[32F] Experiencing severe muscle spasticity and weakness with additional neurological symptoms

Patient Description

A 32-year-old female has been suffering from severe muscle spasticity and weakness affecting all limbs for approximately 4-5 months. The muscle spasticity is described as sudden, unpredictable, and often accompanied by a burning sensation, rated 10/10 in severity, indicating a debilitating impact. The muscle weakness sometimes prevents her from standing or walking without assistance, also rated as severely impacting her functionality. Additionally, she experiences eye pain described as pressure or burning behind the eyes, which has been ongoing for 3 months. Her vision has become blurred and unfocused. She also reports extreme fatigue, occasional urinary incontinence, numbness or tingling in all limbs, ice pick headaches, extreme itching episodes, and mood swings. Over-the-counter ibuprofen is taken as needed for body pains. No other medications are reported, and there is no history of recent injuries, accidents, or chronic illnesses.

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Arora's Assessment

What might be happening

Based on the information you have provided, possible diagnoses include:

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): This is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including muscle spasticity and weakness, fatigue, heat intolerance, and problems with coordination and balance. Some people with MS also experience changes in mood and problems with bladder control. The numbness or tingling in your limbs, blurred and unfocused vision, and the pressure or burning sensation in your eyes could be due to optic neuritis, which is common in MS.

    • Diagnosis of MS typically involves a neurological examination, MRI scans, and sometimes a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Treatment usually involves managing symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease with medication.
  • Fibromyalgia: This is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. It amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.

    • There's no specific test to diagnose fibromyalgia. Your doctor may want to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. Treatment typically involves a combination of medications, exercise, stress management techniques, and healthy lifestyle habits.
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): This is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. Other symptoms can include problems with memory or concentration, headaches, and joint pain.

    • There's no single test to confirm a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. You may need a variety of medical tests to rule out other health problems that have similar symptoms.

What you can do

It would be best to consult a doctor about your symptoms so that they can provide a formal assessment and order relevant tests if necessary. In the meantime, you can try the following to manage your symptoms:

  1. Rest and take care of your body. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise.
  2. Try to manage your stress. This could involve relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.
  3. Keep a symptom diary. This can help you and your doctor identify patterns and triggers for your symptoms.

What you should look out for

Reasons to seek medical attention immediately:

  • If your symptoms worsen or if you develop new symptoms
  • If you experience severe headaches, changes in vision, or problems with balance or coordination
  • If you have difficulty breathing or chest pain

Please remember that while I strive to provide accurate and helpful information, I am an AI and not a doctor. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional for a formal diagnosis and treatment.

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7 mo ago


People Also Ask


What are the common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) include muscle spasticity and weakness, fatigue, numbness or tingling in the limbs, blurred vision, eye pain, problems with coordination and balance, mood changes, and bladder control issues.


How is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosed?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is typically diagnosed through a combination of a neurological examination, MRI scans to look for lesions in the brain and spinal cord, and sometimes a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to analyze cerebrospinal fluid.


What lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Lifestyle changes that can help manage symptoms of fibromyalgia include regular exercise, stress management techniques such as yoga or meditation, maintaining a healthy diet, and ensuring adequate sleep.


What are the key differences between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is primarily characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with rest, while fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Both conditions can include symptoms like headaches and memory issues, but fibromyalgia often includes specific tender points on the body.


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1 Comments


Anonymous#23658

7 mo ago

My first symptoms were quite small with creeping numbness in my hands and feet (started in my mid 20s). There was also a feeling of pins and needles in my fingers and my legs. It was strange because it would climb up my body over time and equilibrium became difficult when I walked. I also became easily fatigued but these symptoms would ease after a couple of weeks and I would feel better. So, like a typical male I decided it was nothing and ignored it for a couple of years. I did see my PCP who recommended I see a neurologist but I was feeling better so ignored his advice. The problem was every time the symptoms would ease they would not go away fully. For instance, the numbness would leave much of my body but remain in one finger, next time it was the entire left hand and so on but I could ignore that. That continued until my vision started to become blurry and I finally I couldn’t see more than shapes. This took place over a year or so.

The funny thing about this illness is that you can never be sure if what you are feeling is due to MS or something else. I have had a number of relapses where medical professionals have had to point out problems (dragging feet, changes in cognitive function like forgetting words and changes in handwriting). It is a very difficult to know.

All I can recommend is getting it checked out if you are concerned for any reason because it can take quite some time for a definite diagnosis. If it is MS you can be helped before allowing the symptoms to become entrenched ((which was my mistake). I wish you all the best with your investigation and know whatever happens you’ll be okay.

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