@kimholden 

Last reply

kimholden

Not yet diagnosed, what's it gonna take?

I've been miserable for many years. Somedays I just hurt all over, every inch of my body. I have degenerative disc disease, chronic low platelets, high blood pressure, benign positional vertigo, I have my neck fused, my left hip replaced and my lower back fused. I need both knees replaced ASAP, and my right hip will be ready to be replaced anytime. Im 59 now and I have been suffering with one thing or another since 2002. In the last 2 years I have been very unstable on my feet, often staggering around like I am drunk. I have no balance, no strength. There is a disconnect between my brain and my feet. If i dont watch my feet while walking and constantly think about each step and my footing, I will get caught up in my own feet and sometimes fall. I have had some really hard falls in the last 2 years. The vision in my left eye dropped from 20/40 to 20/200 in less than a year. Both my feet are numb. They and my hands tingle all the time. I often stub my left foot on the ground while walking. I typically almost fall nearly every day. Sometimes I forget how to swallow and choke on my food. I was once a hearlt/sunshine worshipper. I cannot stand either of them now. I used to feel joy and recharged while in the sun, but now I feel like it drains me of all my energy and it hurts my skin. My legs feel like they weigh 500# each and its difficult to breath. I've had mri's 6 months apart, each showing multiple lesions in my white matter. My fatigue and depression are through the roof. I have painful leg cramps every night and the first thing every morning. I have been very dizzy a lot lately. I have tested negative for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Lyme disease and a handful of other autoimmune diseases. Both mri's had notes from 2 different radiologists saying my lesions look like MS. My doctor is an MS specialist at an MS specialty clinic out of Cleveland Clinic. She also has a husband with MS. I would expect her to know her stuff. She is reluctant to diagnose me. She wont say its NOT MS, but she wo t say it is. Ok, you read this far, thank you. What should I do now?
@msalec

Get a second opinion. Try to find a neurologist with ophthalmology and ms specialty. I have one in Minnesota that has treated both my optic neuritis and ms. If ur vision in one eye is that bad, getting checked out by dr of ophthalmology to see ur optic nerve is inflammed? Also have u had a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

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@squigonometry

That long list of symptoms and your MS specialist won't order a lumbar puncture? Go elsewhere!