Question
Hi, 7 years ago i went for my first MRI as the Doctor susspected Ms, all tests came back negative. I had lower back pain slight numbness in my left leg, pins and needles in fingers and toes, and sometimes the skin on my thigh would feel very sore like sunburn and was sensative to the touch.  A year ago i awoke with crippling pain in my lower back, my muscles were jumping especially in my arms, this would go on for a few hours at a time, i felt sick and could not bend my head forward for the pain shooting down my spine. I was not sent to hospital but given strong painkillers and sent for another MRI, again the neuro suggested Ms, again the tests came back negative it just said mild degenerative disease to lower back, nothing was explained, i was sent for physio. My left arm went cold and totally numb, my feet had vibrations in them, on a morning i awake with terrible lower back pain and get shock like sensations in my feet.  some days my back is not too bad, others its terrible.  I can be walking and i feel pain down my right leg, the funny sensation of sore skin on the right side and it affects the right side of my bladder, it just feels heavy, i have also had muscle spasms inside my anus.
    the physio said my muscles in my lower back have not worked right for a long while which has made my right leg a little weak. I have never had an accident, never fallen no surgery, im at a loss. i think the Doctors suggested Ms as it runs in both side of my parents family, but i dont have it.  my back hurts when he presses lower down, as though areas of it are bruised.  I also can not ley flat on my back it hurts too much and there is a slight curve inwards, a little more than normal as it hurts to lean back.
   Any information would be more than greatly appreciated.
Thankyou for your time.

Answer
Hi Bev,

Make sure the "doctor" you are seeing is a neurologist and not a GP. EMG, blood tests and cervical MRI should have been performed. Everything from MS to herniated discs to meralgia parasthetica can cause the symptoms you describe. Seeing a board certified neurologist will help ensure the proper diagnostic work-up is performed. MS in the early stages can be difficult to detect but the symptoms you describe differ slightly from typical cases of MS. All I can do is recommend you get multiple opinions and those being of a neurologist, this should eliminate any questions on causation.

Hope this helps!

Dr. Timothy Durnin