ONE LEG VS BOTH LEGS NUMBNESS TINGLING?

[RAY911]

Hi there,

i've had such extreme fatigue so have not been on much last few days.

I have a question on the medhelp ms symptoms it said:


One side of your torso or body being numb with tingling and/or a burning sensations-numbness in any body part /face or even your scalp


I'm actually having numbness and tingling on both sides (Legs)
so does this mean its not ms related?  or have I misunderstood?

Looking forward to my next MRI WITH and without contrast, I'm curious becsues i've felt so awful and so many different weired symptoms.

Thanks
Ray

[shoshin]

Thank you for the clear explanation. However, I am struggling a little to fit this with my experience.

I am starting to doubt myself a little--maybe I don't really have MS? The symptoms in my feet and legs really came on gradually, but definitely seemed symmetrical and also started primarily in the feet and generally moved upwards (did have a little tingling in the knees at the very beginning). The symptoms are probably slightly less equal now, but not significantly and oddly, at my last neuro exam, I had the impression the left leg was doing worse, but if you had asked me beforehand, I would've said the right was worse because that's the one that occasionally feels like it wants to give way. Or perhaps because the symptoms used to be milder, I just didn't perceive the differences clearly?

Do you think there's anything else that could be causing my problems?

To recap my situation, I have 3 c-spine lesions, a couple "spots" on the brain, 13 oligoclonal bands, symptoms ongoing for seven years now with one isolated, temporary (10-14 days), sensory incident several years before I knew I had a problem. I had a ton of stuff ruled out--lip biopsy for Sjogren's, EMG/NCV, test for small fiber PN, urine test for heavy metals, lots of blood tests (B12 and other vitamins, 2-hour blood glucose, NMO, ANA and some other inflammatory stuff, HIV, Hep C, etc., etc.)

But maybe there is something else that I should be thinking about?

(I know there probably isn't, but just in case...)

sho

[ohwild]

that was an intresting question, makes me look back over my tingles and how they started, mine started in scalp first many years ago just got used to it and ignored it, then couple years ago it started in my right forearm about a year ago it didnt hurt so i ignored it again, last xmas i had it in left leg and butt, the doc said it was caused by my back. 3 months ago it started full on in my face was very painful. then up my spine both legs and both arms, I have had labrynitis( sorry about spelling) for about a month on and off. it is not constent which is why my neuro wrote me off as daft in the head. but now im a bit stuck because i have numb places which stay numb. so i hoping that the mri scan will show something up if not i guess i will be in limboland for a long time.
best wishes
CJ

[6-paq]

My symptoms of tingling in the bottom of my feet has been bilateral.  Over time, I have noticed it a bit worse on the left side.  Both of my hips ache, but the left is a bit worse (especially today when it's cold and rainy).  If I'm sleeping on my right side, my right aches worse.  Lower back ache is dead center.  I get mild aching down both my left and right leg, but the left is a more intense.

The fine tremors I have in my hands are bilateral with the right being slightly more intense.   The minor pain/slight numbness in my ring and pinky fingers are also bilateral.  Sometimes my left elbow feels more "awkward", sometimes it's the left.  It all depends on what I'm doing (typing at the computer, working more with my left hand, etc.).  When I don't use my hands and arms alot, the aching goes away.

Both of my ears ring, but I have pulsatile tinnitus in the left ear.  

I totally understand what Quix is saying, but I'm trying to see where my Sx fit in.  I guess I'm just atypical. LOL!

[Quixotic1]

This is always a difficult topic to "explain."  Once you understand the concepts it is simple to understand.

MS attacks of demyelination occur pretty randomly.  They can occur in any place of the white matter of the brain and spine, but there are certain areas that occur more frequently.  The attacks - and thus, the lesions - occur one at a time.  And they do not occur in pairs exactly at the same place on both sides of the brain or spine.

The answer is that MS occurs assymetrically.  But, because it tends to go for the same spots, it often will hit nearly the same spots of each side of the brain/spine eventually.  So, in the beginning, a person would notice that maybe the right foot would become tingly.  Eventually, it would be common also for the other foot to become tingly.  It might even happen quickly.

Remember that the spot that in the brain or spinal cord that deals with one point in the body is separated, sometimes by quite a distance, from the spot that deal with the same point on the other side of the body.

In general, people with MS that have nearly the same symptoms on both sides will tell you that there are some differences between the two sides.  Maybe one side is worse, or the paresthesia covers more area.  Or one side fatigues faster and lasts longer.  Eventually there can be so many lesions that many symptoms feel the same on both sides.  There is a "generally symmetrical" pattern to someone with a lot of lesions, but it is not a "mirror image."

Does this make sense?  I guess I am trying to emphasize that lesions happen one at a time and don't happen in matching pairs.

People who have the sudden onset of a symptom exactly in both legs or feet, or both arms (or all four limbs) are much less likely to have MS.  That kind of "mirror-image" symmetrical symptoms are more likely to be a body-wide systemic problem, like a Vitamin Deficiency, a metabolic problem like Diabetes, or some such.

The difference here is the way the symptoms "appeared."  After a longer time of disease the symptoms can be more "symmetrical" or both-sided.

Quix

[shoshin]

My impression is that it's more common with MS to have asymmetric symptoms. I think certain kinds of causes, like metabolic problems, are more likely to cause symmetrical symptoms whereas MS lesions can cause symptoms in various discrete places.

That said, I have been dx'd with MS and my numbness and tingling is pretty symmetrical, especially in the legs. My left hand and arm is worse than the right, but it is more a matter of degree than different kinds of feelings (or lack of feeling).

FWIW.

sho

[aura3]

I to have numbness on both sides of my body in my feet, lower leg, hands and fore arms.  Although mine at times feels like something that is very heavy is wrapped around my lower leg and fore arm.  At Which turns into pain and more fatigue.  I am a Limbo-lander.  With clear brain MRI's (except as explained a varicose vain that could case sezuires. They are sending for a EEG to figure that one out) I go in on June 15Th for my MRI of my spine and neck. My Neuro expects Vasculitis or MS. He thinks that by my next visit he will be able to tell me what is wrong.  I can only Hope.
Hope you feel better!
God bless,
Aura

[denise61]

Hi Ray,  I also have numbness on both sides , hole body numbness, my hole bodys numb 24-7 head to toe it ranges depending on  my bo dy temp!!  

hot showers, workout, sun!!! they all can get me so numb unable to walk, or use my hands stress too, stress can make ms worse.  I get all kinds of weiord stuff happening,   Iam undx but I do have my first mri conclusion: moderate cerebral white matter disease.                          

[RAY911]

Thank you for your post.

Yes i'm a Limbolander..... my last MRI showed subcortical and cerebral hemispheres and frontal lobe lesions

I have terrible fatigue/ my memory ugggggggggg,,, that's all I can say
then numbness tingling in both legs,, weakness, its hard for me to even walk up stairs, feels like my legs are 500 pounds a piece.

again thankyou
Ray

[Tahiri_Veila]

I have numbness and tingling on both sides too.  I do not know if it is related to MS or not.  Are you a Limbolander?  Just curious.  Let me know how the MRI goes.  I know that my neurologist is looking for MS.  But almost all my symptoms appear on both sides with maybe one side being a little more affected.  So maybe, but I do not know.
  Tahiri