dragonlibra
Active member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2011
- Messages
- 89
- Diagnosis
- 09/2011
- Country
- US
- State
- PA
- City
- McKeesport
And I'm wondering hoping he is missing something in cervical region. I am going to consult a neurosurgeon. Neurologist is ALS specialist.
Background:
Nov 2010 had dizziness & equilibrium problems. Felt foggy. PCP does a hurry up diagnosis of BPPV. Prescribes anti-nauseas med. Did notice sore neck trying to sleep. I think it may have started earlier than dizziness.
Dec - Felt like crap most of month including chills one night but dizziness & space cadet feeling. Neck still sore sleeping.
Jan - started getting pain between my shoulders, numbness, tingling, stiff, pain felt hot. Would build up during day. Relieved by sleeping then start cycle over next day.
Feb-Mar - Noticed weakness finger/grip strength right hand, PCP sends me to neurosurgeon. Brain scan ordered. Negative. PCP also orders MRI cervical. (Post results later here). Sent to neurologist.
April - Neurologist thinks MS - MRI with contrast - no markers indicative of MS in either brain or cervical MRI. RX Neurontin which does squat for the pain. Prescribes PT which helps some but therapists don't quite know what to do w/o firm diagnosis.
May - legs start to become unsteady. Fall a couple of times. EMG done on arm. I don't know result. Need to ask.
July - Neurologist scared crap out of me by mentioning motor neuron disease. Wants me to see another neurologist(he did EMG on me) ASAP which translates to 7 weeks later.
My lost summer symptoms grow worse. Right hand function almost gone. Left hand getting weak. Muscle atrophy hands/arms. Walk like a drunken sailor. At night I use a cane. Scared of stairs. Have some tremors thumb and index finger at times. Sometimes in arms, butt and quads especially if pressure on back/arms/thighs like in bed. In pain between shoulders, just below neck and now neck every damn day! Hands numb and tingling every morning. Dressing especially bras, buttons, zippers near impossible & I live alone. Trying to stay working. Also some bladder & bowel incontience problems.
Now. Finally saw neurologist again. Thinks like I do problem in cervical region. Another MRI with contrast. Calls, says I have issues in C5-T1 but not enough for my symptoms. I don't have results of latest but neurologist said they did change. First 2 MRI's showed.
C5-C6: There is diffuse disc bulge resulting in ventral flattening of the thecal sac. Facet arthropathy results in mild neural foraminal narrowing, left greater than right.
MRI 2 - There is diffuse disc osteophyte complex resulting in effacement of ventral subarachnoid space and narrowing of left neural foramen.
C6-C7: Left paracentral left lateral herniation leads to narrowing of the left neural foramen. 2nd MRI There is diffuse disc osteophyte complex resulting in effacement of ventral subarachnoid space and narrowing of left neural foramen.
C7-T1: A mild disc bulge results in the ventral flattening and neural foraminal narrowing. 2nd MRI There is diffuse disc osteophyte complex resulting in effacement of ventral subarachnoid space. Neural foramina are patent.
Also - signal abnormality within the left T1 and left C7 vertebrae is consistent with hemangioma. There is loss of disc height and T2 signal throughout cervical intervertebral discs consistent with degenerative disc disease. There is diffuse loss of the expected intervertebral disc signal, however intervertebral disc space height maintained.
Sorry for the long post. In pain & I need to vent. I know medical advice can't be given here but I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone or going through this hell.
BTW I'm female, near 59, in relatively good health till now, a bit overweight but was physically active till now. Heck I did 27 years of martial arts and now I can't open a bottle or snack bag without an aid.
I live alone. No close relatives. No caretaker. Neurologist asked if he should make inquiries into assisted living.
I'm still trying to work. Would love info on applying for SSI.
I'm scared & depressed at the moment!
What should I ask about EMG results? He has ordered a leg EMG.
After this is done I am going to order a copy of my test results.
Any ALS clinics anyone recommend in PA/OH for a 2nd opinion?
Background:
Nov 2010 had dizziness & equilibrium problems. Felt foggy. PCP does a hurry up diagnosis of BPPV. Prescribes anti-nauseas med. Did notice sore neck trying to sleep. I think it may have started earlier than dizziness.
Dec - Felt like crap most of month including chills one night but dizziness & space cadet feeling. Neck still sore sleeping.
Jan - started getting pain between my shoulders, numbness, tingling, stiff, pain felt hot. Would build up during day. Relieved by sleeping then start cycle over next day.
Feb-Mar - Noticed weakness finger/grip strength right hand, PCP sends me to neurosurgeon. Brain scan ordered. Negative. PCP also orders MRI cervical. (Post results later here). Sent to neurologist.
April - Neurologist thinks MS - MRI with contrast - no markers indicative of MS in either brain or cervical MRI. RX Neurontin which does squat for the pain. Prescribes PT which helps some but therapists don't quite know what to do w/o firm diagnosis.
May - legs start to become unsteady. Fall a couple of times. EMG done on arm. I don't know result. Need to ask.
July - Neurologist scared crap out of me by mentioning motor neuron disease. Wants me to see another neurologist(he did EMG on me) ASAP which translates to 7 weeks later.
My lost summer symptoms grow worse. Right hand function almost gone. Left hand getting weak. Muscle atrophy hands/arms. Walk like a drunken sailor. At night I use a cane. Scared of stairs. Have some tremors thumb and index finger at times. Sometimes in arms, butt and quads especially if pressure on back/arms/thighs like in bed. In pain between shoulders, just below neck and now neck every damn day! Hands numb and tingling every morning. Dressing especially bras, buttons, zippers near impossible & I live alone. Trying to stay working. Also some bladder & bowel incontience problems.
Now. Finally saw neurologist again. Thinks like I do problem in cervical region. Another MRI with contrast. Calls, says I have issues in C5-T1 but not enough for my symptoms. I don't have results of latest but neurologist said they did change. First 2 MRI's showed.
C5-C6: There is diffuse disc bulge resulting in ventral flattening of the thecal sac. Facet arthropathy results in mild neural foraminal narrowing, left greater than right.
MRI 2 - There is diffuse disc osteophyte complex resulting in effacement of ventral subarachnoid space and narrowing of left neural foramen.
C6-C7: Left paracentral left lateral herniation leads to narrowing of the left neural foramen. 2nd MRI There is diffuse disc osteophyte complex resulting in effacement of ventral subarachnoid space and narrowing of left neural foramen.
C7-T1: A mild disc bulge results in the ventral flattening and neural foraminal narrowing. 2nd MRI There is diffuse disc osteophyte complex resulting in effacement of ventral subarachnoid space. Neural foramina are patent.
Also - signal abnormality within the left T1 and left C7 vertebrae is consistent with hemangioma. There is loss of disc height and T2 signal throughout cervical intervertebral discs consistent with degenerative disc disease. There is diffuse loss of the expected intervertebral disc signal, however intervertebral disc space height maintained.
Sorry for the long post. In pain & I need to vent. I know medical advice can't be given here but I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone or going through this hell.
BTW I'm female, near 59, in relatively good health till now, a bit overweight but was physically active till now. Heck I did 27 years of martial arts and now I can't open a bottle or snack bag without an aid.
I live alone. No close relatives. No caretaker. Neurologist asked if he should make inquiries into assisted living.
I'm still trying to work. Would love info on applying for SSI.
I'm scared & depressed at the moment!
What should I ask about EMG results? He has ordered a leg EMG.
After this is done I am going to order a copy of my test results.
Any ALS clinics anyone recommend in PA/OH for a 2nd opinion?