My name is Sandy. I'm a 34 year old from Northern Virginia. I have been
reading your postings for the last few weeks and have found the information
very helpful. My first contact with the list was through Linda and Gunny.
Both were kind enough to respond to an email from a very frightened woman they
had never met and calmed my fears. I will be eternally gratefull to you both.
In January I started experiencing these electric jolts down the back of my
thighs whenever I moved my chin towards my chest. My first thought was
"pinched nerve" and pretty much tried to ignore it. I wasn't in pain; it was
just annoying. I'm a Facilities Manager for a long distance company and in
the final stages of building a new headquarters and moving 700+ people from
our current location to the new building in June. Needless to say, I just
didn't have time to worry about this annoying occurance. I figured I would
wait to see my doctor in July when the move was complete and things had
settled down.
Change of plans.....the jolts progressed to my shins, arms and hands and I
decided not to mess around with it. I went to my doctor who referred me to a
neurologist. My neurologist diagnosed me with L'Hermitt's Sign but didn't
give me any information beyond the fact that it was an inflammation of the
spinal cord. I immediately got on the internet to do my own research and
found the TMA site. Enter Linda and Gunny.
I had an MRI of my brain to look for lesions, scaring or tumor. Thank God
none were found. I then had an MRI of my neck to look for a tumor or a
compressed disk. Again, nothing was found besides the inflammation between C4
and C5. It wasn't until after I had both MRIs and went back to the
neurologist that he told me he was looking for signs of MS or a brain tumor
and then a tumor on my spine or the compressed disk. In between the two MRIs
I began experiencing slight numbness on most of my left side. My left thumb
and part of my left forefinger are now almost completely numb and it is moving
into the palm of my left hand. After walking, everything from my waist down
tingles for a few minutes. My neurologist says he doesn't know what this is
besides the L'Hermitt's Sign.
He ordered a blood test to test my B-12 level, FANA titer Febrinogen level,
Folic acid, serum fragile X, FTA-ABS, HIV-1 antibody, Lyme disease,
Sedimentation rate, Serum viscosity and VDRL, RPR and ART (whatever that is).
Basically, he's trying to touch all the bases. I have an Evoked Potential
Visual, BAER and Posterior tibial test scheduled for Thursday. What is that
and does it hurt?
My neurologist is not very forthcoming with answers to any of my questions and
I have already asked my Primary Care Physician for a referral to another
neurologist. I will wait for the results of these latest tests before going
to the other neurologist.
I told my doctor what I had found on the internet and asked if he thought it
was TM. He doesn't know what TM is. Never heard of it. I told him about the
burning/freezing I've been experiencing around my left elbow and the top of my
left foot. He didn't say anything; just wrote it down. He wanted to
prescribe steroids for me to help alleve the inflammation in my neck, but
didn't want to taint the test results.
So, this is where I am now. I don't know if I have TM, but I have
"something". I'm keeping a positive attitude and have already decided that no
matter what this turns out to be, I will try just about anything out there to
find relief. What works for someone else may or may not work for me, but it's
worth a try. I'm blessed with a loving and supportive family and friends who
care about me so I consider myself very lucky. Not to say I haven't had my
own private pity party, but for the most part I'm staying positive and keeping
busy so as not to dwell on it.
I would like to thank Gunny and Linda again for their help. You really did
make a difference and I'd like to think you both were heaven-sent. Bless you.
Sandy