From the article: Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Overview
We all have a story about the multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms that resulted in our diagnosis. Share yours here and learn about the experiences of others. Share with Others
MS Diagnosis
- My symptoms started back in march this year, sudden loss of vision, body felt like it was pulling to one side, severe cramps in one foot or leg every night, went to neurologist who initially diagnosed TIA's, after every test in the medical books, heart problems were ruled out, TIA's ruled out, tilt table test and VNG test proved positive, then i got a new neurologist, who has cone two mri's and also one of my neck to rule out brain stem compression and tumors, After last MRI he found a lot of abnormalities in the brain, it is covered by white spots, so had a spinal tap done last week, which i will not get the results of till next week, I know they are testing for all diseases relating to my symptoms but all my symptoms suggest MS, I am now so off balance that working is becoming more difficult, and i know my speech is sometimes slurred, he has now got me an appointment with an MS Specialist, so hopefully will have answers pretty soon,
- —Guest Tonya
Numbness Fatigue / Renee
- Much of what you are experiencing sounds similiar to what I have gone through this year. I am not a Dr. so can only relate my experience. I had Transverse Myelitis and now CIS. Since Jan 09 I have been through MRI's (x2), Lumbar Puncture (x2), EVP, EEG, NMO-IgG, etc. I too went numb from my little toes to above my waist, fatigued, weak and yes, scared. I found two things helped me alot. First a good neurologist and second knowledge. Go to reputable sites and read, it will help you form questions. If your local neuro seems tenative and you can go to Mayo or Johns Hopkins then go. Be informed, but don't be afraid. I still have numbess and some pain and will start once a week injections soon. So I am not out of the woods, but I will stay positive, informed and will continue to ask questions and learn. You are not alone although it seems so at the time. Will you or I evenually be diagnosed with MS? Maybe, but let's stay ahead of this. Treatment sooner rather than later.
- —GuestCheryl
Still testing and waiting...
- My daughter turned 21 a few weeks ago. Two months ago she gave up her job because she was unable to safely handle a knife. She was experiencing a right arm tremor/spasms and a left sided head/eye ache. Looking back she says she experienced a similar occurence 6 months ago that only lasted a few minutes and before that she started experiencing a head tilting sensation that comes and goes. Last week she woke up with joint pain in both legs and before going to sleep that night her right leg went rigid and foot had dropped, very cold to the touch. Her hands and feet are so sensitive now that she can barely walk or open her medication bottles. She's had two bladder infections in the last two months, extreme fatigue and her left arm and leg have had tremor episodes as well. She hasn't been diagnosed yet, she's seeing a neurologist, and so far the MRI's of her brain aren't showing any lesions. Hopefully, the next tests will show the doctors what is going on.
- —Guest Allie'sMom
Not always MS
- I have classic MS symptoms and I am posting you let you know that you need to rule out Lyme Disease before ever accepting an MS diagnosis. Lyme testing is very unreliable and should only be done at a reliable lab such as Igenex. Every symptom on your list, right down to brain lesions, Lyme patients have. An MS misdiagnosis can be extremely detrimental to someone w/Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease treated w/corticosteroids will only make you worse. If you aren't sure about MS, visit lyme forums and talk to other patients. There is a doctor in Florida who believes that MS is untreated Lyme Disease. Lyme is not passed just through tick bites, but can be congential, passed through other bug bites such as mosquitoes and sexually. Find a lyme literate Md by talking w/Lyme patients at forums. If antibiotics make your symptoms worse, this is classic of a Lyme "herx". Consider it.
- —dltfr
First symptom-
- I woke up one morning in 2001 with double vision. My husband was out of town, and after calling into work for the day, my mom took me to the family doc, who immediately sent me to a neurologist. My first set of films showed 12 lesions, I had a clear my spinal tap and the evoked potential was normal. Thus, the doctor could only tell me that 'this *might* be a sign that at *some* point you *could* go on to develop multiple sclerosis'. And that, was that. The vision cleared up in ~2 weeks, and I went on w/life. In 2006, I lost the hearing in one ear, and and saw an ENT who arranged for an MRI to check for VIII cranial nerve damage. He later informed me of 'neruological findings' and sent me to a neuro, who diagnosed me with RRMS. In hindsight, I had been experiencing MS related symptoms for years before being diagnosed, all of which I attributed to other things- and that's easy to do, and I know that God allowed my more severe sx to manifest so I would seek treatment.
- —Sweetsunflower_29
Quick Diagnosis
- Im 15 and two weeks ago I lost sight in my right eye.I went to the doctor which sent me to the hospital to see the eye doctor who thought it was optic neuritis then when they did a MRI scan they found white lesions or whatever theyre called and diagnosed me with MS they put me on steriods for three days and my eyesight went back to normal but now I still get really dizzy and my arm has been stiff and weird it goes away for a short while but keeps coming back.My face and neck went all numb the other day for a night but that was it.Its weird how I got diagnosed so quickly when I read that it has to happen two times and one month apart to get diagnosed so im a bit confused there.Its been a big shock I've never experienced anything like this so its really crazy.
