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scared mama

Hi all. My 21 yr old daughter's neurologist suspects she may have MS. We get the results of her tests next Monday so all I can do until then is try to educate myself. Symptoms-numb hands (mostly fingers) for last 3 months, all the time, also has LHermitte's sign. Doc ordered MRI, came back with two lesions on C-spine,5x5 acute at c3 and chronic 2mm at c5. No brain lesions. He then ordered more blood work and spinal tap. And now we wait. So are there others diagnosed with MS with only spine lesions? And also I really worry about c-spine lesions affecting her daily life.
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1040373 tn?1273687488
Please keep in mind that your daughter is stronger than both of you probably realize. I was 28 when I was diagnosed 5 years ago. I'm still working full-time and lead a happy, productive life.
Helpful - 0
1831849 tn?1383228392
Hi MBHB -

You have received wise counsel here. MS is serious business but it does not necessarily mean the end of life as you, and your daughter, know it.

The meds that are availble today are very effective. I was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago and learned that I'd had MS for 20 years. I'm "fine". If you saw me on the street you'd never suspect anything was wrong.

Try and take everything you read on the internet, except here :-), with a grain of salt. There is a lot of really bad information out there. Let us know how things go at the neurologist's office.

Kyle
PS the spinal tap results will only confirm the presence of inflammation in the central nervous system. They will not give any onfo on cause. That sounds like it has already come from the doc. MS is first and foremost a clinical diagnosis.
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
Every case of MS is individual.  Also the younger you catch it the better. There are many drugs to slow the progression. Many more then when I was diagnosed in 2009. She can still have normal life. Get married have children if she wishes. For some like me the disease progresses slowly. I have had MS since I was a toddler and I am now 51. I am mobile and have a few issues that I have gotten used to. Every decade they make greater strides. It is not a fun disease but it is not fatal, You have to be adaptable. Be able to cope with whatever symptoms you get.

Alex
Helpful - 0
1382889 tn?1505071193
I am so sorry to hear that you are facing the uncertainty that MS (if it proves to be MS) brings.  No two people present with MS in the same way so what is true for one person isn't true for another.

I had my first MS symptoms in my late 20's and I am currently 52. In all I have had three relapses. All of my lesions are in the spine and I have no current symptoms or disabilities. In 2010 I started on Copaxone and have been on it ever since.

It's important to take a holistic view of any disease.  Treat not just the physical symptoms but the mind and social factors as well.  What I mean is that it's important for your daughter to do whatever she can to live a balanced life...exercise, good sleep habits, stress reduction techniques, not isolating herself, take DMD's if appropriate, see her dr/neurologist regularly, etc.

MS will change her life but it may not change it in the way in which you imagine.  Believe me I know it's scary and I am so sorry for that.  She should do all she can do then just let it go cause honestly none of us know what lies ahead.

It sounds like she is in good medical hands and thank goodness she has your support.  Keep asking questions and educate yourself b/c you will be her biggest advocate.

Good luck and blessings to you!

Julie
Helpful - 0
488198 tn?1493875092
When I was diagnosed in 2004, I didn’t have forums such as this to ask questions, and I didn’t have as many treatment options. It might be a bit of an overload these days, and you’ll inevitably run into some horror stories that have no bearing on your daughter’s prognosis, so don’t get carried away browsing the internet.

I have brain lesions. I started treatment (one of the DMDs/disease-modifying drugs) promptly upon diagnosis, and my condition remains largely invisible to others. You and your daughter might want to be prepared for her current symptoms to get worse, or for others to develop, although it won’t necessarily happen in a year, 10 years, or ever.

Dealing with the uncertainty is often more difficult than dealing with the diagnosis itself. I hope you and your daughter receive some definitive answers on Monday.
Helpful - 0
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