Have I got MS ?

[fionabop]

I have osteo arthritis in my spine for which I have been diagnosed, but recently I have been experiencing extreme and chronic pain in other joints...my hips, knees, ankles mainly, I have problems getting up after crouching and feel unable to walk and stand for long periods of time...I have had blood tests and ruematoid arthritis was ruled out however the pain has been put down to the osteo arthritis maybe spreading. I am experiencing pins and needles now constantly in my hands and sometimes in my feet but not as often. I get the feeling there are other problems and from reading articles I think it may be an onset of MS...just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar symptoms and what the outcome was ???? Thank you

[babybo215]

ive got fibomyalgia,me, cfs rhomatoid and oastio.arthritus,sad,and de quvains my freind has ms and she said ive got ms as ive got multiple illnesses could some one confirm 1 way or another thanks sarah j....  

[Heather8]

I am diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I have severe pain in back and hips.
I have osteoporosis in my spine.
The feeling to me is mostly a grinding sharp pain. It feels like my bone is splintered and my skin / muscles etc. are getting pinched between fractures.
It's not a good feeling. It's hard to explain.

[monotreme]

Have you been checked for Lyme?  Have you had a PCR or Western Blot for Lyme disease?  MS usually does not involve joint aches and pains.

Have you had an ANA titer (blood test)?

As wish for change says, check the Health Pages and check out MS mimics.   Have you told your primary doctor about these joint aches?

I wish you the best and hope that this forum can help you find some answers.

Elaine

[wishforchange]

I cannot comment on MS as I have myself never been diagnosed with it.  I advise you to check out the health pages above and look at the MS mimics section as well as others.  I am responding here as I have some similar problems to yours.  I have over the last few years had severe groin and hip pain, am female early forties.  Initially this was put down to osteoarthritis but the pain and weakness is out of all proportion to the level of damage.  One interesting finding in various tests was a severe vitamin d deficicency.  A typical symptom of this is difficulty crouching, which I have too.  Make sure you get that checked.  Re the tingling it may also be worth getting your b vitamin levels checked too.  I have an excellent nuitritionist, who explained to me that osteoarthritis along with rheumatoid arthritis is also an inflamatory condition, and is affected by your diet.  Maybe consider seeing a nuitritionist for the blood tests and advice.  Other possibilities, again going from my own findings, are problems in the spine causing referred pain and weakness to your hips and legs, and even the pins and needles.  One thing I have learned here is that MS is a diagnosis often of elimination, and it is important to have other areas of your health assessed first.  Of course a great next step is to have MRIs of spine and brain, if they have not already been done.  I am tentatively heading to some diagnosis and so far it is not MS, but many here are in the same boat, having to battle the whole gamut of tests to get the answer.  Do what you can for yourself, research and get several opinions from orthopedic and neurological doctors if needs be, see if physio helps, ask your general doctor for a complete blood work up, Renal, liver, thyroid, parathyroid, cortisol, acetylcholine, and the vitamins, the works.  And take 1500mg Glucosamine, daily.  Arthritis cannot be reversed but it will slow down its deterioration, and may help with the stiffness.  Good results have also been reported with Lubramine.  For me Glucosamine was a bit of a wonder pill regarding the hip stiffness.  Recently though I have regretably deteriorated rapidly and developed new problems with my eyes in particular.  But that's my problem, you may have a different outcome.  Oh, and get tests for autoimmune activity too.  Can't think of anything else right now.  Others here with more knowledge and more clued up than me, just happened to pick up you post first.  I hope your journey to diagnosis is trouble free, and you get the right answers.  It at the end of the day may be MS, but you need to be on top of all the possibilities before you or your doctors settle on this.  Hope one of the experts here answers you.