Is this MS?
Hey everyone- I’m at a lost and anxiety is taking over. For a little over a year i been experiencing balance issues, a lot of dizziness almost daily, speech issues also daily, optic migraines maybe once and a while where i will go floaters in eye that gets bad where i can’t focus. So to start story I’m not 38 yr old male. I have had tons of test in past 15 months. Ent first with Brain mri. Showed some white fluctuates nothing to be worried about said i had vertigo. Than speech issues started last February. Where as my tongue was getting in the way of speech and i felt i was speaking strange but people kept saying i wasn’t. Year later it’s still here and i feel it’s in my mouth muscles still effecting speech. Last Feb neurologist ordered ton of test, blood work, mri and cervical neck and brain, emg/ncv, ssep and regular neuro exam. Mri of neck showed cervical stenosis and cervical spondylitis myelopathy, blood was good, ssep good, emg good ncv showed carpal tunnel and sciatic. I googled a lot and all showed als or ms. So obviously I’m terrified it’s als. Doc said it’s most likely not and said speech was anxiety. So i was still so fixated on speech that i asked him to repeat in Dec to really rule out als bc if i had one i would obviously take ms over als any day. So this point i kind of needed an answer hoping it’s ms so i can really get Als out, well emg /ncv normal again. Still doing research it now showing alot tons ms bc of daily speech, dizziness, fatigue, some balance issues . But he thinks it’s from my neck. Can someone offer some advice. Is daily speech a ms symptom? Or is it most once and a while. I know everyone here can’t give medical advice just want to hear experiences and if this does sound like ms. Thank you
Hi
. Having all those symptoms and no diagnosis can be incredibly stressful and stress can make the symptoms even worse. As you noted, we are not medical experts, so we really can't tell you whether it is MS, but know that there are many, many health conditions that mimic MS and might be to blame. Here is an article that lists them: https://multiplesclerosis.net/diagnosis/ruling-out-other-health-conditions. If you are not confident in your doctor's interpretation of your test results, I would strongly recommend getting a second opinion. Because so many health conditions share symptoms, it is impossible for every neurologist to be familiar with all of them. A new doctor might bring a new perspective and different expertise. Have you seen an ophthalmologist for your visual symptoms? Some people with MS have occasional problems with speech while others have constant issues. Many have no speech issues at all. That's the trouble with MS. Every journey is unique, so it is hard to compare symptoms. i hope you find that you have neither MS or ALS. Keep us posted if you don't mind. I will be thinking of you. - Lori (Team Member) yes i did pt. Which helped. But i do still have some speech issues. My neuro recommended speaking to pysch bc i did get diagnosed for health anxiety disorder. He kept assuming me i don’t have als, or ms. But i guess that’s my health anxiety taking over. It just feels like something is causing this Hi
. You can always do both -- see a psychiatrist and get a second opinion -- but only see the psychiatrist if you feel you truly need help with anxiety. Too often, people are told their symptoms are all in their heads and sent to a psychiatrist rather than getting further evaluation from their neurologists or primary care doctors. On the other hand, depression and anxiety are part of most any chronic condition. You deserve treatment for that just like you deserve treatment for any other symptom. It sounds like you really need a second opinion in order to relieve some of that anxiety. It's important to have confidence in your diagnosis. Thinking of you. - Lori (Team Member)
