up to a half hour of a day not remembering what happened during that time but seeing evidence from my computer that I had done work.
I was first diagnosed with Meniere's disease due to excessive fluid in my ears, yet months of testing proved little to conclude this for sure. I then underwent an MRI with a rather impatient neurologist who couldn't find anything wrong in that area and therefore concluded that I must be experiencing psychological problems.
Months passed and a terrible pain in my lower back plagued for for 4 days before I finally went to the hospital... who only gave me pain medication and suggested I go and see my primary physician who later ordered MRI's for my lower back which revealed three ruptured and herniated discs. Another doctor performed an epidural which did very little for me and the pain ensued along with serious weakness in my left leg along with occasional new symptoms where my hands and arms would tremble, sometimes making it impossible for me to pick up objects, even a remote control.
I finally decided to change primary care and seek better professional help. I did find a very good doctor after going through 2 others. This new physician right away performed tests that revealed that my testosterone levels were severely low (81 to 60) where they should be in the 400's. He prescribed Androgel which brought my levels temporarily to the appropriate level but I continued to have worse back pain and pain all throughout my body. The weakness in my left leg continued and my tremors would come and go more frequently as time went by.
The ruptured discs were a mystery since I had no physical injury that could have caused such damage.
Two weeks ago I woke up with horrible back pains again but this time totally unable to move my left leg due to a combination of pain and just not being able to physically move it. I concentrated for almost an hour before I was able to finally move my leg, yet when I did I felt a rush of cold swell up around my lower back area and my body went into an uncontrollable shake. My teeth chattered, my entire body shook as if I were having serious shivers though I wasn't cold at all, in fact it was a rather warm day. After some time I finally was able to get my cell phone which was on the bed and call my wife to come home.
I decided to make an appointment to see my primary who sent me to the E.R. where I spent several hours shaking, sweating for no reason profusely, and feeling like a personal heater though my temperature never reached above 99.6 degrees. The hospital performed blood tests and an MRI of my back and found that my blood work was normal but that I had definite continued wear along my spinal discs that were in danger of closing in around my spinal cord.
The doctor at the hospital, however, was unable to explain my shivers and shaking and was concerned that I may have a viral infection of some kind. I was sent home where I went to my Primary the week after.
My primary doctor mentioned that in his opinion I would definitely have to get back surgery due to the danger of paralysis and felt I may have MS which would explain my continued shakes.
Today I continue to suffer from shakes or rather tremors in my arms and my teeth continue to rattle subtlety. I also have a problem focusing on things at times and feel my eyes actually move so that I have double vision and the only remedy is to close my eyes for several minutes which most of the time brings my vision back. I also have been stuttering and I fear my condition is just getting worse.
I am due for a Head MRI and am scheduled to see a back surgeon in June. I'm obviously concerned that they will find that I have MS but at the same time hope they do find something since it is simply frustrating going through life feeling like I'm some unknown anomaly that no one can treat. I want all this to end or I want to have a proper diagnosis so I can get the latest treatments.
I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms and if so how you got through it and what tests actually revealed your diagnosis.
Thank you for your time.
CJ
Two years ago I suffered from some serious symptoms of extreme dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, and concentration issues where at times I would literally lose up to a half hour of a day not remembering what happened during that time but seeing evidence from my computer that I had done work.
I was first diagnosed with Meniere's disease due to excessive fluid in my ears, yet months of testing proved little to conclude this for sure. I then underwent an MRI with a rather impatient neurologist who couldn't find anything wrong in that area and therefore concluded that I must be experiencing psychological problems.
Months passed and a terrible pain in my lower back plagued for for 4 days before I finally went to the hospital... who only gave me pain medication and suggested I go and see my primary physician who later ordered MRI's for my lower back which revealed three ruptured and herniated discs. Another doctor performed an epidural which did very little for me and the pain ensued along with serious weakness in my left leg along with occasional new symptoms where my hands and arms would tremble, sometimes making it impossible for me to pick up objects, even a remote control.
I finally decided to change primary care and seek better professional help. I did find a very good doctor after going through 2 others. This new physician right away performed tests that revealed that my testosterone levels were severely low (81 to 60) where they should be in the 400's. He prescribed Androgel which brought my levels temporarily to the appropriate level but I continued to have worse back pain and pain all throughout my body. The weakness in my left leg continued and my tremors would come and go more frequently as time went by.
