Wednesday, December 12, 2012 mel1970 asks

Q: STILL NO DIAGNOSIS AFTER 10 MONTHS

I have had muscle pain and weakness in BOTH legs for the past 10 months with no diagnosis. I also get muscle weakness in my arms occasionally, but my legs are always affected. The weakness is in my thighs, knees, and calves. The pain seems to be mainly in my calves. Many days my legs feel like they're going to give out on me. Some nights while sleeping, my leg(s) and/or arm(s) will totally go numb. I've had a brain MRI, EMG and nerve conduction tests, Lyme Disease blood work, and everything comes back fine. Cervical MRI revealed two protruding discs and Lumbar MRI revealed a herniated disc at L5-S1 for which I had an epidural injection prior to the leg pain/weakness starting. About a month before the muscle weakness/pain started I stopped taking my antidepressant abruptly per my doctor's advice (I realize now I should have slowly weaned). I did endure 2 weeks of horrible withdrawal symptoms. I'm at a loss as to what I should do and some days are so difficult with the pain and weakness. Could I have Lyme Disease even though all my tests were negative? My son had Lyme Disease this year and I wonder if I should just try taking an antibiotic. I just want to feel normal again. Thanks for your help!
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Answers (3)
Lisa Emrich, Health Guide
12/29/12 3:48pm

Hi Mel1970,

 

I am not personally familiar with Lyme disease, nor am I a medical professional.  As an MS patient, I would suggest that you discuss your ongoing concerns with your doctor.  Persistent weakness must have a cause, which very well may be the impingement upon your spinal cord from the protruding discs.  Was there any suggestion as to how you could protect yourself from further deterioration of the spine?  Keep approaching your doctors with your concerns and be very clear about what is going on to help form the big picture.

 

Best,

Lisa

 

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1/ 3/13 10:11am

after 10 YEARS still no diagnosis.

It looks more like Muscular Dystrophy on paper but presents like a "classic open and shut case of MS"

Muscle Biopsy concludes 13 different non-specific abnormalities, none of which fall into the realm of already discovered diseases.

 

Look into Mitochondrial diseases. There are probably other signs that you dismiss as unrelated that are indeed part of the whole picture.

 

I know exactly how you feel, alone, frustrated, concerned, sick of being sick.

 

Ultimately you must take care of yourself. You must respect the fatigue & weakness, back off when you first discern it. Eat properly! Rest plentifully, Exercise casually. Listen to your body.

 

I have a reached the point that only God knows what I have, and only He can fix it.

And after 10 years, I'm okay with it.........most days.

 

Be good to yourself on your journey for answers.

 

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1/ 3/13 12:35pm

It sounds like a repeat of my life for the last I don't know how long. Talk your doctor into doing an MRI to check for lesions in your brain. I would guress that you could have MS but I am not a doctor. I do know that it is better knowing what you have than being treated for everything under the sun and not getting any relief from your symptoms. I wish you well in you search for answers and your journey to returned healing.

 

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By mel1970— Last Modified: 01/03/13, First Published: 12/12/12