Presentation of symptoms

I keep reading here that symptoms in MS usually affect just one side of the body, or at least the vast majority of symptoms affect one side more than the other.

I'm wondering about how my symptoms past and present would be viewed in terms of MS. During my initial episode seven years ago one of the things I experienced was numbness that literally covered the whole back side of my body. I was numb from the back of my head all the way down to the back of my ankles. In all of the reading I've been doing in regards to MS I have yet to come across anyone else stating they had symptoms that affected either just the front or back of the body.

Recently I began experiencing  a vibration that was only in my lower left leg and foot initially but I can now feel it on the whole back side of my body. It's very slight and I can only feel it if I hold very still and "listen" closely, but it's definitely there.

This has me wondering if the location of these symptoms could rule out MS?

[jdcatt]

I meant to include that I have only heard of people saying that it was only the left or right side of the body affected. :-)

[shoshin]

I don't know the answer to your question, but most of my symptoms have come on fairly symmetrically (right and left side) and I still got dx'd with MS. One neuro told me that those kinds of more widespread sensory and motor symptoms tend to be caused by spinal cord lesions, which is mostly what I have. Have you had MRIs of your spinal cord?

sho

[shoshin]

I have also heard that symptoms tend to come to affect both sides over time as more damage is done, although that doesn't sound like that's your situation (or mine).

sho

[drsdonthelp]

I am not dx with ms, still in limbo, however, the very first time that I felt something or in this case "couldn't move" was 9 yrs ago and I couldn't move both of my legs while lying in bed. Both of my legs at the same time were very weak and I couldn't lift them up on my own.

[COBOB]

Spinal MS Lesions can effect both lower legs.  I guess cervical lesions cold effect both arms.  The left or right sided effects are related to white matter lesions of the cerebrum.

Bob

[drsdonthelp]

Thanks Bob for explaining. Not one dr. ever explained that to me, and I never wanted to imply or ask.

[jdcatt]

No, I haven't had a spinal MRI yet but on my last visit my neuro said that he'd like to have one done but wanted to see if anything changed between that visit and the next one. I'm supposed to see him again tomorrow for my next visit but we're getting hammered by a snow storm right now. I'm hoping his office will be open tomorrow. Things have gotten worse since I last saw him..so we'll see what he says. If I get in to see him that is.

Thank you for answering shoshin. I hadn't heard that both sides can become affected over time as the disease progresses.

[jdcatt]

I second drsdonthelp, thanks for sharing that. I didn't know that either.