Neurological Problem, NEED ADVISE?
I’m a 33 yrs old Hispanic male. I am suffering with a neurological problem which as of today I have no diagnose. I have had multitude of MRI’s, CT Scans, blood works, EEG, and other battery testes. My doctor said I have brain lesions, but I don’t have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). They also found I have arthritis on my neck and lower back. Sure my doctor (neurologist) calls it fibromylagia, I still feel that’s not a complete diagnose. I have seen and heard people tell me that neurologist diagnose people with that when they can’t find something concrete to diagnose you with. I know that neurological disorders are very complicate to diagnoses, since most of them have similar symptoms. Here are my symptoms:
1)Nerve Pain [either body] {This pain is 24/7}
2)Fatigue (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, as also being included with the fibromylagia)
3)Problem Concentrating
4)Numbness [either body]
5)Lower back pain
6)Burning sensation on my lower back (this one is new as of two weeks ago)
7)Mood Swing
8)Depression
9)Neck pain
10)Joint pain (rheumatologist mention I don’t have arthritis)
11)Insomnia
Can someone please help me? If you have similar symptoms, and/or have being diagnose for a neurological disorder, please answer! Thanks
I do have some similar symptoms as you do and I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, but I would suggest seeing another neurologist for a second opinion to see if they can help you anymore than the doctor you are currently working with! Good luck!
I totally sympathize with you, as I am now going down the same path as you are trying to diagnose what I have (right now the working diagnosis is MS but it may take years to get a definite answer). But keep in mind, neurologists are experts, so if they are having trouble dianosing you, I don’t think you are going to find your answers here on this list. Also keep in mind that unfortunately cures for neurological diseases are few and far between (there is no cure for MS, for example), so often the best a neurologist can do is give you meds to ease your symptoms. I would suggest you 1) search the internet for more info. and answers and 2) see if you can find a yahoo group for fibromylagia. I am on a few yahoo groups for MS and find the info. and support there incredible. I think you will get quicker and better answers on a group than here.
Best wishes to you – I know what you are going through.
Ok I can’t tell you what it is but I can give a page that you can go through the neurological disease and find which one is like yours. I would do it for you but it would be like a week before I could give you what it might possibly be. GL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_neurological_disorders
First of all I’d see an new neurologist.
I looked up fibromylagia in Mosby’s medical dictionary and the symptoms it stated sound fairly similiar to yours, but as you said a lot of neurological problems have similiar symptoms. It also said to look up fibrositis. For both fibromyaglia and fibrositis the symptoms that were listed were:
musculoskeletal pain, spasm and stiffness
fatigue
severe sleep disturbance
The common sites of pain/stiffness are: lower back, shoulder region, neck, arms, hands, feet, knees, hips, and thighs.
It said fibromyalgia was a form of non-articular rheumatism or, the inflamation of joints, ligments, and muscles. I would still look up more information on fibromyalgia if you want to either confirm it or rule it out.
If you truly believe that it is not fibromyalgia …..
I’m not a medical professional, so I visisted WebMD and plugged in your symptoms – it found 20 possible conditions (of course some of the questions I couldn’t answer, so…..)
here is the website: http://symptoms.webmd.com/symptomchecker
the one that I was that seemed most likely was lupus (as lupus accounts for your depression, unlike the fibromyalgia)
but **I’m not sure if lupus is considered a neurological condition**.
here is a symptom list:
a rash on the face (red in a butterfly-like shape across the nose and cheeks)
weakness
fatigue
weight loss
skin lesions that may spread to the mucous membranes and other tissues of the body
another, more thorough, list of lupus symptoms is available here: http://lupus.webmd.com/lupus_systemic_lupus_erythematosus_article?page=2
I also found another article on lupus stating that Hispanics are twice as likely to suffer from Lupus than Caucasians.
( http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FWK/is_2_20/ai_55017290)
I know this may not even be close to your condition, so please post anything else you can think of (such as any severe/recent injuries as most neurological problems are a result)…..If you don’t have the time to do that, I would look up the various potential problems at the WebMD symptom tracker. I would pick the ones that sound possible, and bring any of these possiblities to a new doctor, and if they ignore your suggestions ask them why it couldn’t be. (<–This worked for my sister) But above all I would consult another neurologist, even if it now seems like fibromylagia is what you have. In case of neurological conditions I have heard a second opinion (or even a third opinion) is very important as many neurological conditions can easily be misdiagnosed . I hope this helps a little.
Well, MR. I hate to hear you are in limbo, but that is usually the way it is!. I would definitely recommend a new neuro and visit MSWORLD.ORG – there are a lot of in limbo people there – great advice and great understanding – men and women. I hope for your sake it is really a curable disease! See you at the world!
Insomnia (sleeplessness) is due to stress,
dietary and medical problems. By making
small lifestyle changes like having a fixed
daily routine, relaxing and eating properly,
insomnia can be cured. I found the information
at http://www.nosleep.in/insomniacause.html
I was diagnosed with a brain lesion after having a CT scan. I had an MRI the next day and from that they determined that the lesion was a meningioma brain tumor.
The radiologist who reads the CT scans and MRI should have written reports detailing the exact location and characteristics of the brain lesions.
I recommend that you get your own copies of the scans and the radiologists reports and read them yourself. Then do your own research. I have yearly MRI’s to check for recurrence of my tumor and I always request and get my own copies.
I don’t think your neurologist is telling you everything.
I suggest getting a second opinion.
Edited to add: it appears that not everyone read your question correctly. You say you don’t have MS and some assumed that’s what you have.