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Avatar universal

Can MS Symptoms Be Constant?

Hello...I have posted on here before just for some guidance and I recently read through a lot of the heath pages (great information), but one thing I can't seem to find info on is the symptom pattern.  I know each person is different and I know that many people experience relapse and remission.  So my question is if someone has symptoms that mimic MS for years and they never really go away (just let up a little for maybe a few hours) is this still possible in MS?  I have anywhere from 1 to 5 symptoms all day long (sometimes 1 sometimes all 5 at once).  They never have gone away, but new ones come on.  I have been to many doctors and continue to go hoping one will break the cycle of "it's just stress".  I have an appointment this coming Monday with a new neurologist just to get his take on things.
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1831849 tn?1383228392
I have Secondary Progressive MS. It's yet another variation on the MS theme ;-) I started out with Relapsing remitting and, as with a significant # Relapsing Remitting people, it advanced to Secondary Progressive.

The central difference between the two is that some symptoms become constant, and worsen, with secondary progressive and we may or may not have major relapses. Everyday I have tinnitus. Every morning I have double vision caused by nystagmus for the first 3-5 minutes. I have urinary hesitancy all the time. I also have neuropathic foot pain on a regular basis.

So the short answer to your question, following a long explanation, is YES MS symptoms can be constant.

Kyle
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Debbie- thanks for you reply.  If I may ask you a question?  How long did it take you to get your diagnosis and what was your first symptom(s).  IF I do have MS I feel like I would have what you have.  For over a year I have just gotten worse and worse.  I'm at the point now where I can't stand or walk for too long or my legs just feel like they will give out on my.  My arms are week as well.  Some symptoms I have come and go every couple days but most never let up.
Thanks!
Robin
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Avatar universal
Thank you!  I have taken care of the "stress" as best I can right now by taking medications.  Anxiety not so much just because when another symptom pops up it increases my anxiety.  I'm still waiting for the lupus results and will follow up with my regular neurologist in January if that comes back negative.  Hope you all feel better!
Helpful - 0
749148 tn?1302860959
Hi,
My symptoms are constant... I have never had relaspes!  I have PPMS (primary progressive multiple sclerosis).  With this type of MS you just slowing decline with the symptoms never really going away.  I hope you're feeling better!
Debbie
~live as if all your dreams came true~
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Not for me personally, i have nothing like that, no feeling of some thing being stuck or my throat is swollen, the only thing I can think of that's similar throat wise that's MS related, is to actually get food stuck and choke due to the lack of muscle control the MSer may have. What your describing doesn't sound MSish to me, so it would be wise to get Lupus and that reflux idea checked out.

I have a theory about probably this or probably that dx's, it doesn't hurt any to actually make any of the recommended changes, if at the end of reaching their recommended goals and your still having sx's, then that idea is proven incorrect. Same applies to mental health, if it gets brought up eg stress, anxiety, depression etc then its actually a good idea to get your mental health assessed, if its proven 'incorrect' then just like any other diagnostic testing, you know for sure what it isn't and can move on to finding what it is!

Cheers...........JJ  
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Avatar universal
Hi...so I went to see that other neurologist and I was less pleased with him that my normal one.  I told him all my symptoms and he asked what my tests had shown.  When I told him they were normal he said well I think it's just stress.  I was so angry I just wanted to walk out of there.  He advised me to start exercising but then suggested I be tested for lupus.  I am still waiting for those results.  I am interested to know if any of you have experienced a tight feeling in your throat?  This symptom started for me about 2 weeks ago along with some discomfort in my tongue.  My throat feels swollen or like something is stuck there.
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Avatar universal
Hi...so I went to see that other neurologist and I was less pleased with him that my normal one.  I told him all my symptoms and he asked what my tests had shown.  When I told him they were normal he said well I think it's just stress.  I was so angry I just wanted to walk out of there.  He advised me to start exercising but then suggested I be tested for lupus.  I am still waiting for those results.  I am interested to know if any of you have experienced a tight feeling in your throat?  This symptom started for me about 2 weeks ago along with some discomfort in my tongue.  My throat feels swollen or like something is stuck there.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you everyone for your responses!  I am seeing a second neurologist tomorrow so I will let you all know what he says. When I started having this sensation in my throat it got me scared that it could be ALS since I know that condition keeps progressing.  I have had my thyroid checked three times so I don't think that's the problem as well as all my vitamins.  Do any of you have throat issues with your MS? I also think it could just be acid reflux or something possibly unrelated to my other symptoms. Thanks again!