The ruptured discs were a mystery since I had no physical injury that could have caused such damage.
Two weeks ago I woke up with horrible back pains again but this time totally unable to move my left leg due to a combination of pain and just not being able to physically move it. I concentrated for almost an hour before I was able to finally move my leg, yet when I did I felt a rush of cold swell up around my lower back area and my body went into an uncontrollable shake. My teeth chattered, my entire body shook as if I were having serious shivers though I wasn't cold at all, in fact it was a rather warm day. After some time I finally was able to get my cell phone which was on the bed and call my wife to come home.
I decided to make an appointment to see my primary who sent me to the E.R. where I spent several hours shaking, sweating for no reason profusely, and feeling like a personal heater though my temperature never reached above 99.6 degrees. The hospital performed blood tests and an MRI of my back and found that my blood work was normal but that I had definite continued wear along my spinal discs that were in danger of closing in around my spinal cord.
The doctor at the hospital, however, was unable to explain my shivers and shaking and was concerned that I may have a viral infection of some kind. I was sent home where I went to my Primary the week after.
My primary doctor mentioned that in his opinion I would definitely have to get back surgery due to the danger of paralysis and felt I may have MS which would explain my continued shakes.
Today I continue to suffer from shakes or rather tremors in my arms and my teeth continue to rattle subtlety. I also have a problem focusing on things at times and feel my eyes actually move so that I have double vision and the only remedy is to close my eyes for several minutes which most of the time brings my vision back. I also have been stuttering and I fear my condition is just getting worse.
I am due for a Head MRI and am scheduled to see a back surgeon in June. I'm obviously concerned that they will find that I have MS but at the same time hope they do find something since it is simply frustrating going through life feeling like I'm some unknown anomaly that no one can treat. I want all this to end or I want to have a proper diagnosis so I can get the latest treatments.
I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms and if so how you got through it and what tests actually revealed your diagnosis.
Thank you for your time.
CJ
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I have been here before, a long long time ago and now I am back.Forgive me for not just saying what I want to say,even under a triple dose of antidepressants it is still raw and seeping and I am hesitant at revealing it as at least under the bandages around my heart I don,t have to look at how raw and wounded.My child was cleaved from my heart by his own actions. my child of ten,turning eleven...
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I gave my 2 week notice last Friday 13th. Now to join you fine people in a life of leisure and nothing else to do but to look out for myself....is it just me or does that sound pretty boring? My goal was to live to retire and I guess having to take early retirement because of health reasons wasn't exactly the way I had planned things. I just can't stay in that building that is reeking mildew...
Later, a Spinal tap was done.....it proved the MS was there according to the 3rd opinion I got. Wasn't setteling for 1 opinion, 2 bummed me out...figured I would go 3 outta 5 (haaa-heeee)...sigh~~~
Talk to us about a Spinal Tap BEFORE it's done....very important infi to know before procedure is done....
Godspeed2007777
aka-----> "Sheila"
just know its an emotional rooledrcoaster. get your family envolved. they have some cool sites for kidd and teens too. advice about docs is if like him don't leave but if you feel he's not doing or explaining enough i would move to another.
there is a whole aray of ideas and advice here, take what fits you and leave the rest. good luck to you and stay strong if not in body, then in mind..
i've been working on a dxs for a year now. sigh. but lots of luck to you. be armed with all theinfo.
I had tremors in my legs and arms before. They are terribly uncomfortalble! And embarrising! Yes, that is an MS symptom. You can find more MS symptoms on websites such as www.webmd.com (go to health center, click on Multiple Sclerosis, then to select a chapter, click on Symptoms.
I'm sorry you are going thur such a hard time! I hope you get some answers soon. I recommend you do the MRI on your brain. That way they can see if you have lesions in your brain. Also, don't just settle on a doctor.....LOOK FOR A GOOD ONE! If you do have MS, you are going to be with that doctor for a LONG time! So, make sure it's actually someone you look forward to seeing! (If you live around Georgia, I recommend Dr. Huges....she's an awesome neuroligist! Her sister has MS and she really cares about her patients!!!
Thanks again.