Symptoms of MS???

[speedmamma]

Hi all,

I am new to this site, but I have so many questions.  I first if I could want to give some family history.  My grandmother died in 1975, on her death certificate it stated MS as the cause.  Now I am 43 years old, this past xmas I had a very severe viral infection.  6 weeks later i started getting burning numbness and tingling in my legs, I thought it was just tired legs do to age and the fact i walk 4 miles daily and have been for 3 years now.  I was taking 1000mg ibuprofen only to realize it wasnt helping me.  This pain lasted for about 10 days and just as quick as this happened the pain stopped.

I went to my family doc on january 25 and he did blood work and a sed rate and all was normal.  But then again just yesterday my right arm hurts and now my legs hurt again not as bad but they hurt.  I still take ibuprofen only now I up it to 1200mg that seems to help some and I use a heating pad on my legs.  Can anyone tell me if these are symptoms of MS or just some other muscle ailment!?  All answers would be appreciated the pain is just some days to much for me!  

[speedmamma]

What a cool name!!
I do know that it was not Mono or Epstein Barr virus.  He stated he thought it could of been a Cytomegalovirus do to the fact that i had blisters on my throat and inside my mouth but tested negative for herpes.  So I guess I am back to square one.  I really have no answers, but I know that i am not afraid to ask for tests to be done on me and as soon as ny hubby comes back from Oklahoma i will seek out a Neurologist and hope to get some answers.  Yes i do have some fatigue, but it is not debilitating.  I just chalk it up as old age!(43)  :))

[speedmamma]

i was only 10 when she passed away but i do remember her always having problems holding on to things she would drop almost everything she tried to hold on to.  I have some stress in my life but i would not say it is over stressful.  I a one of the lucky ones I am a housewife and do not have the stress of a job like some others do.  I sure hope you find the answers you seek and please anytime you need an ear i am here>  take care

[Tressa535]

Hi! Im Tressa535,and Im also new to the site. I think Zilla (what a neat name) really was great with her answer. I am 56 on the 21st of this month and I too have the tingling and numbing. That part has seemed to come and go since 2003. Now--- since Nov. of 2007 its been a daily occurance. Its even worse at night. I do take ambien and have been since probably about 2005.Thats saves me. It just got so I couldnt sleep --period.Stress really will make your symptoms pop up.I hope you dont have a real stressful life. Thats what started me on the road to discovery,symptoms that you dont really think-- MS? I dont know of any one in my family tree who has it. Do you remember what your grandma's symptoms were----- looking back?

[Momzilla]

Hi, and welcome!  I am sorry we are meeting under such stressful circumstances for you.  We have lots of information here, and the thing I have always loved about this forum, is that people are so supprtive of each other.  I'm sure you noticed that if you've been lurking a while.

I'm sorry to hear of your grandmother's passing and illness.  This is somewhat significant in terms of increasing your risk for developing MS, but not too much, I'm happy to say.  Someone will pop on with the statistic for us.  I know it increases your risk by less than 10%, I'm thinking.

But, that said, numbness and tingling in your lims for that long is certainly not normal.  Those are symptoms of MS, but certainly many other diseases and disorders as well.  Pain is a symptom, too, but likewise, it can be caused by many things.

I'm glad your doc did some bloodwork.  Do you know what kind of virus you had?  Has he checked you for Epstein-Barr virus?  Or mono?  Do you have fatigue as well, or any other symptoms besides the pain and tingling?

I think your doctor should want to rule out things like neuropathy with an EMG/NCV test.  Do you feel comfortable suggesting it?  He should be in the 'ruling out' period right now.  Have you told him your concern about MS?  Ask him for a referral to a neurologist, saying you'd feel better ruling out MS because of your family history.  Or ask him for MRIs of your brain and spine with and without contrast.

I'm not saying it's MS, because the few symptoms you've mentioned can have many causes, but I really think a good doctor needs to evaluate you and find out why you have them.

Let us know a few more things, like other testing you may have had, and other symptoms you have, even if you don't think they're related.  We can help you deal with your doc.

Good luck, and feel well,

Zilla*