early days but could this be ms?

[rdcuthbert]

12 years ago I had a strange tingling which the doctor said could be MS - they did an MRI scan & that came back clear & then the symptoms disappeared, apart from a slight occasional unsteadiness (falling over from a "standing start") which I disregarded.  Very recently my left leg has stopped functioning & gone numb.  Also a slight pins & needles in my left hand & some wierd nerve twitching in my left leg at night.  I know these symptoms are commenserate with MS, except, it seems the nerve which is most affected in my left leg is the femoral nerve (no knee reflexes, numb knee, inability to straigten the leg).  I cannot find any MS websites which link it to the femoral nerve.

Of course I am seeing the doctor about all this, but it is 2+ weeks between visits & things are going very slowly.  I would love to be a bit clearer if I need to wrry about MS again?

there is no pain apart from a general achiness in my left hip joint when lying down.

thanks RD

[rdcuthbert]

Thanks for the link Lulu - this is the only place I can get any mention of demyelination in connection with the femoral nerve.  I tried googling femoral nerve damage & all the cases which came up were either traumatic - accident etc.) or post-operative disaster - someone clamping the wrong bit.  The only other options are rheumatoid arthritis, but that should have  pain,tenderness, swelling, none of which apply; or a spinal tumour, & I don't want to even consider that as yet.  MS sounds a good alternative!  

If anyone else knows of a femoral nerve being completely shot through MS I would love to hear from them ...

thanks  Rachel

[rdcuthbert]

Thanks for noticing me - & for the kind welcome.  I have looked behind the yellow button, but nothing really seems to fit - butt I shall keep on looking, & hanging on.

cheers

Rachel

[Lulu54]

The NIH has a webpage on this subject and mentions demyelination as a possible cause of damage to the femoral nerve.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000687.htm

I suppose there is no reason why this important nerve couldn't be damaged by MS instead of another cause.

I also have peripheral neuropathy that is NOT caused by my MS, so it is also important to remember that it is possible to have more than one thing wrong with us.

I hope you will come back often to learn more here about MS and share your story if you feel like it.

be well,
Lulu

[kmil1999]

Welcome to the Medhelp forum.  This is a great place to learn.  Have you tried the health pages in the upper right corner?  There is a lot of info behind that yellow icon!  

I'm in limboland, so not the best person to answer any questions.  However, there are alot of others here that have tons of knowledge and will be around to help.

I just wanted to say hi and bump this up because it fell pretty quick  Sometimes it can be a little slow around here on weekends.  Hang in there and I am sure someone with more knowledge will come along to answer

My best,
Karen