MS or something else?

[ahstreet]

My husband had two episodes of what was determined to be MS when he was a teenager, 25 yrs ago. Since then he has mild balance issues. 3 yrs ago he had a precancerous tumor at the head of his pancreas from which he recovered.

In the last 6 months he appears to be clumsier. He has fallen a few times while walking. He has unusual eye movements in his right eye, PT says unusual reflexes on right side, and muscle atrophy on right leg. Could the MS be back? Could this be ALS or something scarier?

I am trying to get him into a neurologist.

[ahstreet]

THANK YOU!!

[supermum_ms]

Please try to make sure you take along the evidence of his prior dx of MS, current PT reports, any visual tests etc but don't be at all surprised if he has to go through all the diagnostic testing again, because a lot has changed in 25yrs.

Probably the most important change, is that 'benign MS' is hardly ever dx anymore, and considering he's experiencing pretty typical primary MS sx's, then the type of MS he has, wouldn't actually be classed as benign, if he was being dx by today's neuro's, so it's really great that your getting him back to a neurologist and hopefully the MS dx will be re-assessed.

Please do let us know what the outcome is, hugs to you and your husband!

Cheers..........JJ  

[Lulu54]

A dx of ALS or even that possibility would freak out any of us.  I am sure if there were hints of ALS, the PT and the docs would have picked up on those by now and done additional tests.  

Many of us can look back 20+ years and pick up on those signs that we probably had MS and just powered through without even thinking more about it.  I know I am in that case. It took a significant relapse, much like what you are describing has happened to him to get me to take a closer look .

If the ALS question still lingers for you,be sure to ask the doctor about it when you go on the 18th.  I trust the doctor will put your mind at rest.

[ahstreet]

Thank you so much!
His neuro appointment is schedule for the 18th. He's been going to PT and it's helping him realize that it's not his fault he is clumsy and that he's fallen, and he's beginning to realize he has right side weakness without feeling frustrated that he's doing something wrong.
Other things I worry might be connected include exercise induced asthma, an eyeball twitch/fasiculation, PT report states positive clonus and babinski reflex with right calf atrophy and weak right hip. Today he mentioned that he keeps biting his lip. Do these symptoms sound MS like? I got a little freaked out at the possibility of ALS, however since he had a positive dx of a benign type of MS 25 years ago, it just seems unlikely that all of a sudden he'd develop ALS!
Trying not to worry. Thanks to my responders!

[TLC_31]

MS is often relapsing and remitting, so it certainly is possible that the recent symptoms are a relapse of MS. That’s especially the case if he hasn’t been on a disease-modifying drug. Of course, MS or not, the episode warrants a neurologist’s attention. Make sure he calls today for an appointment!