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Suggest Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis
Question: I have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on several occasions. It started with loss of leg function back in 1968. Than again in 1970, and again in 1985. I have had ups and downs since then. Right at this moment I am having difficulty with my legs again. I also have diabetes, but pretty well controlled. I have had brain scans, which do not prove my condition. Is that normal, or is it possible to have ms without proving it with mri's? I don't know where to turn with this condition. I am also very fatigued at times. I do some exercise at Silver Sneakers two to three times a week. I see no improvement. It doesn't seem to hurt or help. I am 74 years of age, and would like to stay on my feet. I have also had spells of double vision, lasting short periods of time, up to five minutes. My mother had the same condition and was diagnosed with ms, also. She also had no proof with a brain scan, but symptoms were the same. She went from walker to wheel chair in her 80's. She, too, was a fighter. She eventually died of cancer at age 84.
All my labs are normal as of three weeks ago. I do not have a recent mri of brain,
All my labs are normal as of three weeks ago. I do not have a recent mri of brain,
Brief Answer:
Possibly
Detailed Answer:
most of the disability from multiple sclerosis happens in the cervical spine, that is the most important test. there are variants of ms that do not have brain lesions. as far as the double vision, demyelination lesions usually last on average 2 weeks before resolving. if there were previous ms lesions that caused an event of two weeks then transient weakening could cause smaller more limited episodes but usually not 5 minutes in duration. those episodes are more likely related to the eye itself especially if the brain MRI is normal. as far as the fatigue and walking I can help a little more if you answer the following questions
-do have anemia, thyroid, or kidney/liver problems
-is the fatigue an energy problem or a muscle/limb sensation fatigue
-do you have balance problems
-do you have muscle pain
-other than the gym how active are you
-what is your weight
-do you wear glasses
have you been to physical therapy
hope this helps
Possibly
Detailed Answer:
most of the disability from multiple sclerosis happens in the cervical spine, that is the most important test. there are variants of ms that do not have brain lesions. as far as the double vision, demyelination lesions usually last on average 2 weeks before resolving. if there were previous ms lesions that caused an event of two weeks then transient weakening could cause smaller more limited episodes but usually not 5 minutes in duration. those episodes are more likely related to the eye itself especially if the brain MRI is normal. as far as the fatigue and walking I can help a little more if you answer the following questions
-do have anemia, thyroid, or kidney/liver problems
-is the fatigue an energy problem or a muscle/limb sensation fatigue
-do you have balance problems
-do you have muscle pain
-other than the gym how active are you
-what is your weight
-do you wear glasses
have you been to physical therapy
hope this helps
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you. In answer to your questions. I have hypothyroidisn. The test results revealed a low normal. Dr did increase my thyroid medication from 50 mcg to 75 mcg.
The fatigue is mostly limb and muscle problems. My legs and left arm feel very heavy. I have numbness and weakness in my left hand.
I do have some balance problems and have fallen, but most often I can catch myself.
I do have some joint pain. However, had back surgery in Feb this year, and a lot of that pain has gone. I have had both knees replaced in XXXXXXX and september of 2012. Still have some joint pain and stiffness in right knee.
Besides the gym, I do all of my own cooking, cleaning etc. That about does me in.
My weight is 188, and I'm 5'2''. I am losing weight, however, by trying to eat the right foods and keeping me sugar intake to 26 grams per day. I have lost 12# in about a months time.
I do wear glasses, and have had catarect surgery on bith eyes. I also have the beginning stages of macular degeneration, worse in left eye.
I have had physical therapy for several weeks following back surgery . The therapist concentrated on both legs, as I was having ongoing problems with them. Both before and after surgery. I do have problems with excessive heat and cold.
I hope this helps. Thank you
The fatigue is mostly limb and muscle problems. My legs and left arm feel very heavy. I have numbness and weakness in my left hand.
I do have some balance problems and have fallen, but most often I can catch myself.
I do have some joint pain. However, had back surgery in Feb this year, and a lot of that pain has gone. I have had both knees replaced in XXXXXXX and september of 2012. Still have some joint pain and stiffness in right knee.
