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11079760 tn?1483386130

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As always, I'd love to hear the experiences from those of you who have been living with MS (or in limbo) for awhile. I'm still struggling to separate out what may be MS-related and what may be attributable to other things. I tend to assume things are not MS related more than they are, but then worry that I'm missing something important that I should report to my neurologist. So, here goes the list:

1. Some of you may recall I was having pretty severe foot and calf pain on my right side (99% of my Sx are right sided only). I actually wondered if I had plantar fasciitis and mentioned it to my MS neuro when I saw her last. She put me on a "just in case" low dose of oral prednisolone - I took two of the packs simultaneously, weening off the drug over 5 days. My foot and calf pains reduced immediately, and for the most part, I haven't experienced the same pains to the same extreme since. Could this still have been plantar fasciitis? Or is it likely MS-related? Or no way to know?

2. Anyone notice a correlation between Sx and diet? Curious if dairy or gluten is affecting anyone? I know dairy has become problematic & am starting to suspect gluten, too.

3. I've been getting a lot more zaps & zings and general burning sensations. They are typically in my legs/feet, but sometimes arms/hands. I have started noticing them on the left side, too. It's never all over - the jolts/burning typically chooses one spot at a time. Given my Sx have been right sided 99% of the time, should I be concerned that I'm having more left-sided issues?

4. Some days my legs and feet feel like cement blocks. Could this just be from fatigue? Is it something I should mention to my neurologist next time I see her?


None of these things individually is causing me to massively change up my life. It's just part of every day, and for the most part, I try to ignore it all and just live my life. I find it difficult to know what constitutes report-worthy.

Thanks all!
Cheryl
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11079760 tn?1483386130
Thanks, Dennis & Corrie! I am in general finding my legs/feet don't work as well as I'd like them to...but then again, I'm not really exercising (meaning not AT ALL), so I think that is probably the first thing to try to change before my next appointment in August.

Cheryl
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Avatar universal
Hi Cheryl!

As others have stated hard to tell about the fasciitis and the cement block felling should be mentioned to your neuro.

With respect to diet some folks find they feel better some don't. My understanding is that a lot of foods and ingredients (like sugar, red meat, gluten, etc...) cause an inflammatory response in your body.

I did some food sensitivity testing a year and a half ago (NAET) and interestingly, gluten is NOT a sensitivity for me. Even my neuro was surprised at that so I don't think foods will "fix" everything.

I did an elimination diet for a couple of months but found it very limiting and a general pain in the butt.

I have been eating a lot of my food sensitivity items (sugar, egg whites, oatmeal and dairy) the last few months though and other than a lot of bloating I have noticed no worsening in my MS symptoms.

Corrie

Helpful - 0
645800 tn?1466860955
Cheryl,
Your first question may be answered with no way to know. As Alex said plantar fasciitis is an inflammation, but so is MS. So it could have been reducing inflammation for the plantar fasciitis, or the inflammation of MS, or I guess maybe even both.
As for the cement blocks I would mention it to your Neuro. It was after I mentioned this to my Neuro that he took a closer look at my walking and noticed my foot drop.  I have noticed that the more fatigued I am the worse it is. And I'm sure you don't want to start having falling issues if this is the first sign of foot drop.

Dennis
Helpful - 0
11079760 tn?1483386130
Thanks both - I appreciate your responses. I think I will stick with the approach I've been taking. If it isn't really impacting my life (beyond being annoying), power through.
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667078 tn?1316000935
The plantar fascititus may be better from the steroids since it is inflammation. I used to get steroid shots in my feet. I still have it bad. I wear foot braces even to bed.

I do not know about diet and symptoms but it is possible.

At some point MS goes to both siides it depends on where the lesions are.
I would mention the cement blocks. They sent me to a PT. She gave me exercises.

Alex
Helpful - 0
5509293 tn?1428531475
Hi Cheryl,
Just a word of support. I hear ya. The cement feeling may very well be fatigue. I would mention it. I get that too, and for me I was told fatigue and given fatigue meds which work pretty well, but when it's hot, or I am overly extended, nothing helps the cement feeling.
I don't know if steroids would help plantar fascitiis. I'd think probably since they reduce inflammation.
I get both left and right sided symptoms, but started mostly with left side. In last year or so, I have more right sided ones.
Nothing of what you mention is likely to be more than noted by an observing, following neuro, but will be noted, just from my own experience.
Good luck, keep notes,
JdC
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