ATAXIA AND NOW DYSAUTONOMIA

[rideabike]

Was diagnosed on 2021 with ataxia but just recently with dysautonomia and autonomic neuropathy in feet and hands…one cold hand that freezes fast. Feet are numb most of the time in toes and balls of both feet. Had an MRI because one half of tongue has been swollen for 4 months and still radiates pain to my lower jaw and sometimes ear. Image showed nothing abnormal in the tongue but lesions seen in the Basal Ganglia bilaterally. Cerebellum was never looked at with contrast but this last one used it. My new doctor….after moving to Alberta, Canada, says there is no use for me to see a neurologist. Not sure if I should push it. I’m 73 and having a hard time dealing with all of this. I only had one occasion of syncope and do not have POTS.

Grateful for anything you can add to help.

I’m in Canada (-30 C this week) 🥶

[wobblybee]

🤔 Who diagnosed you with ‘ataxia’……was any testing advised at the time

Some people are diagnosed with ‘ataxia’..biased on clinical symptoms, because their MRI is normal but…..sometimes diagnosis is incorrect, some symptoms can ‘overlap’ other Neurological conditions

I’ve had 2 MRIs with Contrast…nothing further was seen other than Mild Cerebellar Atrophy, no lesions anywhere

For peace of mind, you could seek a 2nd opinion from a Neurologist

[rideabike in reply to wobblybee]

A neurologist did tests and found positive Romberg sign, loss of proprioception, slightly wide based walk, due to ataxia, mild essential tremor. Hand slapping was abnormal, zero bilateral Achilles reflexes. No lab testing ordered. I now have occasional foot drop and left leg stiffness that makes walking difficult.

It all stopped there as he only ordered the cerebellar mri w/o contrast and based on the outcome decided not to investigate further. Technician put in the mri report that contrast was usually requested to see the cerebellum properly.

Never heard from Dr. again. I thought contrast was dangerous and even one time use risky. But have since come to know it’s not that risky. Dr. just didn’t care.

I agree…need to see another neurologist. Thanks for your reply.

[wobblybee in reply to rideabike]

🙂Just to add..

Generally..a basic MRI is the norm..that was how my Cerebellar Atrophy was seen

I had 1 with Contrast after Chemo for Breast Cancer…one of the ‘components’ in the Chemo caused Neurological problems for me ( I already had a diagnosis of Cerebellar Ataxia)

I had the 2nd with Contrast…after losing my ‘sense of smell’. Nothing untoward found as a cause.

[rideabike]

I looked up a lot of information re: basal ganglia and lots of symptoms fit the scenario. It’s possibly the cause of things going haywire. Time will tell. Thanks! You’re always the first one to show you care about our worries. Much appreciated.