This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi everyone

I have never posted on one of these forums before, but wanted to ask a question about the tingling associated with MS. For the last 2 weeks I have had "odd " feelings in my left leg, not numbness and not so much pins and needles, but more little buzzing / tickling. If I rub a certain part of my calf muscle I get a strange tickle up the other side of the calf. I have had problems with my lower back recently, a pinched nerve but which is on the other side of the back so not sure if this can cross over to the other sciatic nerve.

The leg doesnt tingle at night time or when resting but moreso seems to happen with movement - once i put my foot down to walk Ill get it all up the calf muscle. I just wanted to find out if the tingling associated with MS presents in this way or is it more of a constant tingle and worse at night?

I am seeing a doctor tomorrow to hopefully get some answers but just wanted to ask from the experts aswell. Other than that I dont really have any symptoms which I think could be related to MS besides an eye twitch a few mths back which lasted a few days.

If you could give me some advice that would be great.

Thanks

The tingling you describe is a common symptom. I get it in the soles of my feet and occasionally the hands. It is intermittant rather than constant and tends to manifest itself more obviously later in the day. These symptoms were my first sign of impending MS

I hope in your case its not MS. Ask you Doc to order a vitamin B12 test. Also worth adopting a precautionary diet in view of the fact it may be the first presenting symptom - I would look at your diet - cut down on dairy, wheat, refined sugars. Look at vitamin D, omega 3, magnesium and zinc supplementation for starters.

thanks for taking the time to reply, I will also ask for the vitamin tests. I am being tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis also as I have been having trouble with my elbow being inflamed and sore, and my mum has the disease terribly so best to get checked.

As far as I know MS doesnt cause swollen and sore joints?

As far as I'm aware no, However anecdotally;

Prior to diagnosis I had a certain amount of low level chronic joint pain. A regimen of omega 3's, Vit D, magnesium and an anti inflammatory diet seem to have resolved this.

some abstracts relevant to RA and nutrition:

Serum zinc and copper in active rheumatoid arthritis: Correlation with interleukin 1β and tumour necrosis factor α
http://www.springerlink.com/content/j33q1382073g4231/

Serum Ferritin and the Assessment of Iron Deficiency in Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10 ... 8309099740

Serum Selenium, Serum Alpha-Tocopherol, and the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Abstract ... the.7.aspx

The Vitamin D Epidemic and its Health Consequences
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/135/11/2739S.short

n-3 Fatty acid supplements in rheumatoid arthritis
http://www.ajcn.org/content/71/1/349S.short

many of these nutrients are also of concern in ms patients, but you're not necessarily going to see both conditions in every patient. different patients present differently, even when their only dx is ms. comorbidities add a whole different level of complexity.

if you can get tested for serum vit D3, alpha tocopherol, zinc, copper, ferritin, and selenium, you can determine if your levels are in the healthy part of the normal range, or the 'RA' (not to mention MS) part of it. if you are able to get results and bring them back i and others here can help you interpret the findings.

as for the diff nutrients and a little rationale for testing..: for example, ms patients tend to have zinc levels that are lower in the normal range.

as for vitamin d3, you'd qualify as 'normal' with levels down as low as say 80 nmol/L, but lowest risk of ms has been found in patients with d3 levels over 100 nmol/L.

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my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

In my experience (with both MS and spinal cord obstruction), symptoms that change when you change position are usually more due to spine/nerve mechanical issues than MS.

My back doc is a physiatrist, and he was the one who realized that I needed to see a neuro, too (which eventually led to my MS dx).

_________________

RRMS dx 3/3/11; Copaxone since 12/1/11

thanks everyone

Marklavelle - this was what I was wondering. I thought it seemed odd that it only seems to come on with some pressure coming from my back etc as Its only really when I stand up and walk. Night time its fine.

Jimmylegs thanks Ill have a read of all of those