Please help - Permanent Optic Neuritis?!
Question: Please help - Permanent Optic Neuritis?
I am a 21 year old Male, and I have been suffering from optic neuritis for the last 3 years. This is something that started as something barely noticeable, and has gradually gotten worse and has never diminished. On top of extremely obvious and distracting visual distortion, I have been seeing a large increase in black spots and larger, more noticeable symptoms, mostly in the last months.
This is something I have been dealing with, but have had no idea until now about what it is.
My concerns are the causes of Optic Neuritis. The reoccurring topic seems to be multiple sclerosis.
The reason I found out about the optic neuritis is because I looked up intense tingling in my arms and legs, and that lead me to MS symptoms, and thats where I saw the optic neuritis.
If anyone can give me insight on why it's permanent and gradually getting worse, or any wisdom at all on the subject would be great help, while I wait to see a neurologist.
Thank you.
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Hi Vgentk, I have had MS for 20+ years, having been diagnosed at the Cleveland Clinic on the basis of optic neuritis. My optic neuritis consisted of black spots in the center field of vision. Optic neuritis lasts two to three weeks and then usually resolves itself. Any symptoms that remain after that are residual symptoms that will probably not go away. Some people opt to get a steroid infusion when they notice optic neuritis coming on. This will shorten the duration of the attack.
Many cases of optic neuritis are classified as idiopathic, meaning that a cause is never determined.
My optic neuritis resolved itself in three weeks. I was very relieved, but unfortunately it returned the following week which prompted my ophthalmologist to admit me for an MRI. I was told at that time that on the basis of the MRI that I had a 50% to 70% chance of having MS. An MRI taken just four months lately indicated that I definitely had MS.
Males do get optic neuritis. It is not a condition that only women get by any means. However, women are three times more likely than males to get multiple sclerosis.
Make sure your eye doctor gives written documentation of your optic neuritis. Neurologists do not have the equipment to see into your eye to observe the optic nerve. Hence, that documentation will be essential for your neurologist to see.
While I think that people who come here have the best of intentions, many of them offer more misinformation than information. May I suggest that you go to the website of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you go to that website, you will find visual symptoms. Click on that for a complete description of optic neuritis. Their site address is http://www.nmss.org
They not only have great on-line written info but videos that are exceptionally helpful. You can request written info as well or call their help line to talk with an MS counselor. This site is the most reliable site since it is constantly updated by a panel of neurologists who specialize in MS research and treatment.
If I can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to email me. ON can be so incredibly upsetting and life altering. I am sorry that you are having the tingling that is indicative of MS as well. Often getting a definitive diagnosis of MS is a process that takes time and patience. I hope that your visit with the neurologist is a productive one for you. I wish you the very best of luck, dear!
Have you tried any reliable sources, like WebMD.com? This is probably one of the most, if not the most reliable source of Medical Information for the Layperson available on the Interwebs.
I agree with Optic Neuritis not causing black spots, plus MS related Optic Neuritis is more frequently seen in young women, it lasts about 2 weeks and it heals on it's own, so if you got the diagnosis of optic neuritis from an eye doctor you should continue the follow ups or go to another one, there are a lot of other causes that can mimic "Typical" Optic Neuritis, (Toxoplasmosis, Citomegalovirus, Optic nerve tumors), the diagnosis is made when everything else is negative, again continue your follow-ups, and as princeidoc wrote: "it is unlikely IMO that any post here or anywhere else is going to help you much"
WebMD is a STARTING point. this guy is already past WebMD. WebMD is very basic info and is often wrong.
you've been diagnosed as having ON, I guess. you never stated that but its implied. ON usually does not cause "black spots".
as you know, ON & MS are poorly understood. no one here is going to be able to tell you much about ON, and nothing you don't already know: it hurts, its blurry, there is no great treatment, there is no great way of diagnosing WHY you have it, etc etc. you really are just going to end up waiting on the neurologist.
and
neurologists are wary of making a diagnosis of MS. most of them not going to tell you that you have MS until/unless you have plaques on your MRI, which most MS patients don't have until well into the disease, and almost no 21 year old has. just dont be surprised if the neurologist doesn't tell you much besides "I don't know, it could be early MS". you know?
good luck. i know my post didn't help you much...just informing you that it is unlikely IMO that any post here or anywhere else is going to help you much.
optometrist
http://myeyepod.blogspot.com/