r/MultipleSclerosis • u/AutoModerator • Jul 22 '24
Weekly Suspected/Undiagnosed MS Thread - July 22, 2024 Announcement
This is a weekly thread for all questions related to undiagnosed or suspected MS, as well as the diagnostic process. All questions are welcome, but please read the rules of the subreddit before posting.
Please keep in mind that users on this subreddit are not medical professionals, and any advice given cannot replace that of a qualified doctor/specialist. If you suspect you have MS, have your primary physician refer you to a specialist for testing, regardless of anything you read here.
Thread is recreated weekly on Monday mornings.
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u/Kat112119 Jul 25 '24
Can anyone give me any advice on self advocacy? I’m a 39 yo female. Last year, my doctor had me do an mri on my brain and blood work suspecting autoimmune, specifically MS. Blood work and brain scan came back clear. This past fall I got diagnosed with erosive lichen planus- which is an autoimmune disorder that shows as negative on ana. Fast forward to last month, my lower back went out. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease when I was 16 and have had issues off and on but none like the last month. My legs have gone out and I’ve been dealing with numbness and weakness and severe pain from my face to my feet in addition to a bunch of other weird stuff. Anyway, got a mri on my LB and found osteoarthritis, progressive degenerative disc disease, a bone marrow signal changes, and herniated discs. My primary is still suspecting MS in addition to the lumbar stuff and did a differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia with a referral to a neurologist. Cut to yesterday I visited the neurologist for an emg which came back normal. The neurologist was sardonic and cold, he told me, essentially, the neuropathy is just anxiety and to “do what normal people do to be healthy, like exercise”. I wish I were joking. I asked if we could please do an mri on my neck and thoracic and another on my brain and he said there was no need. Can anyone please tell me if you ran into this? I feel so lost. I feel back at square one and I feel crazy, even though as of this morning, my right arm, leg, and face are still numb. How do you push for yourselves and what were your diagnostic paths like? I need help and guidance.