Diagnosed & Confused

Hello,

I'm a 37 year old female and I was recently diagnosed with this confusing disorder. Here is what happened....

Approx. 4 weeks ago I began having slight numbness in my left foot and lower leg. I also would have episodes of painful tingling sensations in my left foot that resembled being bitten by ants.
Over the next 2 weeks, I began noticing that I seemed more clumsy than normal. I began frequently tripping over my own feet. Also, my left hand began to tingle and sometimes feel numb.
Finally, one morning at work as I was walking down a flight of stairs, my left foot and leg went completely numb and I took a tumble down the stairs. I was transported to E.R. by ambulance and admited to the hospital for possible stroke. By the following morning, my left arm and hand had weakened to the point where I could not even grasp a cup.

After a normal MRI and ultrasound of cartoid arteries, I was told that I was suffering from CD and was sent home. Needless to say, my family and I are very confused by my diagnosis as I have never been diagnosed with any stress related illness or mental disorder. I'm currently confined to a wheelchair and can only walk short distances with the assistance of a walker.I've had to take a leave of absence from my job as a middle school english teacher. My primary physician has put me on Lexapro 10 mg. daily and has given me some exercises that my husband helps me with each night.

I'm happy to have found this forum as my family and I have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed and alone since my diagnosis.
My physician has never treated anyone with CD and he refers to my problem as being "goofy." He put me on the lexapro yesterday and told me to return for a follow-up visit in one week. Is there anything else we (my family and I) should be doing ?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Amy

Hey,

You're certainly correct about it being a confusing disorder and the diagnosis was quite rapid in your case. Did the doctor at the hospital take details of your psychological history? I mean, surely he/she must have performed tests other than the MRI and Ultrasound... ...?

Kevin.

Hi Kevin,

The hospital neurologist did routine blood work in addition to the MRI and Ultrasound. My White Blood Count was moderately elevated but my primary doc stated that he just thought that could be chalked up to "serendipity."

What did you mean by "psychological history?" I've never been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, etc. What kind of questions should he have asked?

Is Lexapro 10 mg. the correct drug for this disorder? Also, how long until I can expect to see some improvement physically?
This disabling dirorder is quite scary in that no one can seem to give me a reason for it happening to me.

Is it common for this disorder to begin slowly and progress over a period of weeks as it did in my case?

Sorry for all of the questions....my family and I are just feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. It is just hard to believe that one day I could be celebrating Labor Day with my family and the next day I have a mental disorder and cannot walk without a walker.

Thanks for any insight you might have,

Amy

Hi Amy,

I really wouldn't feel comfortable answering your questions because I simply do not know the answers. What I meant by 'psychological history' was - yes - whether or not you have a history of stress, anxiety, depression, or otherwise. The fact that you haven't makes this even more bizarre, from my viewpoint.


What I do know is that Lexapro is an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor); and that it is typically given to people who suffer from depression or anxiety (like myself).


I will contact the other moderators here to see if anyone knows anything about this disorder.


Sorry & take care,
Kevin.

Kevin,

Thanks for yor reply and I would appreciate any information or advice concerning CD that the other moderators might have for me.

Take Care,
Amy

Dear Ugagal,
I would seek a second opinion, even a third. Your symptoms sound more like multiple sclerosis, which can be tricky to diagnose in the early stages.
http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic112.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/multip ... is/DS00188

Mayo Clinic wrote:Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely, depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Multiple sclerosis symptoms may include:

Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, which typically occurs on one side of your body at a time or the bottom half of your body
Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement
Double vision or blurring of vision
Tingling or pain in parts of your body
Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain head movements
Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
Fatigue
Dizziness
In some cases, people with multiple sclerosis may also develop muscle stiffness or spasticity, slurred speech, paralysis, or problems with bladder, bowel or sexual function. Mental changes, such as forgetfulness or difficulties with concentration, also may occur.

The elevated white blood cell count also relates to multiple sclerosis.

Mayo Clinic wrote:In multiple sclerosis, the body mistakenly directs antibodies and white blood cells against proteins in the myelin sheath, a fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers in your brain and spinal cord. This results in inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to the nerves that it surrounds. The result may be multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis). Eventually, this damage can slow or block the nerve signals that control muscle coordination, strength, sensation and vision.

Thanks for the information Puma regarding MS.
I have a follow-up appointment with my primary doc on Thursday and I will ask him about it.

I seem to be regaining a little strength in my leg and hope to continue seeing improvement. The exercises seem to be helping.

In my opinion, some doctors are too quick in diagnosing CD.

Thanks agian,
Amy

I hope it goes well for your next appointment; and that you get the information you want. Perhaps you were diagnosed too quickly indeed, but we cannot know that. Just make sure you fire questions at him/her at will.


Kevin.

Hello there Ugagal,

conversion disorder is the result of a psychological conflict (read on Freud). Basically, there is something in you that is so much unacceptable that you can't consiously deal with it and it appears in a psychical way.

You have to discover what these psychological conflicts are and deal with them. A good psychologist can help you with understanding what the conflicts are and actually Even one visit to a good psychologist is enough for the symptoms to start resolving.

Suggestive therapy (i.e. suggestions or/and hypnosis), yoga and real physical therapy (like in your case, physiotherapy for instance) are of excellent help towards recovery.

Medication can help you too, if you want to try medication, but I'd suggest you to avoid them as they can have important side effects.

Alternatively, herbs that are reportetly (but not definetely) effective for conversion disorder are Saint John's Wort and Passion Flower. Be sure not to receive large doses of Saint John's Wort as it can be toxic and not to receive any conventional drugs if you take it, as it can interact with them.

Prognosis for Conversion disorder is good, the more disabling the problem is, the better the prognosis (i.e. the more you need the disabled skill, the more likely is to fully come back).

I wouldn't call your problem "goofy" though. Its as real as it gets, but the good news are that your health will fully come back, so try to be patient and keep working on it.

You will most likely regain complete control of your foot and your hand.