Signs of MS?????

[kjam]

Thanks for taking my question:
I'm a 26 y.o. healthy female. June 2003 my symptoms appeared as follows: Day 1 - pins and needles in left hand and arm, Day 2- spread to left leg, Day 3 - spread to all extremities and face. Symptoms lasted for about 8 days after which I was left with slight weakness feeling in left leg and left arm that presently comes and goes on a daily basis. Also left with an odd sensation on left side of face, mostly near my eye but can also spread to cheek and neck, and occasionally to same area on right side of face. I have no loss of feeling, nor does it tingle. Vision is normal. This sensation comes and goes but is usually felt at least once a day although can be present for more than 24 hrs.I have felt it almost every day since first pins and needles episode last June. Had episode of pins and needles again Nov. 2003, exactly the same as described above. MRI in Dec 2003 normal, 2 X CT also normal, blood work normal. Meds include nadolol for heart conditon. No fam. hx of MS.
Have history of anxiety including symptoms of lightheadedness and skakiness. Most recently have felt like my left ear is "plugged", like I need to pop it, hearing may be slightly comprimised. Some mild pain off and on.
Neurologist claims this can all be explained by nerve inflammation. If this is indeed the case why would I only feel it on one side of my body? I fear this is MS. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

The normal MRI in December helps to exclude MS, however it would also be reasonable to check a MRI of the cervical spine. You have not mentioned your neurologic examination, and therefore, it is difficult to tell which part of the nervous system is involved. Perhaps disorders such as lyme disease, inflammatory disorders, and possibly connective tissue disorders should be evaluated. Also atypical migraine can cause similar symptoms. Good luck.

[kjam]

Sorry, forgot to mention that all neurological exams have been normal.

[SherryDenice]

I am in the same boat as you.  I have been having burning and twitching and crawling sensations on my skin for going on a year now.  I have had a normal brain MRI and a normal c-spine (upper spine) and neck MRI.  I just don't feel myself anymore.  My body is no the same.  I AM SCREAMING FOR ANSWERS!!!!!  But, of course, I want the answer to be somethinng BENIGN.  I just made an appointment w/ an MS specialist about 5 minutes ago.  I am going in on the 29th of this month for an exam and EMG.  I have had an EMG before, so needless to day, I am NOT looking forward to it.

The burning on my skin is probably the worst of my complaints.  I also have an eye disease called Pars Planitis that makes me worry about MS.  It is linked to MS in about 7-8% of cases.  More than makes me happy, that's for dang sure!!

Keep us posted on what's going on.  I will do the same.

Sherry

[jwick]

Just read your posting.  Are either of you having a lot of aspartame in your diet (diet drinks, diet products, etc.)?  I know this is debunked by medical professionals, but three months ago I had similar problems (numbness in my torso and upper legs, tingling sensations, "electric shock" feelings through my legs, plugged ear, etc.) and finally went to the doctor.  He diagnosed the start of MS.  When I returned to work I remember the article about aspartame that was posted and sent around for the past few years.  After reading it I immediately stopped my 5-6 a day of diet pepsi habit that I had had for years.  It said to give it 60 days before any changes.  Sure enough, as of the end of March I am now symptom free and hope to continue to be.  I realize that they say the MS symptoms come and go, but I sure feel different.  TONS better!  I replaced the diet pepsi with water and although I haven't lost the 10 pounds I would like to, I've become more active and energetic.  Another key is I had migraines - sometimes two a week - haven't had one since that day in February.  Coincidence - maybe but I think not.  This is something to consider.  I live in an area of the country (Washington) where MS is rampant according to my doctor.  I didn't want to be another statistic.   I pray my symptoms don't return.  I realize they might, but I'm doing all I can to prevent it!!

Good luck.

jwick

[ontherecord]

If your doctor diagnosed the start of MS, as you said, I take it that you have had a positive MRI? If not, how did he arrive at the diagnosis? In any event, if there was demyelination characteristic of MS, it's got nothing to do with aspartame (which I agree, isn't good for you).  Just curious how your doctor arrived at the dx of MS......if you let me know, I'd appreciate it.

