Is this MS or RLS

[Seanboe]

I am a 24 year old male. I have had strange sensations in my legs since childhood which have gotten stronger over the years. Sometimes moving or flexing my legs makes it feel better for a short period of time. For the last 4- 6 years I have been experiencing the same symptoms in my abdomen, arms and my fingers which like the legs get better with movement or flexing. The feelings in my hands seem to get better if I push my fingertips into my palms or against another object. Very recently I have had a a percieved weakness in my thighs and and calves. I am an avid weight lifter and have not lost any strength or mobility. My legs also feel more unsteady than they ever have before. My legs feel as though I just ran a long distance or did a very long heavy workout. No pain anywhere though. My workouts are the same as they have always been. My PCP sent me to a Neurologist. The Neurologist does not believe this is MS but she did order an MRI just in case. She believes this is a progressive form of RLS (restless leg syndrome). She did a very brief exam lasting less than 15 minutes. My questions to all of you is, how long does your neurologist see you for, and what do you think this may or may not be. I am very nervous about this whole thing and feel this could destroy my hopes of becoming a Firefighter. Whatever advice you can add would be greatly appreciated.
  

[Seanboe]

So I called and talked to my neurologists assistant. The neurologist and the radiologist thought the lesion was nothing to worry about. I'll see her on Thursday to find out more. There is a possibility the lesion is old from a serious car accident I had in 2002, i'm not sure though. Thank you to everyone who has answered my questions.  merry christmas and happy holidays

[Heather3418]

As is usual with all of this....it's the start of the "waiting" game again.  The visit with the Neuro is going to shed the most light on what he feels is going on, or what should be done next.  Unfortunately, you have to wait until Tuesday to hear something.  Waiting is not my forte.

I too am waiting on some vital results of my MRI I had yesterday.  I have already been diagnosed 12 years ago, so now they are looking for new disease activity and brain atrophy.  My brother used to call me a "pea brain" when we were little, who knows, maybe I really am a 'pea brain' now.

If I don't laugh at myself Sean, I would spend my day crying.  

Tell you what, we will hang in with you while you wait for your appointment and of course, we will be here when you get some answers from the doctor. Please repost and let us know what he says.  Please?

Happy Holidays, Heather

[Seanboe]

Well I had the MRI and they found one lesion near my 4th ventricle. They immediately performed an MRI woth cpntrast which did not show anything new or any changes to the lesion. The radiologist is going to read my scan asap and I see my neurologist next Thursday. I don't know what to think. If you could shed some light on this I would appreciate it.  

[Heather3418]

Welcome.

I have MS AND RLS and have had both for YEARS.  As I get older my RLS is getting worse, which I understand is normal course.  My arms are now affected as much as my legs.  I am now on Klonopin, but have found this is marginal help at best.  I have tried all the anti-seizures medications, but they haven't seemed to help me.  My sister also has RLS and she is on one of the anti-seizure medications and it seems to be working well for her.

My opinions of what you are suffering totally concur with what Quix has written you.  She has given you some great advice and comments.

Heather

[Seanboe]

Thank you

[mokibear]

Welcome to the forum! I am not diagnosed so I do not have any great advice for you but I too get the weakness in the legs. Like you said there is no pain, they just feel really heavy. But I also get what I call my wonky dance where my legs shake so hard that walking at times is almost impossible. I also am now getting bad spasms in them.

I am glad you are getting a MRI as this may show if something more is going on. Like Quix suggested though, if you are not happy with your current neuro, it would not hurt to get a second opinion. I too think you were rushed through.

Keep up with the weight training as this will keep the muscles in shape. Keep a time line of any symptoms that show up and when and how long they do. This good to take to your neuro.

It is easy to let your mind run with this and the possibilities of what it could be. The only thing to do right now is to get the MRI, and then see what the results are from that and go from there. We will be here to support you anytime you need as a lot of us are on that same road. Don't give up on your dreams, this may be something that can be treated and you will be able to pursue whatever you want. Keep that focus!

