Possible MS- How do I cope with the extreme numbness?

[MVeronikas]

I have gotten MRI results from PCP that I have a 75% chance of MS. (Lesions on brain and spine) I see the neurologist next week. I have severe numbness in my right arm/hand and heavyness in right leg. Within a five day period I had pain, tingling, heavyness and then the extreme numbness. I feel like my arm is not really my arm. It is hard to use fine motor skills and difficult to coordinate arm movements. The numbness is so debiltating and now I have a feeling of extreme pressure like my arm and hand are being crushed. The heavyness in my leg seemed to ease up a bit, it is still evident but it seems like I can walk better (my gait was off but it seems to have straightened but then goes back to being off). What is really frusturating is of course the waiting game to get into the neurologist and find out what is exactly wrong. My main question is will I get normal functionality back and if so, when? I know it seems an impossible question but I am trying to cope with this and be able to carry on with my normal activities. Is there hope of this symptom easing up or going away and if so, what are the signs of remission? Any help out there would be greatly appreciated.

Maddy

[MVeronikas]

I would like to thank everyone for all the advice and comfort! I would like to say more, but I'm so debilitated right now. I can't use my left arm, which makes it impossible to type anything at all. I feel like my arm is being crushed, and the numbness is beyond belief! I wish this would ease up! Its driving me mad!

Maddy

[MCBCON]

I wish I could say that I am happy you joined our forum.  But, I would rather that you had no need to come here.

We cannot answer for you whether or not or when you will stop experiencing the problems.  It could turn out the go away today and never show up again. But, then you might have this problem continually for the rest of your life.

We in this forum can relate to most everything you have mentioned.  Coping is a day to day affair.  Read though some of the postings on this forum and you find folks here coping with these problems and much more.  Take heart in that living with MS, if that is what you have, is something you can do.

Good luck and keep in touch.

Michael

[jensequitur]

I hate playing the waiting game!  Maddy, my right arm and hand went out last year - extreme numbness, weakness, proprioperception problems (feels like it's not there)...  For a while I was chopping vegetables with my left hand, drinking with my left hand, and even trying to write... It's back now.  I still have some weakness in that arm - it gets tired easily, and when it gets tired, it starts cramping.  But it's back!  I can write again and paint, which is a relief.

[Heather3418]

I am sorry that a possible diagnosis of MS has brought you to the MS forum, but we are all glad that you joined us.  You will find great friendship and compassion here.  This is a group of people that don't speak out of both sides of their mouths, when they say that they are concerned about you, they really mean it.  This is a genuine group of very fine people.

What T-Lynn tells you about remissions and your degree of recovery is extremely accurate.  It may be a complete recovery after the relapse or may be incomplete.  The earlier in the disease course, the more recovery you seem to encounter from your "attacks."  At first the body is able to repair the myelin that is lost, but it is never as good as the original myelin.  After a while, the body is no longer able to repair the damaged area and replaces that area with scars, which are not effective for nerve conduction transmission.  This, as you probably know, if hence the name Multiple Sclerosis, meaning multiple scars.

The waiting game is the hardest part of this process.  Once you know for sure that MS is what you are dealing with, there are many injectable drugs on the market today, that can help in preventing alot more relapses and more brain atrophy, caused by MS.  They are not fool proof and will not affect symptoms from MS.  I have heard that there is a pill form of these MS disease modifying drugs, is soon to be released.

If there was ever a "good" time to be diagnosed with MS, this is it.  Compared to ten years ago, they had little to offer us.

My name is Heather and I have been diagnosed with MS for 13 years.  I am 54 years old.

Again, welcome to the Forum.  There will be more members that will post, to greet you and offer you a soft shoulder to lean on.  That's what we are all about here.  Support.  Through the good times, as well as the bad.

WELCOME,
Heather

[young at heart]

WELCOME TO OUR CYBER FAMILY.

I'M SORRY THAT THE POSSIBLE MS DIAGNOSIS HAS BROUGHT YOU HERE,WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

ITS HARD TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS,ITS A GOOD POSSIBLITY YOU CAN GO INTO REMISSION.REMISSION IS WHEN YOUR SYMPTOMS RETURN TO NORMAL.YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET ALL THE NUMBNESS OUT OF YOUR ARM,MUCH DEPENDS ON THE LOCATION OF THE LESIONS.

YOUR PCP HAS MOVED SWIFTLY BY GETTING YOU INTO A NEUROLOGIST.YOUR NEUROLOGIST CAN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS BETTER THAN WHAT I CAN.

IF INDEED THIS IS MS,YOUR NOT ALONE,THERES MANY THAT WILL BE ALONG LATER TO WELCOME YOU.

ALSO MS IS LIVEABLE AND IT CAN BE MANAGED THROUGH ONE OF THE DISEASE MODIFYING MEDS.MANY HERE WORK AND HAVE VERY PRODUCTIVE LIVES.

MS EFFECTS ALL OF US DIFFERENTLY,IT HELPS BY KEEPING A JOURNAL,IS THIS YOUR FIRST ATTACK?

WELCOME

T-LYNN