MS after 60

[kittycat1966]

Have any of you been diagnosed after 60?  I find myself having several symptoms and have been searching the web?  Looking back, I had some problems in my 30's and 40's.

[4Oops]

Just read this after 2-3 years wondering why I have been having "sciatic "type pains with arthritis in spine, heriated discs, etc.  Many doctors, MRIS blood tests etc.  Discovered Ulceratove Colitis, Urinary incont. and now increasing imbalance probs.  No One even suggested poss MS at age 71 until I finally found a Neurosurgeon  who did some repeated MriS . My sister is one year younger has had MS for 30+ years now in latter stages having lost most all memory 4 yrs ago and inability to walk for about 10 years.  I have been getting Remicade Infusions for Ulcerative Colitis for about 2 years  and seems to be working well, but now and until a Neuologist diagnosis MS, be it yes or no, I cannot get my infusions. WE are all wondering if the REmicade has anything to do with the "poss MS" in the doctors reporrt. Would like to hear if other medical problems were consided before the MS.

[Wobbly]

hi there, I was dx in my 50s, but with timeline and thinking back, I had symptoms way back when I was in my 20 and 30, but didn't pursue a dx then.  I just dealt with them and they went away and came back.  etc.

take care
wobbly

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum! Here is a link to a discussion about late onset MS (LOMS) - we do have a few on the forum, but they may be offline at the moment.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Late-Onset-MS---LOMS-from-United-Spinal-Assoc/show/1622384

Think you will find this discussion, and article informative.
Are you on a disease modifier?
Hope to see you around!
-Shell

[maxthecat43]

My neurologist and I figure I've had MS since the mid to late 90's.  I just had a milder case than some people have.  Things have picked up speed over the past few years, or I still wouldn't have a diagnosis.

I hope you don't have this disease.  As Alex stated, there are lots of reasons for symptoms to come up.  The reason I was able to go so long without even suspecting MS, is because just about all of the symptoms can be found in other conditions too.  (Since I have scoliosis too, I attributed most everything to pinched nerves or vertebra compression.)

If you have your GP check you out, he can get things going for you.  I hope you get some answers soon.  In the meantime, welcome!

Tammy

[maxthecat43]

I think it crazy that so many neurologists still think that you can't have MS over a certain age bracket.  I recommend writing up a history, with approximate dates/symptoms.  This sometimes helps.

[Ricobord]

When I saw an MS specialist at a prominent university research hospital, she said that nearly all of the patients they diagnose after age 40 had some kind of MS symptom earlier in life that was misunderstood (such as a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome that went away) or insufficient to indicate MS. She said she has patients that went 20+ years before a second attack, or had very mild attacks that went undiagnosed until finally becoming serious enough for an MS diagnosis later in life.

[HVAC]

MS can happen at any age. There are many things which have MS symptoms which are not MS, some are not even Neurological. The first place to start is a a god GP. They can give you a basic Neurological exam and take a history for other illnesses. My diagnosis started with a GP and took two years , a half a dozen Neurologists and lots of other tests to rule other diseases in or out. You can look at the health pages at the lower right for more information.

Alex

[SarahL2491]

I was diagnosed at 69, although we figure I've had it (after looking at timeline) since 1981 and perhaps earlier.

if more neuro's actually looked at MRIs instead of relying on radiologist reports, it might help