Robin
Helpful - 0
645800 tn?1466860955
This is a simple explanation that may answer your question.

There are basically two types of MS even though they have more than two classifications in the medical world. These consist of relapsing-remission (RRMS) and progressive (with several sub classifications under this type).

With the RRMS as the name implies your have remissions (most or all of the symptoms go away over time) and relapses (where you experience the same or other symptoms). This is the type most people with MS have.

With the progressive types of MS the symptoms stay with you always. They may lessen to some extend but do not go away. But even with the progressive form we still have flares which of course increases our symptom load and and hence the progressive name. So yes MS symptoms can stay constant.

There is a health page topic that talks about the mimics that you might want to read. I don't think it lists all of the mimics but it does cover the most relevant and common ones. But I should also note that there are several people on the forum that have more than one autoimmune DX and in my case I have dual DX for a mimic (Sjogren's) and MS.

Dennis
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Off the top of my head i can think of....

Diabetes
Peripheral neuropathy
Thyroid conditions
Hypo glycemia
Vitamin deficiency eg B12
Viral infections
Nerve intrapment or inflamation
Circulation issues - eg varicos
Obesity
High blood pressure

There are others but these are the ones i can recall, oh it might be worth looking into thyroid issues considering your comment "recently have been experiencing a tight feeling in my throat or even like a lump feeling or something" this i think could be relating to thyroid, though i honestly dont know, it just sounds familiar to something i resently read about thyroid and worth considering.

Cheers.......JJ
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
For me I have had permanent double vision, vertigo, cognitive issues, muscle twitches, for 47 years. I have had leg weakness, fatigue, and muscle spasms for the last few years. This is why I thought the Doctors were nuts when they said I had MS. I said "But I have been this way most of my life."

Alex
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well in addition to the paresthesia I have muscle twitching all over.  I agree that the symptoms are mostly on my left side.  It has taken a year for me to get this bad but I guess what I'm saying is that it has steadily progressed without letting up even for a day.  I more recently have been experiencing a tight feeling in my throat or even like a lump feeling or something.  My eyes have become very sensitive to light and it almost feels like after you get your picture take with flash.  Like those flashes are always there.  I also see squiggly things sometimes.  I sometimes get cramping in my left leg and I get muscle spasms in my back that come and go.  Do you mind mentioning what the "other conditions with similar sx's" are?  I'm sorry I'm just starting to get really worried...
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi there,

I had to read back through your post history to try and find what sx's you might be talking about but i'm sorry i can only work out one sx,   paresthesia which is a sensation of tickling, tingling, burning, pricking, or numbness. Paresthesia is sensory, abnormal sensations as you've mention all fit into this one sx, its connected to a lot of other conditions and sometimes its the sx's pattern that can help point towards the more likely causes. Paresthesia in MS its basically classed as a secondary sx, primary sx's are neurological eg adult onset Nystagmus etc.

I'll 'basically' try to explain Paresthesia connected to MS so you can possibly get a better understanding of what we mean by sx pattern. You would of read that MS more 'typically' first presents unilaterally, so thats' one side of the body and because in MS Paresthesia and the other MS sx's are directly caused by where the lesion(s) are.

Unlike other condition with similar sx's, for it to be caused by MS it means the sx's just can't move around or spread up/across/all over or rapidly include both upper and lower motor tracks on both sides of the body etc. Basically more brain lesions equals more sx's, or the same sx but in a new area. Spinal lesions are different, but they usually have clinical signs as well eg clonus, hyper-reflex etc and its still more typical in one side or just the legs (lower) or just the arms (upper).

I hope that helps :o)

Cheers..........JJ    
Helpful - 0
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