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    #1

    Tingling , numbness, loss of grip & spasm attacks

    Hi,

    Would like to know if anyone can help my wife...


    Age: 50 Years old


    For last 3 months she has had tingling in arms & hands and loss of grip.
    One month ago she had severe spasms causing both hands to vigourosly shake about 1 foot back and forth every second. This lasted for about 5 minutes then she was exhausted and virtually paralysed for about 5 hours.

    This happened 3 times in one week, we went to Emergency at our local hospital each time, they did bloods, ecg, cat scan and MRI but could not identify anything at all!
    Neurologist put it down to stress.

    She has now been off work for two months, this was a source of stress but still has the numbness and tingling...

    If she uses her hands like attempting to drive it results in the spasms returning.

    Doctors dont know and keep treating her with anti-depressants for stress which I am sure is not what the issue is.

    Her brother does have MS but her MRI was clear.
    She did have a car accident about 10 years ago where she had severe whiplash.



    Thanks,
    Any help appreciated.
    Tags: None
    #2
    Hello iwashere and welcome to MSWorld. I'm sorry to hear your wife is having all thise problems. I HATE when doctors write things off to stress or depression. That's the something I heard when I first started my journey.

    It is possible to have A clean MRI and still have MS. I'm not saying that's what your wife has I'm just saying it's possible. I would look for a MS Specialist in your area and try to get an appointment with them.

    Be persistent something is obviously wrong and your wife knows her body better than anyone. MS is difficult to diagnose. Neuro's will rule everything else it could possibly first.

    Stay the course and be patient. Time will tell. Good. Luck to you and your wife.
    Dx'd 4/1/11. First symptoms in 2001. Avonex 4/11, Copaxone 5/12, Tecfidera 4/13 Gilenya 4/14-10/14 Currently on no DMT's, Started Aubagio 9/21/15. Back on Avonex 10/15

    It's hard to beat a person that never gives up.
    Babe Ruth

    Comment

      #3
      I have no idea, except to say what she's experiencing is not normal. And no I'm not a doctor.
      There's a symptom of MS and other neurological disorders called, I think, clonus, where bits of you shake/spasm badly.
      I'd say if your wife's brother has MS, then they shouldn't be shooing you away with "it's all stress or depression".

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by iwashere View Post
        She did have a car accident about 10 years ago where she had severe whiplash.
        Has she seen a physiatrist or any kind of spine specialist? She may have aggravated the old injury without realizing it, or some kind of deterioration could have occurred. What does her c-spine MRI report say?

        As for MS: Try not to get 'stuck' on a dx until you've had all the possibilities checked. Also, my neuro has told me that symmetrical sensory & motor symptoms are less common than asymmetrical...
        1st sx 11/26/09; Copaxone from 12/1/11 to 7/13/18
        NOT ALL SX ARE MS!

        Comment

          #5
          Hello Iwashere,

          Has your wife ever visted a chiropractor?

          Whiplash .. can irritate the nerves in the neck that affect the arms and hands.

          Even if it has been several years later and aging has alot to do with it too.

          Your spine is like a hose. When you step on a hose that has water running through it, what does it do, cuts the flow off or diminishes it.

          Same as your spine. And as we age, it only gets worse.

          Praying that your wife finds the relief she needs.

          God Bless you both
          STR

          Comment

            #6
            I posted earlier but neglected to tell you that the symptoms you listed for your wife are the same symptoms I started out with. Mine was on the left side of my body. It got to the point I could not hold a drink in my left hand without dropping it.

            Just thought I would add this.
            Dx'd 4/1/11. First symptoms in 2001. Avonex 4/11, Copaxone 5/12, Tecfidera 4/13 Gilenya 4/14-10/14 Currently on no DMT's, Started Aubagio 9/21/15. Back on Avonex 10/15

            It's hard to beat a person that never gives up.
            Babe Ruth

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by Thinkimjob View Post
              I have no idea, except to say what she's experiencing is not normal. And no I'm not a doctor.
              There's a symptom of MS and other neurological disorders called, I think, clonus, where bits of you shake/spasm badly.
              I'd say if your wife's brother has MS, then they shouldn't be shooing you away with "it's all stress or depression".
              If her doctor's have concluded that the cause of her problems is stress, and they aren't investigating further, then maybe you need a second opinion.

              You didn't mention EMG in your list of tests...seems like this would be one test they would perform if she's having those types of symptoms in her arm. An EMG is not used to confirm MS, most people with MS have normal EMGs, but it might put them on the right track.

              Has a doctor seen her when she is having one of these attacks? If not, take a video when she's experiencing them and show it to her doc.

              Mark mentioned a physiatrist and that is a good idea (a physiatrist is concerned with all aspects of how we move and rehabilitation.) There are also neuros that specialize in movement disorders which is a whole other set of neuro diseases, and the symptoms of movement disorders are sometimes quite dramatic...seems like this might be worth looking into.

              Sure hope you find some answers. I'm not saying stress cannot cause similar symptoms, but all too often many of us, early on in the diagnosis journey, have been told our symptoms are due to stress.

              Comment

                #8
                Apologies for the delayed response, had issues logging into my account..
                Many thanks far all responses so far, I will answer all questions to date below.


                Originally posted by MarkLavelle View Post
                Has she seen a physiatrist or any kind of spine specialist? She may have aggravated the old injury without realizing it, or some kind of deterioration could have occurred. What does her c-spine MRI report say?
                No, have not heard of a physiatrist before...
                We have queried the doc a few times as to whether the old neck injury could be causing the issue, after pressing the doc again he has ordered a detailed neck/back CT & X-Ray.

                We have also just found out the original MRI was only done on the skull.

                Originally posted by Strhuntrss
                Has your wife ever visited a chiropractor?
                Yes, though this was before the symptoms started but they have never indicated any problems.

                Originally posted by rdmc
                If her doctor's have concluded that the cause of her problems is stress, and they aren't investigating further, then maybe you need a second opinion.
                We have done that, we have an appointment with a private neurologist but waiting list is 2 months.

                Comment

                  #9
                  My wife did see an Osteopath just before these symptoms started and she is wanting to go back for another session.
                  I am just a little concerned that if there is a small lesion in the spine that this manipulation could aggregate it?

                  Has anyone had experience with Osteopaths?


                  Thanks

                  Comment

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