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Suggest Treatment For Foot Drop, Dysphagia, Peripheral Neuropathy, Dysesthesia And Severe Fatigue
Question: Hello. I am a 62 year old female. Was an athlete until age 24. Had mono and never really felt well afterward but continued riding horses until last year. Married 40 years, raised two daughters in spite of terrible fatigue and depression due to the fatigue. Last XXXXXXX of 2015 I started experiencing difficulty walking-my feet didn't hit the ground correctly. Currently I have foot drop, ptosis, dysphagia, severe neuropathy in my feet, dysesthesia, stomach pain/nausea, and terrible fatigue. I am getting an upper endoscopy asap and I am seeing a neurologist who is going to test for MS. I also have joint and muscle pain all over. I am currently only taking Lyrica 150mg daily. What other steps could you recommend that I look into? A friend suggested consulting a rheumatologist, infectious disease specialist and immunologist. I don't know what they might be looking for. I am interested to know what you have to say about all of this.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Other neurological conditions should be considered besides MS.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
It is necessary to clarify some aspects of your concerns, by fatigue you mean general fatigue or it is more muscles weakness especially distal ones? ( such muscles of the calf, hands, forearms ).
The fatigue is felt more as the muscles work and improves dramatically with rest or not?
In my opinion, for now, consulting a Neurologist is sufficient, because symptoms you describe are clearly neurological, but besides multiple sclerosis, other conditions should be included in differential diagnosis.
Those conditions include myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy and less probably, but still needed to be included in differential diagnosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
In my opinion, thyroid gland function should be evaluated as well as a possible cause ( low thyroid function ) of fatigue.
I suggest you to discuss with the Neurologist about above mentioned conditions and further tests in achieving a correct diagnosis.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Take care.
Other neurological conditions should be considered besides MS.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
It is necessary to clarify some aspects of your concerns, by fatigue you mean general fatigue or it is more muscles weakness especially distal ones? ( such muscles of the calf, hands, forearms ).
The fatigue is felt more as the muscles work and improves dramatically with rest or not?
In my opinion, for now, consulting a Neurologist is sufficient, because symptoms you describe are clearly neurological, but besides multiple sclerosis, other conditions should be included in differential diagnosis.
Those conditions include myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy and less probably, but still needed to be included in differential diagnosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
In my opinion, thyroid gland function should be evaluated as well as a possible cause ( low thyroid function ) of fatigue.
I suggest you to discuss with the Neurologist about above mentioned conditions and further tests in achieving a correct diagnosis.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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