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What Causes Severe Pain In Face And Balance Issues When Diagnosed With MS?
Question: Hello,
2014 April my husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This was a shock as I myself have multiple sclerosis.
He started if with extreme bad pains in his face which is on and off and very unbearable, then his legs started to play up in which now has resulted into him using a cane and not able to work. He is currently on gilyena, now his neurologist is thinking that this is no multiple sclerosis as it doesn't make sense. When he walks he is very off balance almost seems he's had too much to drink. His mri showed a few lesions towards the back of the brain but the diagnosis did not seem like it was certain. We are now waiting for his case to be looked at again as he is not getting any better. Just wondering what are the common things that can mimic ms.
2014 April my husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This was a shock as I myself have multiple sclerosis.
He started if with extreme bad pains in his face which is on and off and very unbearable, then his legs started to play up in which now has resulted into him using a cane and not able to work. He is currently on gilyena, now his neurologist is thinking that this is no multiple sclerosis as it doesn't make sense. When he walks he is very off balance almost seems he's had too much to drink. His mri showed a few lesions towards the back of the brain but the diagnosis did not seem like it was certain. We are now waiting for his case to be looked at again as he is not getting any better. Just wondering what are the common things that can mimic ms.
Brief Answer:
Autoimmune/Neoplastic/Vascular/Metabolic/Neurodegenerative/Infectious.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I must say that you have raised an important clinical question here. From your description, I can assume that the symptoms of your husband are progressive, unlike the common Relapsing-remitting variety of MS.
Talking about the mimics of MS, there is a long list-nearly 100 etiologies can behave like progressive MS. Broadly, autoimmune conditions like connective tissue disorders (SLE, Sarcoidosis, PAN and many others), vascular conditions (small vessel vasculitis, CADASIL and others), neurodegenerative(like leukodystrophies), chronic infections (like HIV), neoplastic and paraneoplastic, mitochondrial and metabolic diseases-can mimic MS.
It depends on a meticulous general and systemic examination along with the MRI picture to narrow down the list of possible etiologies and evaluate those few among this long list.
Hope this helps.If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Autoimmune/Neoplastic/Vascular/Metabolic/Neurodegenerative/Infectious.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I must say that you have raised an important clinical question here. From your description, I can assume that the symptoms of your husband are progressive, unlike the common Relapsing-remitting variety of MS.
Talking about the mimics of MS, there is a long list-nearly 100 etiologies can behave like progressive MS. Broadly, autoimmune conditions like connective tissue disorders (SLE, Sarcoidosis, PAN and many others), vascular conditions (small vessel vasculitis, CADASIL and others), neurodegenerative(like leukodystrophies), chronic infections (like HIV), neoplastic and paraneoplastic, mitochondrial and metabolic diseases-can mimic MS.
It depends on a meticulous general and systemic examination along with the MRI picture to narrow down the list of possible etiologies and evaluate those few among this long list.
Hope this helps.If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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