Question: While MRI results showed white spots or flares on the brain, Spinal tap did not show any bands or whatever indicates MS, the 2 evoke tests were both negative, and clinical testing in the office were all good, a Lymes test was negative, my vision is being affected and my finger joints and right hip are stiff and sore. Could I have Lymes disease? I live in Monmouth County, had cat and large dog. All eye exams prove retina is fine. I do have nastagmus. I have a weird pressure in my head specially around the front of my head and eyes that comes and goes. Lying down is the only way to correct my eyes and the pressure. Bending over is not good, looking left and right I have double vision particularly when driving.

I do live in an area not far from a very high concentration of deer. WHen I had my dog I took him to an area where there were high reeds and grasses. I have see 3 neuro-opthomologists a neurologist that did the spinal tap, a specialist in MS that sent me right back to the neurologist that sent me to him saying he doubted MS but do the spinal tap. I can not find a doctor that would look any further then MS fully depending on the MRI"S I have had. That seems to be as far as they can think past. Guess it is a no brainer and have reasonable proof if they found themselves in court for what ever reason. Not on my part. I can not find any doctor that will address my eye situation, pressure in my head, why the eye situation is asserbated by movement, lifting movement of my head. No one addresses the double vision when I look left or right. Not when I look straight ahead. My family doctor, Internist was the doctor that sent me to a Neurologist saying I could be having TIA's. I have been to a cardiologist recently and have no problems in this area Stress test was fine. Articles recently in the New York times mentioned that there are many people misdiagnosed with MS that really have Lymes Disease. From the time the symptoms with my eyes first started to the present they have gotten worse. It use to happen only on movement such as running or very long walks. Bending over is not good and I never bend backwards or look up a the sky without closing one eye, usually my right. Now it starts every morning a few minutes after getting up. I can see with no problem, it is just the pressure in my head and pressure around the eyes in the frontal lobe area. If I rub my temples at times it relieves some of the pressure. If I message my head it also relieves some pressure. My neck is sore and my fingers each morning I get up. I feel nausea at times each day but that goes away.I never roll over, bend backwards or look up without closing my right eye.

I live in Monmouth County, NJ. Do you know of Physiotherapist you would give me a name of??? I have never heard of a Physiotherapist. What exactly do they do? I trust they went to medical school an are board certified? I also would like a name of a Rheumatologist in this area. I do not want to go to NYC as I have been several times and find those doctors I saw (Columbia Presbyterian Cornell Weil) could not look any further then what the MRI results were and were hell bent to stick with a MS diagnosis. Same thing at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. They did not seem to care about the spinal tap results. I have only had the basic lymes blood test that was negative. As I mentioned before, it is my eyes that are being affected, now stiffness in my fingers upon rising in the morning which goes away after stretching and using. Some fingers are taking on the knobby look but work fine. My vision is my concern. I use to run and power walk long distances. I do non of that now since my vision tends to dim and balance goes off if I look down or up. If I continue any exercise my vision has gone black and balance way off. I must stop what ever I am doing. Same thing can happen if I carry heavy things like groceries up a slight incline walkway or go up steps several times carrying anything with weight. Bending over as gardening from a sitting position turning my head up and down just looking around can bring on the vision distortion as well as dept perception can be off. I am careful on stairs.

What is a rheumatologist suppose to do for my eyes??? I do not need a Physiotherapist as I can move with out any difficulty. I do believe what ever is happening with my vision is coming from my neck, spinal cord area. When I lie down prone my vision is fine. Rolling over caused the feeling of nausea of off balance but the vision is fine and is the way I relieve symptoms I experience when up and doing things. Obviously when i am out or at work I can not lie down but I do sit and am still. Sometimes I put my head down on a desk on my folded arms for a pillow. Some times that works. Right now as I type my vision seems to be like I am seeing through a pin point. Seems cloudy, certainly not clear. My neck is stiff and when I bent it to the left it feels sore and like it stretching. I do go to Chiropractor once a week who is very gentle. Does not do the twisting and cracking as some do. My body is tense even when I am doing nothing.

I have lived with a great deal of stress for many years do to a difficult marriage which came to an end with the husband walking out and filing for divorce. That was concluded in 2009.

I do think an MRI of the cervical spin is needed to see what is going on in the spine and neck? Do you agree??

What are systemic diseases or rheumatolgic diseases and how do they relate to vision? What type of specialist would be able to treat these diseases? Why would my vision be the only thing that is getting progressively worse?

Interesting to know more that a rheumatologist treats then just stiff and painful joints. Our body sure does present interesting challenges. I am going to look up all the conditions you mentioned and then I guess I will track down a rheumatologist/holistic in nature. I am truly tired of the allopathic doctor that can not think out of the box or won't and only relies on tests, especially tests ordered by other doctors seen before their visit by the patient. One does get tired of telling of the same and more symptoms over and over again, especially when the patient is made to feel like they are crazy.

Where can I stay intouch?

Your advice please. When first going to see a Rheumotologist what do I say when asked why I am here. All doctors I have seen all were under the idea I was seeing them for a possible MS diagnosis or to rule out MS. No doctor looked anywhere else especially after reviewing the MRI's and other doctors notes. I will deal with a diagnosis of MS if symptoms are being caused by MS but because of spinal tap results I do not want to just settle for a MS diagnosis if it is something else. When seeing Dr. Cook at UMDNJ, Newark, NJ world known specialist in MS and his response was to have a spinal tap, just the MRI results where not enough to go by. SO I did. It is my vision that is being affected and balance that I attribute to vision problem. Nistagmus is without question. I do have that going on when I look up or left. Right does not seem to be as affected . I am right handed.