As for the alcohol, haha I can no longer drink much, 1 or 2 drinks especially if I am fatigued will make me even more tired. So I don't bother because if I am not too tired that day, I sure don't want to bring it on. Glad to hear that you aren't going to use it to help.

Wishing you well
Moki

[Seanboe]

anybody else

[Seanboe]

I'M sorry I keep adding to my own post. To answer your question about balance, sometimes I do feel unsteady but I do not compensate for it in any way. The percieved leg weakness and unsteadiness is very minor and came on within the last week at the same time. I still do everything at the gym the exact same as I have always done it. I still do box jumps which is basically jumping from the ground to the top of a box type platform about 2 feet off the ground with no difficulty. I also jump rope, run on the treadmill, and balance on bosu balls which are large inflatable balls cut in half and attached to a wooden cricle with no new difficulty.   Maybe I am reading to much about neuro problems. Being paranoid is not fun. Thanks again

[Seanboe]

Thanks for your comment. The MRI was ordered without contrast.I never told the neurologist about the weak feeling in my legs until she was about to leave the room, she seemed unconcerned . Anxiety may be playing a part in this whole thing becaus I am focusing on every little detail I am experiencing. Some things do improve when I am doing a more detail oriented task. I am a Paramedic currently so I have a decent medical background which I think has made this path to prognosis more anxiety provoking. Thanks again. Oh and alcohol makes thing better. I don't drink often but when I do the symptoms seem to decrease. Before someone says it I will never use alcohol to relieve my symptoms lol.  

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Welcome to the forum and I'm sorry to hear of your troubles and worry.  You do seem to be describing a movement disorder and RLS fits what you describe.  It does not seem to be widely known that RLS can also affect the rest of the body, especially the arms.  Many up-to-date neuros now refer to the syndrome as Restless Limb Syndrome.  I have also had most of what you describe without the abdominal part.

Now, a couple more pieces of information.  RLS can, and usually does stand alone, but it is seen commonly as a part of MS.  By this I mean that RLS occurs with a higher incidence in those with MS.  

I totally understand the feeling you seem to be describing in your legs.  I call it "jelly legs" - it's like a fatigue of major exertion.  Mine feel shakey (but not visibly shakey) and they feel weak.  To my knowledge this is not a part of RLS, but I may be wrong.  Perhaps others will know.

Now, you did not (repeat NOT) get a proper evaluation from the neuro.  Any healthy person coming in with a major complaint, even if the diagnosis (RLS) seems obvious deserves a thorough neuro exam.  This, if done very hurriedly, qould take a minimum of 30 minutes and usually close to an hour.  I'm glad she ordered the MRI.  Do you know if she ordered it with contrast?  This is important to pick up very new lesions.  Did you tell the doc about the abnormal sensations of weakness in your legs?  When your legs feel "unsteady" do you have problems with your balance or gait?  Do you sometimes take extra steps or smaller steps from the feeling of muscular uncertainty?

Statisticallly, it is more likely that you have the more extreme form of RLS.  This should be treatable and I can't imagine that it would stand in the way of your dreams.  If the MRI is negative and if you do not have good confidence in the neurologist you saw, then I would recommend a second opinion by a neurologist specializing in "movement disorders."

Even though I am a physician, I am no longer in practice and was not a neurologist.  I will do a little reading to see if this "weak feeling,"  which I think is a paresthesia (an abnormal signal from sensory nerves), is seen as a part of RLS.

Please keep us posted on what you are going through and what the MRI shows.  Finally, try very hard not to focus on feeling the weakness or unsteadiness.  In states of anxiety and worry we magnify little symptoms that are always there and sometimes lose our fluidity of movement because of the abnormal attention we are paying to it.  I realize that it is hard to do, but for now, assume that this is just RLS and will be treatable.  Good luck, the odds are definitely in your favor.

Quix, MD

[Seanboe]

Oh and the neurologist was not concerned with any finding in her exam they all came back normal including reflexes, my gait, pupils and balance.