[SherryDenice]

I do not drink diet drinks.  I drink full leaded Dr. Pepper.

[steph_amy]

to the original post. I too have been experiencing some odd symptoms not totally different from yours. It started with an odd achey (achy) feeling in my lower right leg. It also caused my right arm to feel like that sometimes. i went to the doctors and he just told me to reduce impact on my leg (i go to the gym regularly) that was about a month or so ago. recently though i have been feeling some odd twitchiness in my legs and hands and have also noticed that my joints have got a lot 'clickier'. These seem to be the only symptoms and i do have a tencdancy to worry and so exaggerate what i'm feeling but i'm concerned. I will book an appointement at the doctors but am just quite scared of it actually being confirmed. I have heard a lot about wheat and gluten and dairy being a possible aggravator of MS and i eat a lot of those products. I have just turned 19 and i go to the gym regularly (or try to!) i am also at university so although i try to eat healthily, needless to say there is a lot of alcohol some nights! i am worried i'm either doing some damage to myself or that i have the beginnings of MS. really not sure what to do. any advice?

[BH]

Hi,
I am 33 year old female who has same symptoms for the past 6 months. Until last week I was very patient with my doctor's "god knows what you have, you could suffer from panic attacks", but than I got so sick of all of that, so I changed him for good.
It all started on Nov. 5th 2003..I was doing my clinical at the hospital and suddenly I was so dizzy that I almost fell over my patient. Two days after that incident I ended up in the emergency room. "Of course" everything was fine. Labeled as a "stressed" I was sent home. Later on I began having a more strange symptoms, occuring together or appart: very dizzy, tired, numbness in parts of my body, very poor balance, pressure in right eye, muscle and joint pain, constipation, cramps, tremors, urinary trakt infections etc...I cryed at my doctors office just to get a chance for any kind of test. He ordered Holter Monitor (only he knows why?!) and CAT scan of the brain. Thank god this test were O.K. So at least I knew I did't have brain tumor and my heart was fine too. My hero doctor decided to write down dx: panic attack disorder. Fine! He put me on Zoloft, which I am still taking. Then my symptoms got worse. I thought maybe...Zoloft's side effects? Three weeks ago, I went to the bathroom, done..and after 1 minute or so I was all wet, I could not hold urine at all. The same feeling as when the pregnant women's water brakes. This hapened couple of times since then. I changed the doc. and first thing that the new doctor asked me was" Is there anyone in your family who has an MS?" He ordered MRI which I will have next week. And he also said that I should have seen neurologist months before. I realy hope that at least I will know something, something which will put me on the right path, so I can treat this condition. I am not saying that I think it is MS, but I know something is not right, because I am not the same healthy and strong person anymore.
I do apologize for my spelling, I learned Engl. 5 years ago.
Thank you for sharing your feelings and experience and good luck to all of you!

[BH]

Hi again!
I just had my MRI done, and I was looking at the pictures...Cool, at least I know I have a brain! Just trying to make myself smile...
Does any one know (since I don't have a clue) what does it mean
T-Flair-MS and T-Grase-Ms on two of my pictures? Is "MS" computer interpretation of the funding (Multiple Sclerosis) or is that just some kind of MRI abriviation that has nothing to do with dx.
I will realy appriciate if I can get respond from anyone who has gone throug this already, and has some knowledge about it.
Thank you in advance.