Besides the gym, I do all of my own cooking, cleaning etc. That about does me in.
My weight is 188, and I'm 5'2''. I am losing weight, however, by trying to eat the right foods and keeping me sugar intake to 26 grams per day. I have lost 12# in about a months time.
I do wear glasses, and have had catarect surgery on bith eyes. I also have the beginning stages of macular degeneration, worse in left eye.
I have had physical therapy for several weeks following back surgery . The therapist concentrated on both legs, as I was having ongoing problems with them. Both before and after surgery. I do have problems with excessive heat and cold.
I hope this helps. Thank you
I do have a couple of other problems. One is shortness of breath on exertion, and a nagging cough. My chest xray showed no spots on my lungs, and they were bascially clear. I sometimes have trouble swallowing. A swallow test was done, and there were no restrictions that would cause the problem. Hope this helps. I am a mdical assistant, and sometimes putting all of this in perspective, and considering the years I have dealt with this, anything new like the coughing and shortness of breath raises even more suspicions. I also have a leakage problem. I don't realize I need to go until it is too late. Just one more aggregvation. Once again, thank you for your help, and your patience.
One more thing. I was 30 years of age when I was first diagnosed. Thanks again.
One more thing. I was 30 years of age when I was first diagnosed. Thanks again.
Brief Answer:
The fatigue is likely multifactorial
Detailed Answer:
as I suspected there are many things contributing to the fatigue. every one of those things you mentioned is likely contributing. even though none of them are extremely abnormal, collectively they can cause problems. you should check on your MRI cervical spine for a lesion. multiple sclerosis quiets as you get older but the disability gets worse. when you were younger uour body could compensate well for the nerve damage but as we age so do our nerves and the compensation also fails. if your MRI cervical spine does not show any lesions you should look for other causes such as nerve root compression. if you recently had back surgery uou probably have the same degenerative disease in your neck. pinched nerves in the elbow/wrist/back/neck can cause muscle weakness and fatigue as well but these will be limited to the muscle groups themselves. slight weakness and sensation problems coupled with eyesight and weight problems can cause balance problems at any age but particularly as we age because our muscles and nerves don't work as well. systemically the shortness of breath and hormonal imbalance from the thyroid can make you tired as well. hope this helps, it's a complicated case
The fatigue is likely multifactorial
Detailed Answer:
as I suspected there are many things contributing to the fatigue. every one of those things you mentioned is likely contributing. even though none of them are extremely abnormal, collectively they can cause problems. you should check on your MRI cervical spine for a lesion. multiple sclerosis quiets as you get older but the disability gets worse. when you were younger uour body could compensate well for the nerve damage but as we age so do our nerves and the compensation also fails. if your MRI cervical spine does not show any lesions you should look for other causes such as nerve root compression. if you recently had back surgery uou probably have the same degenerative disease in your neck. pinched nerves in the elbow/wrist/back/neck can cause muscle weakness and fatigue as well but these will be limited to the muscle groups themselves. slight weakness and sensation problems coupled with eyesight and weight problems can cause balance problems at any age but particularly as we age because our muscles and nerves don't work as well. systemically the shortness of breath and hormonal imbalance from the thyroid can make you tired as well. hope this helps, it's a complicated case
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Would you suggest I see a neurologist or our regular gp? Is there anything I can do for my legs? They feel like I'm walking with 10 pounds of sugar strapped to each one. If it did show ms in the cervical spine, would that affect my balance and gait while walking? Thank you. I appreciate your responses.
Brief Answer:
You can see either
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Either one will be able to order the MRI but the neurologist will be able to better interpret the results along with helping you in case there are no ms lesions try to figure out what is happening. the treatment depends on the cause.
There are treatments for every condition but some are better than others. just depends on what is available for the specific condition. MS in the spine affects everything you do including strength, sensation and balance.
Regards,
You can see either
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Either one will be able to order the MRI but the neurologist will be able to better interpret the results along with helping you in case there are no ms lesions try to figure out what is happening. the treatment depends on the cause.
There are treatments for every condition but some are better than others. just depends on what is available for the specific condition. MS in the spine affects everything you do including strength, sensation and balance.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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