ms symptoms

[daddypix]

my symptoms include the following:had a charlie horse from hell about 5 weeks ago after workingout legs.2.frequent urination.3.shock on left ffront foot and tingling on both feet off and on.4.the front of my lower legs feel tired and heavy.5.my left index finger tingled and my lip twitches sometimes for last 4 months.6my hamstrings will have a slight cramp on occasion..7 early in the morning im having probelms seeing as well from a distance not up close though.im a 46 yr old wm .i went to my gp for a yearly physical and everything was in normal range..my tcells went up from 4.7 t 5.2.two yrs ago i had a nreve conduction teasts which said no nerve damage.but looking back ive had about 10 episodes where my body from the waist up goes numb dating back to high school...scary... but it always passes..questions 1. do most ms patients have a high tcell count...mine is low........2 how much vision loss is usually seen with ms..3.. if i had ms wouldnt my nerve conduction tests show some nerve damage...had it done 2 yrs back for tingling n feet..feet going to sleep.4 any suggestions for me..5. if i have what %age of people in my age group get disabled and if i had this dated back to my teens wouldnt it have reared its ugly head by know..thx

[daddypix]

thx for the advice i will be sure to ask for that 3tmri test.hope your symptoms get better.thx agian

[Sumanadevii]

I have only one lesion on my brain.  The rest are on my spinal cord and brain stem.  Many of the symptoms you list are just like mine.  I, too, had breathing problems.  I was sent to a lung doctor.  He found nothing.  Constipation is a constant.  My bowels are sluggish.  I was sent to a specialist.  He found nothing.  I have had pain in my lower back dating back ten years.  It feels like an exposed open nerve.  There is nothing but a little arthritis showing in my back.  

So, my suggestion is to be sure your neuro gets a 3tMRI done on your spine.  A 1.5t MRI usually will not show lesions on the spine.  It is not high enough power.  I had one and it showed nothing.  Luckily I left the neuro that was treating me and the new neuro had it done on a 3t.  I can't even begin to explain the damage done to my body during that three and a half year wait.  Please make sure you ask for a 3t....Too much of your story matches mine.  We need to get you on DMD right away.  Don't be shy in asking.

[daddypix]

thx bob for your response and support i just got back from the rodeo in houston we go every year and my legs began to cramp and i felt like i was drunk........its a weird feeling that i first experienced at age 15 but only lasted for some seconds and its gone..i feel as if my whole body goes numb and from my neck down plus i feel very weak.....ive had this occur around 10 times n my life 3 years ago i had troulbe breathing during an episode and thought i was having a heart attack....went to er.everything checked out ok.........me or anybody esle suspected ms.....only recently after finding out my cousin was recently diagnosed did i begin to put the pieces together for all my symptoms....like back pain for 2 years went for checkup no back trouble..was constipated for a month and thought it was colon issue nothing.......its starting to add up to ms..........i went to my gp last week about my concerns particularly the frquent urination...driving me nuts all tests where clear.....im applying for longterm disability as soon as possible before going to c a neuro.....cause if i get a ms iagnosis i wont get it.......plus i drive for a living..and im worried ill have to report my condition to the dot and lose my driving postion.. not sure what to do..im about 95% sure its ms due to my symptoms and my cousin and aunt being diagnosed....i know it sounds like im jumping the gun..but im nervous and not sure what steps i should take..you would love the houston rodeo its a hell ve a good time...thx agian for your reply........

[COBOB]

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear you are having some symptoms.

MS is a disease of the central nervous symptom (Brain and spinal cord.)  EMG and NCS studies test peripheral nerves, not central nerves.  Since MS effects the brain and spinal cord, you normally don't see changes in the complete blood count as a result of MS.  Other things can cause cell count changes.  Vision is usually only effected in MS if the optic nerves, chiasm, tracts or optic cortex are effected.  There are also other cranial nerves that can effect the muscles controlling the eyes that can cause double vision, etc.  

If you have MS, with current DMD therapy, there is no way to tell if you will ever be disabled.  Disabled also covers a pretty broad range.  I have some balance issues and some vision problems, but I still drive and work full time.  I have fallen down at work and client sites.  I explain and tell them it happens and we move on.  I still hunt, go camping, hike, take care of cattle, etc.  

I started with one lesion a year ago at 48 years old.  My last MRI had 5.

Hope this answers some of your questions,

Bob