Possible Flare??? This is all so new to me:( I just don't know what to think!

[Twinsmom06]

As a quick background, I have a couple dozen lesions on the brain (one as large as 2x3 cm) and it was by chance I even had an MRI (looking for a pituitary tumor). Hind sight being 20/20 I can say with certainty I have had some MS like symptoms come and go over time (I am 31). I had negative LP, negative spinal MRIs and I am getting another MRI in about a month to check for changes.

About 2 months ago I had Novocain like numbing in my left hand that worked up my arm, across my left breast, left side of back and then up my neck and onto my jaw area on my face. This happened over the course of a couple of hours. Freaked me out enough to go to the ER and everything they checked was normal (except the fact that my arm felt like it was ON FIRE when they took by blood pressure...so odd. It went away within a couple of days and didn’t' really keep me from doing anything...just felt "funny".

Well today (again about two months later) my right arm is doing the same darn thing my left arm did. It feels very heavy as well, but again it does not keep me from doing anything..just feels "funny" and very noticeable. I also feel so very tired today. I nearly fell asleep at the wheel after diving home from a meeting about an hour away (not like me at all). The feeling of numbness also has fluctuated a bit throughout the day...can that happen with MS?

I'm just not sure what to consider a possible MS symptom. My doc said to let him know ASAP if anything new happens because we are doing the "wait and see" sort of approach right now. Even with all the other negatives he really thinks it is MS. I don't want to cry wolf and have to start on meds if I don't have MS. UGH....so frustrating. I just don't know what to do or if what I'm feeling is a part of this "probable" diagnosis :(

[jensequitur]

To make things worse, anxiety and panic can cause numbness, cold, and tingling in the face and hands!  Anxiety's a perfectly normal reaction.  When I was going through diagnosis, I would have anxiety attacks and my heart would race.  I didn't know what was wrong with me, and every time I had a new symptom, I would worry about it.

So don't be afraid to cry - crying is good for you.  Forums like this are great for me when I have a question about a symptom, or whether this is even an MS symptom.

Speaking of which, I wouldn't get too hung up about symmetrical or non-symmetrical symptoms.  What they say is that neurological symptoms from MS won't be symmetrical - that you're going to have right side weakness or left side spasms, etc.  If you have a spinal lesion, it'll cause symptoms on both sides, but they might be different symptoms.  Like spasms in one arm, and weakness in the other.  Or one arm is weak and the other arm is weaker.  

I personally have lesions in my spine, which causes weakness in my left and right arm and hand, and weakness in both legs.  My right side is definitely weaker than my left.

[Twinsmom06]

Thanks for your response Jen! Now my right side feels fairly normal (just that Novocain like feeling in my bisep area now) and my left side is feeling very much like it did a couple months ago...I can even feel it in my jaw again and down my leg. I know that most symptoms are not symetrical but can it start on one side (mild) and then show up onthe other side (more intense)? It's worse on the left now so not really symetrical...but same sort of feeling...more wide spread on my left side now...ugh!!!!!! I'm so very confused. And when I talk to people they say "are you stressed out", "is it panic"....I DON"T KNOW! Yes I am stressed...who isnt...lol. I'm really second guessing what is "real" and what is a result of some other "normal"  (non MS) issue. I just want to cry:(

[jensequitur]

I would definitely call the neuro about your new symptom.  Patients that are newly diagnosed or going through the process have a hard time distinguishing what's a flare from their 'new normal' - and it's because we feel like crud all the time anyway.  

After three or four years, you'll find as your disease stabilizes that you're actually able to discern good days from bad, and tell when you're going into a flare.  With your fatigue and your new arm symptoms, I think you're going into another flare.

My MS symptoms fluctuate throughout the day.  They're okay in the morning, get worse throughout the day, and get better after 5:00 pm.  At night (8:00-9:00 pm) I feel better and less fatigued.