MS or Pinched Nerve??? I'm worried.

[Lgprblm]

I'm 35.  I've fallen down and up the steps several times in the last three months (mostly at work, which is incredibly embarassing.)  I've also fallen when trying to get up from a water slide and while playing softball for no apparent reason.  It seems my left leg is just disappearing.  I'll be walking or moving, and it just acts like it's not there, so I fall.  There's no warning and no pain (except from the injuries from the fall.)  I just get back up and start walking again.  I have also had many problems holding my bladder for many years.

My mother has multiple sclerosis and has had it since my birth.  I'm worried that I might have it.  I had two car accidents 15 years ago, and I fall down the steps ten years ago.  Those things have caused chronic lower back pain, and I've seen a chiropractor for years for those.

Could it be MS or just a pinched nerve?   Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated!  

Thank you!  Karina

[Lgprblm]

Rick,

Thank you so much for your response.  I am trying to get into a neurologist next week, and I will request many of these tests.  

I wish you luck in your diagnosis.  I've lived with my mother's MS my whole life, and my ex-husband was diagnosed with MS five years ago (while we were still together).  I've been trying to get away from this disease my entire life, and I think that something's trying to tell me that I'm going to have to deal with it one way or another.  I came to this forum for information because I do not want to burden my family.

I do know that if you are diagnosed positively for MS, if you get on the shots immediately, you can mitigate the long term damage it can do to your body.  The shots will prolong the time between the attacks and lessen the severity of the attacks.  If you are diagnosed, please get on the shots immediately.  

Thank you for your response, and good luck to you!!
Karina

[Lgprblm]

Rick,

I wish you all the luck.  Have you received your diagnosis yet?  I do hope that it is not MS.  However, if it is, please be assured that there are things that can be done to mitigate the disease.  There is hope.

You are in my prayers.
Karina

[Ramraji]

Karina,

I'm pretty sure I've read some posts from people with sudden leg weakness I just can't point you to one right now. My own symptoms started about 3yrs ago with dizziness and ringing in the ears. I just started getting some problems with my legs and hands 3 months ago. It started with numbness and tingling, but now I have some spasms and leg pain. Thankfully, its not so painful that I need to use pain pills yet.

Thanks for the advice about the shots. I have been reading about the different drugs. I am seeing a MS specialist tomorrow and will go through my timeline of symptoms and test results. Hopefully, this will lead me to the answer of my Dx question.

I hope that you will find the answers to your questions also. It is possible that yours is not MS related because of all the accident trauma that you had in the past. I'll pray for you that it is something correctable. I'm trying to be hopeful mine is not MS, but I'm preparing myself for the day of an MS Dx if it should come.

[risnerrose]

Karina,

I have not been diagnosed yet -still in that limbo stage.  I am simply trying to become my own advocate.    

I hope you see a doctor soon.  If you can't get in to see a neurologist, consider going to a GP.  I actually am happy to have a family doctor to go to.  She is much easier to get an appointment with, and I have gone in just to discuss my current situation.  My GP was the one who ordered my MRI, so that I had it done when I finally got in to see the neurologist.  I feel she is more invested in my total health.  

Keep us posted.  

Sherry    

[Lgprblm]

Sherry,

Thank you for your reply.  I completely understand what you're saying.  It's a very strange and scary feeling.  I'm a professional business woman, and when I've fallen, it's been in front of coworkers.  They look at me like I must be in pain and want to help.  I just get back up and say, "It happens all the time" and laugh it off while I cry inside.  I cannot wait to figure out what is happening.  I am very tired this weekend, but I'm not sure if it's just from the emotional stress of not knowing what's going on or something else.  I'll let you know what I find out.  

I had an issue about a month ago with swallowing where I felt exactly like you describe above with your leg where I could not swallow.  I was just stuck.  

How long ago were you diagnosed?  

Thank you,
Karina

[risnerrose]

Karina,

I've had a few episodes where my right arm and leg became suddenly "weak".  I refer to it as weakness, only because I'm uncertain how else to describe it.  One episode left me standing on a sidewalk with my daughter and a friend (neither of whom were aware I had been having symptoms), and I was unable to lift my foot.  We were just walking along and all at once I couldn't move another step.  The oddest part was that I could not tell where my foot ended and the concrete began.  I felt that if I could "will it" I could move it . . . I was mistaken . . no amount of concentration allowed me to lift my foot.  It was as you describe - as if I had no leg, or that my leg was not mine but someone elses.  Fortunately I did not fall, and the event passed in a few minutes.  This was the moment my secret was out.  I matter-of-factly said, "Welcome to my world of weird stuff."  My muscles felt fatigued for about 24 hours.  I've had other episodes, but have been able to "move" through them.  Transcient Ischemic Strokes were considered, until lesions were found on my MRI.    

Sherry

[Lgprblm]

Rick,

I also noticed a lot of people saying things about their legs, but most of them experienced tingling or numbness.  I haven't noticed either.  My leg just stops working with no warning.  Have you seen any postings with that type of symptom?

Thank you,
Karina

[TreDawg]

I'm in the process of finding out if I have MS. For the last 4 or 5 years, my left left gets weak and starts dropping. Sometimes it just goes out from under me. I've been told I have a pinched nerve in my neck and hip. I don't know what's happening. Waiting for that call...

[Ramraji]

Hello Karina,  I'm new to this forum and I am in the process of getting a diagnosis. I can't say if your symptoms indicate MS or not because I'm not an MD. If you read some of these other posts what you describe is something others have  called leg drop.

Since you have a parent with MS you should see a MS competent Neurologist and get some testing done. If you read this forum you will see that it can be challenging to get a definite MS Dx. You should start by getting some tests done like an MRI of the Brain, Cervical spine,Thorasic spine w/contrast along with some other blood tests to eliminate MS "mimics". There are a few other tests that can be done but that is where a lot of people start out.

This forum is a great place to get support and information so you have come to the right place to begin your search for answers.

I wish you all the best in search to find out for certain if you  have  MS or not.

Rick