- —Guest Liana
Is this symptom normal?
- I am 22 years old and was diagnosed with MS about 9 months ago. The reason i was diagnosed was i was experiencing wierd symptoms. My legs were numb, my balance was ZERO, and i was extremely fatigued/weak all the time. Since that episode, the numbness and similar symptoms have subsided, but now there is something new that greatly concerns me... i cannot find a body-equilibrium temperature. I am either sweating from the heat, or am shivering from the cold. no matter what clothes i put on I am never completely comfortable. I dont have a fever, so that is not it... Has this happened to anyone else?
- —Guest Nick
Claudia
- Do any of you drink diet soda or eat things with aspartame? A lot of my symptoms went away after I quit drinking & eating anything with this in it...you would be amazed at what you find out if you research aspartame symptoms.
- —Guest Claudia
numbness
- I dont have MS, but my twin sister does. She was diagnosed 2 years ago. For a couple months she was complaining about her legs going numb, as well as her arms, hands, and feet. My mom didnt think anything of it, and kept pushing off a doctors appointment. Finially, my sis told her she NEEDED to go and see a neuro. The neuro sent her to get an MRI, and a few weeks later we got a phone call saying there were numerous spots found on her brain and spine. She was also getting a feeling like her feet and hands were asleep, tingling and feeling like pins and needles. If you have anything "weird" going on with your body, get it checked out ASAP!!!
- —jes1990
note to Susan
- Susan, dont know where you are geographically...Shepard Spinal in Atlanta specializes in MS. All of your symtoms shout MS. Just be sure your neuro Dr. specializes in MS. Some do not. TAKE CONTROL Keep us posted.
- —Guest Terri
I diagnosed myself!
- Sitting at work the right side of my face and tongue went numb. Having seizures since age 18 I have a neuro Dr. I called him immediately. He sent me to ER to rule out a stroke. For 10 yrs I was told I had 11 lesions on my brain. Neuro called it "benign MS?" I'm all over the internet..saw my neuro next day. He said "I don't know what this is!!" I said it is MS!! He SENT me home and said LET'S keep an eye on it. The biggest regret of my life is that I did not insist on a MRI! This was on Tuesday. The following Saturday I collasped called 911 and was admitted to hospital. Test began. Three days later I was diagnosed with MS. I live with the fact that if an MRI had been done the inflamation would have shown and steroids could have been administered. Steriods may have prevented the following 90 days of hell. If you even suspect MS take control of your medical please!!
- —Guest Guest Terri
susan
- I can identify with the frustration. My symptoms have been going on for a year now. Have had MRI's brainx2, evoked potential( abnormal), nerve conduction study( abnormal), spinal tap was fine. Symptoms: facial numbness 4 separate episodes within a year, shock sensations down spine, vibrating cell phone under foot, numbness in lower extremity, gait problems, pelvic numbness several episodes over last 2 years, neurogenic bladder, arrythmia problem end of last year, blurred vision spells, cramping/spasms lower extremities,very bad heat intolerance. I do know I have a cyst on my spine too. Doctors still with no answers for me. Please help. Any advice/suggestions from anyone?
- —Guest Guest susan
Always knew
- My dad and his first cousin had ms. when I had my first baby at 19 and six months later my hands wouldn't work to fasten her in the stroller..Yup I knew..from there to my legs started going numb with prickly feeling. 3 yrs later when my second baby was 5 months my doctor wanted me to have the tests because my legs would go out from under me..nope not gonna do it..M.S. was considered terminal back then...finally 13 yrs after the first noticable symptom, my arm went out and I couldn't walk...now I guess I'll go take those tests...that was in 1991...
- —Amerel
Vertigo and numbness
- It started for me with a numbness of my left ear and a pain right behind it. Then my whole left arm started going numb and I would vomit after eating. I would just sleep and sleep and about 3 weeks in, I woke up with double vision. The Dr. said it was vertigo and gave me meds and sent me home. a week later it was still bad so i went to a different dr. who after sending me for an MRI and seeing the lesions on my brain, sent me to a hospital an hour away that had a neurological department. It took 2 weeks in the hospital during which i was completely out of it, couldn't talk, my kidney's almost failed, received a test for almost every disease in the world, and 3 spinal taps for them to finally diagnose me with MS. Now i have to go back next week for my final MRI to confirm diagnosis before I begin full treatment.
- —Guest Kerrie
Paraesthias First MS symptom
- In 1996, I had feelings of electric shock going up and down my arm. Then in 2002, the numbness started in my hands. I was diagnosed of MS in 2009.
- —Guest khills
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