Joined: 27 Sep 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Dallas, OR USA
MS vs Spinal stenosis Posted: 09-27-08 13:15pm
HI,
I'm a 49 yr old female with lumbar and
cervical sttenosis ranging from mild to
severe (severe only in 1 cervical
forminal). I thought my symptoms were due
to the stemosis. I just completed 3 months
of PT which has helped a lot with pain
management and am continuing in after care
and now swimming. I saw a neurologist this
week who doesn't think my sypmtoms are due
to the stenosis and ordered a brain MRI
with contrast. I'll have results net week.
Spinal cord from previous MRI of spine
showed no leisions.
My dx's range from TMJ, carpel tunnel,
tennis elbow, shoulder bursitis, resltess
leg syndrom, plantar fascitis, depression
(though it si controlled with medication,
exercise and a natural optomistic outlook)
and of course spinal stenosis.
My symptoms are pain around (not in) most
joints, numbess in lower left leg from
knee to outside little toe, from left
elbow to little finger, now sometimes in
the right extremities and occassionally my
face (bridge of nose, cheeks and around
the mouth. I also have very hyperactive
reflexes especially on the left side. I
also have muscle guarding in my back and
neck with occasional headaches. Muscle
pain ranges from 2 to10 depending on what
I've been doing. It can be electric,
burning and sharp. I have many trigger
points and most of the FMS tender pints
(though the pain in those is vairiable
too.) My legs and arms feel heavy most of
the time and I am fatiqued whereas I used
to be high energy.
Last fall and winter I had complete
bladder incontinence several times. I was
doing a lot of horseback riding at the
time, riding hard, so I chalked it up to
that. It's much better now that I ride
less and very leisurely. I still have
urgency and some leakage, but have learned
to lean forward to completely empty my
bladder which helps with that. I have
weakenss in my lower left leg and foot
(confirmed by both the PT and neuro. If I
have a pain flare up or am tired I drag my
left foot slightly. My hands and legs
shake sometimes only slightly and
sometimes it's extreme if I'm really
tired, hurting or the slightest bit
colld. I have no vision problems other
than normal aging. My nerve conduction
test and muscles (she listened with a
needle) were fine.
The neuro said the facial numbness cannot
be caused by stenosis and was concerned
about my hyper reflexes. I've read on
stenosis forums that both of these are
common symptoms for those dx'd with it so
am confused as to why the neuro said not
related.
We did discuss the possiblity of fibro and
maybe scarring on the brain from times
when I've been knocked out (of course the
MRI can tell us that.) Needless to say I
am a little freaked out, especially as I
thought we had ruled MS out a couple of
months ago.
Can symptoms like intermittent facial
numbness,varying pain and weakness be
symptomatic of MS? I thought that symptoms
were more constant and progressive?
Thanks for any imput.
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zigemyster
Moderator
Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 353 Location: ,
Thanks: 40
Thanked:19
Posted: 09-27-08 13:58pm
Don't freak. It is good that you will
have a brain MRI next week. Will it be
with and without contract? The symptoms
that you are describing can be consistent
with MS however there are a few disease
that mimic MS and visa-versa. I have had
these symptoms on and off for 8 years and
I am able to live a full, productive life
with my MS.
If it turns out that you do have MS, there
is a great support system within the MS
community. You also mention Fibro, that's
odd because I was dx'd with Fibro not too
long after MS was given. I actually cured
my Fibro this year by eating foods that do
not cause inflammation & Fibo is an
inflammatory disease and inflammation
generally begins in the digestive tract
and then migrates to the muscles, cells,
etc...google his name, Asa Andrew he's
wearing blue with a green apple (book).
You state that "I thought that symtpoms
were more constant and progressive". MS
is a tricky disease. We in the MS
community call it MonSter. It shows its
ugly head when it wants however there are
things that one can do to tame it or even
put it to sleep for a while. There are
four types of MS. (short version)
RRMS (Relapsing Remitting MS). This is
the most common, flares can happen which
brings back problems like a heavy leg,
stays for a bit and then leaves.
PPMS (Primary Progressive MS). This is
where the disease itself progessively gets
worse over time.
SPMS (Secondar Progressive MS). Some RRMS
patients will become SPMS after 20 plus
years. Other patients never leave RRMS
status.
Benign MS: A person has MS but it really
causes very little or no disruption in the
persons life.
If you google MS you would be able to find
out all kinds of information regarding
this disease along with other disease that
mimic such.
I have six lesions on my brain and that
was 8 years ago and the MRI that I had
last year showed no more (initially I had
one every 6 months and then every year
thereafter...including my spine). Spinal
lesions cause more disability, like loss
of walking, etc... So I am thankful that
mine are in my noggin.
MS: Unpredictable Disease of the Central
Nervous System.
I always loved being spontaneous...however
this is not what I meant.
Good luck and keep us posted. If you want
to you can PM (private message) me.
Did you ever serve in the military? I
have a reason for this question...
~Zig
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LaurenH
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Sep 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Dallas, OR USA
Zig Posted: 09-27-08 15:03pm
HI Zig,
I don't now how to PM on this site. Thanks
for your feedback... I really apprciate
it. I've been doing some research on MS
and have found that my symptoms seem to
match not only MS but stenosis (which I
know I have) and other dzs. My neuro sent
me for a brain MRI with contrast
immediately after her exam last Thursday,
so we are just waiting for the results.
To answer your ?, no I've never served in
the military. I assume your wondering
about a connection between MS and some
exposure?
Thanks again. Let me know how to PM and
I'd be happy to.
Lauren
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zigemyster
Moderator
Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 353 Location: ,
Thanks: 40
Thanked:19
Posted: 09-27-08 19:29pm
I got you PM and responded.
I hope your results are negative for MS
however if it is there are great and
wonderful support, resources and meds just
for MS.
Yes there is a connection with military
personnel being stricken with
MS...dog-gone, one of those injections
turned on an inactive gene, just so
happens I had that that inactive gene and
would have stayed inactive had I not gone
active duty. I cant change the past
however I can change my future, I'm in the
drivers seat.