Tingling, worried I have MS

[skleep]

First of all I do have OCD and I can be a little bit of a worrywart- so I apologize if this unintentionally offends anyone!

Basically, after holding a heavy object with my elbow bent for about thirty minutes straight, I noticed some very subtle tingling on my pointer finger the next morning.  This was 3 days ago.  The tingling would go away and come back depending on the time of day, and what action I was performing.  Then, when I read bout MS, I started to notice this feeling of bad circulation in my arm.  Now, three days later, the tingling is almost entirely better, but if I move my wrist or elbow it comes back.  My mother said this is most likely carpal tunnel syndrome from typing and from carrying that food for so long.

The tingling in my finger is almost entirely gone now, but now I'm just getting these random, very subtle feelings of pins and needles anywhere. It seems like the  more I think about it, the worse it gets.  It doesn't hurt or anything, and so far (knock on wood) I don't feel dizzy. But the more anxious I get, the worse the symptoms get.  This morning for example my right calf felt slightly weak- i wasn't falling over or anything but now I'm afraid to walk in case I do fall down.  I'm also feeling the most subtle sensation of tingling on my left foot but I can't tell if it's just my mind or not.

Any tips on how MS tingling usually presents itself?  I want to see a doctor but my family is saying to wait a week or so because they think it's my anxiety and they don't want me to feed my anxiety.  How did tingling present itself with you at first, and did it get better after a day, or did it get worse?  Did it switch from one area to another, or did it slowly creep over a large area?

[supermum_ms]

Hi there, from what you have described is happening, it isn't the same as what happens to people who do have MS!

It can't be MS, because it would be impossible for the sx's to rapidly spread or "creep over a large area", "switching from one area to another", "feelings of pins and needles anywhere" and it doesn't get worse or better by thinking about it, none of that would be possible because of how MS works.

Honestly, if you have become afraid to walk because you're really worried about falling over and you know that you have absolutely no physical reason to fear falling, then your fear's and anxiety have more than likely grown to levels that are not in your best interest and it is your 'anxiety' that needs to be your primary focus at this moment in time.

If you can't get control of your thoughts with out help, please speak to your parents and seriously consider seeking medical assistance to give you additional help, so you can get it back under control.

Cheers.......JJ

    

[SarahL2491]

you should surely get an answer from one of the many forums you have posted this on!  You gave them more information than you gave us, and after reading them, I don't think its MS  
Good luck!

[SarahL2491]

Ok, remember, this is the week-end, not everyone checks their forum mail on week-ends.  I just happened to be going thru here.

Stop googling!  It's a dangerous!  MS will show up 95% on every thing out there as the symptoms are so varied.  Google basically does CYA.

There are NO "usual" symptoms,  MS is an individualized disease that affects everyone differently.  You can't plug in symptoms and get a Dx.
It often takes years and frustrating visits from one specialist to another to get
a Dx. this going to your doctor won't get you an instant answer.

MS is a slow mover.  It's often difficult to dx on first symptoms.  Some get lucky and the signs have been there for years, undetected, and can be picked up by a smart dr when viewing a good MRI...........but not often.  I spent 30 yrs with MS before getting a Dx and only the last 6 yrs beat my head against a wall going from to neuro to neuro, test after test, you get the idea........its long, enduring, costly testing, frustrating, and then expensive when you get it, so I truly hope you don't have it.  

There are over 20 other diseases that "mimic" MS and these all have to be ruled out with tests and blood tests and such.  You have not said how old you are, but you talk like you perhaps live at home.  You can also feed into symptoms if you suffer from anxiety, so in that respect, perhaps your mom is right.  Have you ever heard the experiment that was done where people all day told someone they looked ill and they wound up going home, actually ill?  I have seen it happen.  You find something you think you have and look for the symptoms of it and you wind up making your symptoms "fit".

Now let's address your symptoms.  It is always possible you have strained a muscle, have something pinched near/at a nerve, there are neuro tests to determine this, and it may be caused by something you have done earlier.  You may have "irritated" something by carrying, say food as your mom says, for a long period of time.  My hubby gets similar events just from holding the computer mouse for long periods and he won't listen, he just keeps doing it, so I don't listen anymore!

My advice would be just to forget about it for awhile, if its MS, it will pop up again and eventually will be enough for your family doctor to say you need an MRI or a visit to a neurologist but then that's coming from someone (such as your doctor) who is looking at what you present with, objectively, and not with any anxiety (such as you say you have) and can make clear decisions.

I hope all turns out ok!