sensory sx in the beginning

[fdmh]

I know that people can have sensory sx, parasthesias for no reason that never happen again.  I have been having episodes of parasthesias ever since last summer.  I have non specific but possibly ms lesions on the brain, at least 4 of them, maybe more.  My question is how many of you out there started with just sensory sx, and how long have these lasted before motor nerves affected.  I have episodes that last about 6 weeks of intermittent parasthesias, and they are always in the same spot.  Most recently I have a buzzing feeling in an area of my left foot, and now a warm or hot sensation in the same spot of my left calf.  These aren't parsthesias that just happen once and then disappear for ever.  I do have a CPE with my regular doctor next month, and I will update her, and follwo up with MS Specialist in March.  I am keeping track but haven't reported them to MS specialist because it doesn't last 24 hours constant.  

[Karen99]

Hi.  At dx in 2001, my symptoms have been limited to sensory only.  I did have double vision that went away completely within a couple of months.  I'm not sure if DV is considered to be sensory or motor.

While walking around the pool this summer (it was hot) I had symptoms similar to some of the ones you describe.  There were two small areas on both legs that had a swiping hot sensation.  It came and went throughout the day each time my body temperature went up.  I'd jump back into the pool and swim & float. When I would get out and walk in the hot sun, the burning sensations started back up in those areas.  

Other than fatigue and fibro-type body ache, this has been the only recent symptoms of MS.  The location of these sensations are nothing new so I don't consider it a relapse.  They were the reappearance of a symptom, in a specific location, experienced before. Once I cooled down, they went away.

There is no easy answer to your question regarding a sensory symptom that turns into a motor symptom.  I haven't yet, maybe never will.  For others, their symptoms are limited to motor.  I would guess for most, there is a combination of both.  The severity of motor or sensory symptoms vary greatly from one patient to the next.

Any new symptom should be reported to your neurologist.  Let them know that you are having "episodes" lasting 6 weeks at a time.   It's for them to decide what to do with the information you give them.  

You might be confusing the 24 hour "rule" of a new symptom.  There does not have to be a consistent 24 hour pain in your toe before you call your neuro.  It can be pain that comes and goes within a day.  Generally, any new symptom should be reported.  

Be well and take good care.



    

[Quixotic1]

It isn't necessary for a symptom to be "constant" to be a real part of a relapse.  One that repeatedly, frequently appears in the same spot would count.  Sometimes the damage to the nerve just barely shows up, but shows up best when the person is fatigued, warm, stressed, moving around - whatever.

These are sensory symptoms that are constant in their location, but just not constant in time.  they would still count with most neuros.  Of course, some neurologists are too rigid to allow for this kind of grayer area.  But, one way to look at it is the case of Trigeminal Neuralgia.  The jolts of severe pain are not constant, but they are frequent.  What you are describing is the same sort of thing.

What isn't like MS are the paresthesias that move around constantly and don't consistently reappear in the same location.

Quix

[ShockedToday]

My first symptom was parasthesia.  Over the years I had other symptoms as well that came and went.  Nothing major that sent me to the doctor until last year, 20 years after the first symptoms.  HTH

[jensequitur]

I think that if a symptoms appears and reappears for over a month, then that's plenty of symptom to talk to your neuro about.