Statistics on the Hereditary factor of MS??

[fibrotj]

Anyone know the statistics on the hereditary factor of MS?? I've been coming here, for over 4 years now...thinking I might possibly have MS! Not only because of my MS-type symptoms...but bc my 2nd cousin, who has MS...said I needed to RUN to a Neuro...when hearing my early symptoms. Funny thing...she & I had been "comparing symptoms" for years...thinking we must have the same thing.

I kept thinking I recalled my grandfather (Mom's dad) having Parkinson's...but wasn't sure...as I never saw him much (grandparents had divorced yrs ago). Well...I was wrong. She said that his disabilities were all from a stroke. THEN she said...."You know that your Dad has MS don't you?" I said "WHAT?...NO...I did NOT know this!" Apparently...she had just "assumed" that I knew all these years!

My mom had divorced my real Dad when I was just a baby...remarried...& moved us off to OK...then on to Tenn. (where my adoptive father was from). I only got to see my real "Portuguese" Grandmother (biological father's Mom) a couple of times in my younger years...then only got to speak to her on the phone later on life...bc her & my other grandmother (Mom's mom) were still good friends & spoke often via phone. (Portuguese Grandmother lived in Calif.). My aunt told me that years ago...my real Dad had to move back in with my Grandmother (his Mom)...due to his progressive disabilities of MS! I'M FLABBERGASTED!!! I've been searching all this time...as to my correct Dx (as I don't think Fibro is it!)...& all this time I never knew that my real Dad has MS!! I've lost contact with both him & my grandmother...as when I tried to call them both, 8 yrs ago...all their numbers had been disconnected...haven't been able to find them since (no one has)!

So...I'm just wondering what the statistics are regarding the hereditary factor of MS!!?? Being that I have ALL the symptoms...I'm realing freaking out!! ANYONE?? TIA! {{hugs}}
~tj

[Angela1956]

Thank you so much for sharing! I have just about all the sx you've described and so far all I've been told is I have FMS. I believe I have more than that. I'm still going through medical investigations. I have been unable to work for 14 months and have been getting progressively worse. I walk with elbow crutches because of weakness and severe pain and yet with visible swelling I feel I'm not taken seriously. I am not depressed but frustrated.  anyone

[fibrotj]

Just wanted to say thank you...for your responses.  Have been busy lately.  I guess I'm just going to have to get back in to see another Neuro...soon!  The other health forum that I belong to sure seems to have many with MS...who also have direct family members with it too...or know those who do...although, certainly not in ALL cases!  I'm thinking it goes something like this...MAYBE we are born with the gene (hereditary)...yet, certain environmental hazards/chemicals, viruses, etc..."turn on" that gene...giving us MS!  IDK...but sounds plausible to me!   Interesting!  {{hugs}}
~tj

[COBOB]

Identical twins have about 10 times (1 in 70) the incidence of the general population ~(1 in 700).  First order relatives have about 7 times (1 in 100) the incidence of the general population.  

There are certain genetic alleles that seem to predispose someone to developing MS, but MS is not a genetic disease.  The predisposition seems to be associated with certain HLA alleles.

I have a 2nd order uncle with MS.  That is about a 1:400 incidence rate.  Past second order, thinks go to about the incidence in the general population.  

Bob

[jujuminx]

Well, goodness, you have had your share of physical challenges haven't you?  I am so sorry!

While many of your sx are common with MS, not all of them are sx of it. But as we all say here, it is possible to have multiple medical issues. Not every sx you have has to be caused by MS if you have MS. And as far as increased odds of having MS with a close relative with it, I can't give you an exact number but your odds definately increase.

I am not a big one for percentages though. No one in my family has ever been dx with MS yet I have it.  I think the challenge of MS is that there are so many components that go into whether or not someone gets it. Probably with some there is a much stronger genetic link, with others possibly more of viral link, and still others a combo of that and other things. Idk.

The important thing is that you get the right tests. Has the dr ever suspected you have MS?  What kinds of tests have been done that have or haven't ruled it out? Certainly if he/she didn't know our your family history, that is something you need to mention to them.

Stop worrying about your chances of having MS w your family history of it and just make sure you get the testing you need. Be your own best advocate!  

A dx of MS is not a death sentence but it does mean that you will be eligible to take dmd's that can help slow the progression of it so please don't delay and speak with your dr.

Good luck,

Julie

[fibrotj]

BTW...I haven't listed my many symptoms in this forum in 4 yrs...& my "symptoms list" has grown quite extensively.  Here it is:

These are my list of symptoms:

• Numerous paresthesias (numbness, tingling, pins-&-needles, burning, stabbing, bug biting/crawling, itching, vibrating/buzzing, etc…sensations)…burning & numbness are worse in my face, hands, & feet, however, I’ve woken up a number of times to total right-side numbness, that took 1-2 hours for feeling to come back.
• Fluctuating body temps…freezing/shivering one minute…literally sweating the next (constantly swinging back & forth…wake up soak & wet from sweat at night sometimes…this is NOT menopause…as I had Total hysterectomy at age 25)
• Irregular breathing & heart beat patterns;  continuous palpitations
• Feeling faint when I stand up from sitting/laying down…almost blacking out…or actually do on occasions (have done this since a child)
• Passing out/feeling faint after a hot shower/bath (have also done this since childhood)…heat intolerant since adulthood – makes me ill/faint/weak
• Severe Anxiety attacks out of nowhere (no reason for them)…that can last for days on end/keeps me up at nights
• Dx with IBS (& possibly gastroparesis…according to previous testing) & GERD
• Bladder/bowel issues (spastic bladder, interstitial cystitis?, can’t control bladder…or on occasion, bowels)
• Off-&-on spells of severe chest pains (admitted to ER recently as possible heart attack victim…had all signs…chest pain in center, severe nausea, dizziness, & arm numbness for 24 hrs+)…usually lasts for ~3 months at a time;  was Dx with Pleurisy twice…all other times revealed clear X-Rays.
• PAIN that moves around:  flu-like aching, stabbing/electric-shock like pains
• Joint Pain…Swollen Joints/feet/ankles/hands/fingers…can’t use my right & left-hand-middle & ring fingers sometimes;  have sprained my right ankle twice (it swells the worst).
• Severe muscle cramps & stiffness…especially in neck/shoulders, feet, arms/shoulders (mostly right), & both legs (hamstring is very stiff/painful in right leg)…worse in the mornings (very difficult to get up out of bed & around)…& late at night
• Severe muscle spasms/contractions:  have had left side of face to “draw up” several times, & now it seems semi-paralyzed;  have severe jaw muscle contractions that lock my jaw/mouth shut
• TMJ…have had this since my early 20’s…splints have not helped
• Bruise easily…numerous broken & varicose veins…veins are clearly visible through skin
• SCOLIOSIS...started getting this as a child...goes along with a chest deformity as well (right side is indented…left side protrudes).  I also have a HERNIATED DISC at C5-C6, along with a Reversed-Curve C-Spine.  These have both been noted in my charts by almost ALL my docs & specialists.
• Muscle weaknesses where sometimes my legs will just go limp…like “noodle legs”(here lately…I’ve been having DAYS at a time, when they feel like this all day long…especially if I do some walking…feels like they start trying to “go numb/to sleep” on me)…or sometimes I’ll just suddenly drop things, as if my hands/fingers quit working…right-hand wrist sometimes goes limp (although, have had carpel tunnel in right wrist years ago), can hardly open lids anymore
• Vision problems:  goes blurry;  lost center of vision in left eye for 3 months, 2 yrs ago;  see numerous spots/floaters…see things flying at me in my peripheral vision that aren’t there;  continually get inflammation under left eye lid…which does NOT respond to Steroid drops;  was told I was getting early glaucoma
• Hearing problems…appears that I am loosing my hearing;  sometimes hear “things/noises” that aren’t really there;  get continual sharp stabbing pain in inner ears (especially right);  have severe itching in internal-ears
• Tremors as of 4 yrs ago (head & right hand…but have had all-over body tremors also…have been having frequent, odd “internal tremors” as of lately)
• Have been Dx as Hypoglycemic as a child…but also have severe hypoglycemic symptoms any time I get hurt (even mildly…such as falling, bumping into things, or smashing a finger) or experience sudden stress/trauma
• Horrible balance/coordination issues:  always feel like I’m “falling to the right”, stumbling around, bumping into walls/furniture, always having to “catch myself”…always dropping things, knocking things over, “missing” things/door handles when I reach for them, tripping over nothing, etc… (was never like this in younger yrs)
• Dizziness/Vertigo
• Cognitive/Memory problems:  can no longer remember anything or recall words/names (word recall disorder started about 12 yrs ago…has gotten much worse);  can’t concentrate or multi-task;  have frequent “brain crashes” where my mind completely shuts down for a short duration & I’m completely unaware of surroundings/events till it “comes back online” (caused me to have a car wreck once…people have suggested that maybe I’m having partial/complex seizures?);  can’t calculate; etc…
• Speech/language problems:  stuttering, dyspraxia, dysarthria, dysphasia (all come & go at different times)
• Dysphagia (swallowing problems…food gets backed up into velopharygeal cavity…have to tuck my chin to swallow)…also feels as if I have a “lump” in my throat…get sore throats often…have noticed that my swallow reflex is difficult to initiate at times.
• Recurrent mouth ulcers…Periodontal gum disease (both off-&-on)
• Diagnosed with Migraine Disorder…headaches are at the base of my skull (lower occipital lobe)…pain is excruciating & radiates upwards, & down my neck & shoulders…I can feel my heart beating in that area (base of skull)…feels like “something” is putting pressure on a nerve?...making me severely nauseous & dizzy & causes me to vomit.  They can lasts for days/week without intervention…can’t tolerate light, sound, or any type of stimulation.
• Severe sinus/allergy/asthma issues;  had bronchitis yearly as a child (sometimes several times a year)…had pneumonia at age 9;  had nasal surgery…Turbinate Reduction with Polyp removal… 7 years ago…that I have YET to heal from…left a dime-sized hole in the middle of my septum.  I also believe that I had a CSF leak for about 2 yrs…as my 2nd ENT had agreed.  It seemed to have healed itself gradually…just prior to my 1st visit with him (although, I didn’t realize that this is what was wrong…until AFTER the fact).
• Extremely sensitive to light, sound, temperatures, touch, crowds/stimulation, medications, etc…
• FATIGUE & Exhaustion!!

Should I be more worried??  Thanks
~tj