[worried5]

I've been having strange symptoms for over 3 weeks.  it started with soar back neck, tingling back of the head, tingling all over the head for one day, then weak left arm and leg (weak meaning the feeling you get after your leg falls asleep when you put weight on it, not the numbness just that stange feeling).  the soarness comes and goes on daily basis and so is the weakness.  I have one person at my work who had similar symptoms but not the weakness in the left leg just minor numbness on the left arm.  I was hoping it is Viral.  I am 38 yrs old, north african male.  My blood results came back normal except for high sediment (protein).  The MRI showed some demylinization and have been referred to a neurologist.  My vision is fine, the tingling on the head comes and goes once in a while I am feeling almost itchiness all over my upper body (feels like itchiness) and face...the symptoms are still present after 3 weeks now.....I lost my appetitie and worried all the time and can't even sleep through the night........Can someone please help and try to shed some light on this.  If it is MS what should I look forward to?  can I say it is MS from the above results and symptoms.

Thank you in advance.

[jackieanna]

Hello:
On Christmas day I woke up numb in my right arm and leg.  Well.
I am a type I diabetic 42 years old and 34 years diabetic.  I always write the weird things that happen to me off to diabetes.
After the holidays, i went to my family doctor and he sent me for a cat scan and the heart monitor thing and other tests and referred me to a nerologist. sp?
I had an MRI in early March ( what long waiting time?  I live in Canada and the wait list is said to be months long.  I was in in 6 weeks or so.)  I was told that I had MS.  Spot on my brain and my neck is light in colour in a spot.  The doctor told me that I should not worry and there is treatment now.  I do not know what type of ms I have or anything.  I am trying to educate myself on the computer but I am very confused.
If ms affects the nerves, why do my joints ache?  Is the tingling from the nerves?  What about warm feeling I get in my leg?  Is the weird feeling in my throat related?  Sometime i feel like something is in my throat and can barely swallow.
I fell on my poarch 2 weeks before Christmas, do you think that was from ms.  My symptoms don't go aways for very long.  I don't have one day where my arms don't go to sleep.  Is this MS or damage from Diabetes?  See all the questions I have.  I have to wait 3 weeks to see doctor.  I went for tests on nerves at his office last week.  Felt much like the lightning bolt pains( call it that for lack of what else to call it) i get in my arms almost daily.
Well thanks for listening to me rant.lol. Any comments.

[tich]

I'm a 48yo male and also have constant twitching which started in my left calf and then spread to my right calf and then left biceps. It varies from day to day and is sometimes not noticeable. I also get minor twitching in all other parts of my body although I never see those because they twitch just once and I am never looking in the right spot.

Before the twitching started I noticed tingling/numbness in my feet/toes and this is still fairly constant. I hope this rules out ALS but I'm not sure.

Saw a neuro 7 months ago and had a full brain/spine MRI, nerve conduction tests in legs and lots of blood work. All came back negative but I'm still worried about MS and ALS. Sound familiar to anyone?

[sabimax]

ok here I go...new here...

similar to some of you...I am wondering if this might be early signs of MS...

4 years ago I started to feel numbness and tingly feelings on my whole face..and down my back...went to dr...and did the blood work, mri was clear of brain..they didnt do a spine one...said that although no scar tissue that it doesnt rule that out completely...but said woman get stuff like this after having babies?? lol at that answer...so each year during summer mainly...especially the more humid it is...I get tingly numbness...over the years it has gotten not only face but arms...and hands...toes have for longer years gotten numb with exercise....anyhow....last year when it was occuring went to new dr..who ddnt send me to neurologist ..she just said after good blood work..that it is stress...I agree stress aggrivates it..but dont think stress causes it to occur..as I am stressed as much in winter as any other time and hardly get this in winter...

help....thanks, sarah

[am i crazy]

Hello.  I woke up this morning at about 5am with a pain in my left hand.  I then noticed that my left leg and side of my back were numb and tingly also.  I got up to walk around and thought it went away.  When I laid back down, i was dizzy and from the back of my head all the way down to my toes i felt numb and tingly.  I have already been diagnosed as having panic attacks and am now wondering if it is something different.  my hands have been getting numb everynow and then as well as having slight muscle twitches all over my body off an on for the past 6 months or so.  I am really freaking out here!!

[christinaf]

A related discussion, ms was started.

[Ed57]

A related discussion, left arm and leg numb ane left ear plugged was started.