Your FIRST MS symptom?

[cardiactec]

Just wondering - What was your first MS symptom/symptoms?

[patchoulired]

OMG that's sooo weird you mentioned the buzzing in your breast! I told my PCP doctor about that symptom, and he thought it was very odd! So glad I'm not the only one... THANK U!
- Jenny

[cindylou58]

My first symptoms were numbness in both arms, worse with the right. Vertigo only when I was lying down and rolled to the right.  Then about 6 months later, I developed neck pain that radiated to my right shoulder.  I thought it was just a pinched nerve, but it didn't go away.  Three weeks of putting up with that, I then developed a horrible stabbing pain that ran up the back of my scalp on the right side, the occipital nerve.  That sent me to the doctor.  After a lumbar puncture, and four MRI's that showed multible lesions, my MS was diagnosed.

Wishing you the best.

    

[patchoulired]

My first symptoms were on the left side of my face--- I'd get numbness/hot/cold feelings in my left eye, left cheek, left side of tongue, left side of nose, etc. This would happen MANY times throughout the day. Then, I started getting the numb feelings in the left side of my arm, back, etc. When I would shower in warm water, the numbness would start again. When I would bend down to garden, it would start again, etc. I couldn't sleep on my left side. That went away in about 2-3 months.

I also started to get more migraines than usual at this time... those have not gone away.

About 2 months ago, there was one week when I lost my ability to taste... that was horrible.

I'm tired all the time (but I have always been fatigued).

Now, ironically, I am still having issues with the left side of my body (pain and weakness in my leg)... but supposedly they are not related to MS.

[frowngirl]

My first symptom 15 years ago was  a numb leg and foot drop. I am still not dx yet. Still in limbo land after all these years.

FG

[katie4242]

My first symptom was optic neuritis in my left eye in September of this year.  Looking back I realize that there were other signs.  When I was in grad school I had a strange "buzzing" in my left breast that was intermittent and lasted for maybe two weeks, then went away.  I have had what I thought was costochondritis, but now think was probably MS hug.  For as long as I can remember I've had intermittent what I also described as brain "misfires" that are like quick electric shocks through my brain.  Most recently I had that strange buzzing feeling, but this time it was right above my pubic bone.  I guess I have had MS for much longer than I care to think about!

[starryeyes1]

My first symptom was blurry vision in my left eye that I can remember. The first symptom that really made me concerned was when the left side of my tongue went numb. I googled numb tongue on the internet and MS was the only thing it brought up.

Shortly after that happening, I woke up and couldn't walk a straight line. I haven't gotten my balance back since and that's been almost 2 years ago.

Kristi

[anon07072023]

Yes, I have muscle twitching, too. For me, the muscle twitching is on the front of my thigh, above my knee, and the tightness/spasticity/etc is on the back of my thigh.

I have swallowing/chewing issues, too. Mostly with certain foods. I have to tell people to watch me, since I always start to choke.

[cardiactec]

Btw, haven't been diagnosed yet. I have a stomach pacemaker and have to have it surgically taken out in order to get an MRI.....

Tough having to wait longer for an answer. My symptoms have only gotten worse since June/July to now not only the muscle/bladder symptoms but also chewing and swallowing problems also.

[cardiactec]

Kelly that is exactly what's going on with me. ...started with Severe spasms and severe incontinence along with severe muscle twitching....Did u have any muscle twitching at all? Or do you now?

[anon07072023]

My 1st symptoms were severe tightness/spasticity in my left leg and incontinence.
My primary sent me to the ER.

[huff1711]

Growing up in school I remember having poor coordination, trouble talking, and especially numbness in my legs which everyone said "oh it's just poor circulation".

What started that ended up with a diagnosis was optic neuritis in my left eye. If it wasn't for that I may of never known.

[HVAC]

At three I had neurological symptoms which sent me to the Mayo Clinic. I always had double vision, vertigo, and cognitive issues from early childhood. I was sent to Duke when I was seven because of my vision and was told it was neurological and could not be fixed. At 16 I was told there was something wrong with my brain after an eeg.

When I was 44 my Primary Care sent me to a neurologist when I had all kinds of problems with a Neurological exam. I had an MRI for something else and it showed Dawson's Fingers. When I was a child in the 1960's they did not think children could have MS and there were no MRIs. My MS has been constant but slow to progress. I do not have exacerbations.

Alex

[janbubears]

Hi There

Mine was a numb left arm, which is now permanent numb after 9 month.. pins needles in fingers left hand..

jan xxx

[tjj3761]

Severe left facial pain into upper teeth.....

Following that was blurred/double vision...

[Sarahsmom46]

My first symptom also had to do with my legs. My right foot felt numb and tingly and I tripped a lot.  After badly spraining both ankles in less than a week, I decided to go see my doctor. This is thought to have been my first relapse which was about 5 years ago.  After being diagnosed 2 years ago, I have come to understand that is  was foot drop.

Julie

[COBOB]

Well, still not diagnosed, but the first one that signaled it might be MS was Optic Neuritis and a lesion on the MRI.  I have been having numbness and burning in my left arm on and off for over 10 years.  

[cardiactec]

can you describe what you mean by "foot drop" ?

thanks for sharing your experiences. i'm still in the process of trying to figure out what has been going on with ME the past 5 months!

[wiggles94]

What got my attention was numbness in my left arm, but like Lulu, I have been having symptoms for at least 5 years prior that - and a feeling of being off balance was probably one of the first.

[Lulu54]

What sent me to the doctor not quite 3 years ago was a numb leg and foot drop ..... which turned out to be both peripheral neuropathy AND multiple sclerosis showing up in that leg.  

Looking back a good 20 years though my first symptoms were probably dizziness and balance problems.  I always attributed that to my low blood pressure.