This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Please excuse me if this post seems like one of hundreds which have already been posted. My father had polio and my one of my uncle’s (mother’s brother) had Muscular Dystrophy. My aunt by marriage died of ALS, so this stuff hits real close to home. So here is my situation which probably started a couple of months ago. For the record, I am going to a neurologist on May 4th for an EMG for a definitive answer hopefully ruling out ALS. My doctors of course have stated I do not and would be shocked if I have ALS, my greatest and biggest fear! I am 51 years of age and like many others probably am over thinking this and should stay off the internet. But the other day during my annual physical he mentioned MS which of course freaked me out all over again. This seems like a great place to hopefully get some peace of mind before my appointment which I am now dreading.

Here are some or most of my symptoms:

• Sore feet – I get very sore feet at time especially after coaching one of my son’s ballgames. There are days when they feel better than others, but have been usually sore for some time now. I have changed shoes and they do feel better. I never have encountered numbness, just plain soreness
• Hot spots – I used to get hot spots, usually in my left bicep or on the side of my chest near my armpit. Again came and went and would last for a few minutes or more. Have not had any for a couple of weeks or more.
• Twitches or muscle fasciculation– Tiny quick little bumps or pops all over, usually in calves, arms, ankles and sometimes feet.
• Tight calves – I have not experienced any true cramping, but a few weeks ago my calves were very, very tight like about to explode. Again, they have gotten much better and on most days no issues, but there are days when they feel a bit tight, but so much better. Thighs get sore, but not like my calves. The other day I had what felt like a muscle pull from my foot all the way up to my back, left side again. Just for one day.
• Soreness – Lots of soreness especially in my arms, left side in particular which seems to be the side most affected. Again, some days worse than others, depending it seems on activities and sometimes not. This also has been better and has basically been relegated to soreness and not pain.
• Sore throat – Had a very sore throat a couple of weeks ago, though never had a problem swallowing. Has gotten better and usually lozenges help relief the pain. Still occasionally gets sore but better than couple of weeks ago. Doctor did see a white spot on one of my tonsils and swabbed for strep throat. Result came back negative and felling better
• Fatigue – Probably self-explanatory. Some days were worse than others and just felt like crap. When I am doing activities like playing catch, walks or yard work there are no issues. It is of course after or the next day when i am tired. Definitely my recovery has been better the last week or two.
• Sore hands – Most affected again is my left hand and I will get real soreness from my left pinky towards my thumb along the outside part of my hand more than anything. Sometimes both hands will just get sore and I always have to crack my fingers. Again, some good and some bad days. They do no hurt while using them usually, only afterwards. I do feel I figured this one out along witrh my sore feet. I am coaching my sons' baseball teams and throwing between 300-500 pitches a week. I believe all the pounding on my feet and catching so may balls may be figuring in the pain. Again, only soreness and not numbness.


Okay, enough with the symptoms…..you get the gist of it. I am still able to lift weights with seemingly no muscle loss, do push-ups, pitch batting practice, mow the lawn and most other normal activities; just with after effects now. Bottom line I used to feel like crap most days, tired, light-headed at times. I have not had any vision issues, as a matter a fact I just had my annual eye exam and field vision test and everything was very good. I have not had any balance issues as well. Another thing I was on different blood pressure medications during the time I was feeling very crappy and am now off all medication which hopefully all coincides with feeling better all around and not just a fluke.

Of course I did not come here looking for any definitive answers, but hopefully some words of encouragement and relief as to be honest I am scared. Of course no one can predict the future or what is to come. Thanks again for viewing this post along my ranting. Keep up the great work as you have put many people’s mind at ease over the years.

dalucca

hi there

i can help you take some steps if you want to look at the nutrition angle. you sound like a pretty active person, which has its own set of nutritional consequences of course. much of what you're describing flags a magnesium problem from where i sit. magnesium is easily lost via sweating.

if you want to know for sure what's going on, you can order a serum magnesium test and make sure your levels are in the top half of the 'normal' range.

there are a lot of other really common nutrient balance problems that lead to different consequences for each individual. just looking at magnesium as one example let's say your body is trying to run 300 magnesium-dependent processes, and the levels of ingredients for running those operations are down. i wouldn't expect each person to react in exactly the same way, because there's going to be a sort of triage going on, based on every other related nutrient level in the mix, plus toxins and genetics.

so, if you like you can try testing, or even without testing you can consider trying increased intake of magnesium-rich foods, get yourself into some sea water or epsom salts (mag sulphate) baths (careful with those, more is not necessarily better), i wouldn't recommend certain magnesium 'oils' i've heard about, since the last one i looked into turned out to be mostly water, delivering negligible amounts of topical elemental magnesium.

supplemental forms are a mixed bag of inorganic/insoluble or organic/soluble ingredients, or combos of several different types. insoluble means poor absorption and laxative side effects. soluble means better absorption. the best soluble organic form i've found to date is magnesium glycinate.

also, coffee and alcohol increase magnesium loss.

bone and muscle pain can be linked to poor vitamin d3 status too. another very common issue, depending on where you live and how much bare skin exposure you get. and also how fond you are of mushrooms and salmon if you order that test, it's specifically serum 25(OH)cholecalciferol. normal range is far off optimal with this nutrient too. with that one, many of us here aim for 125-150nmol/L.

so, just a couple thoughts. if you think it sounds like an approach you're interested in pursuing, we can get into more detail re tests, combinations, doses, timing etc.

welcome to the forum

_________________
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

So you are not thinking MS related issues? Magnesium has been one others have recommeneded I look at. Thanks and I will be in touch.

it depends. there is no definitive test for ms - just a checklist. i have an ms dx, but it just means i have a check mark in all the right boxes. i am an ms statistic.
i think ms involves a whole bunch of nutritional issues that have investigated by researchers, but the findings have not been applied to mainstream health care practice.
glad to hear someone else recommended magnesium too! i recommended it to nadal the other day, no reply yet LOL

_________________
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

This article may be helpful. There are many studies showing diet is the key to healing the body.

http://www.overcomingmultiplesclerosis. ... gram/Diet/

What are some of your symptoms?

for me, all that's left is the numbness in my hands and feet. i used to be REALLY messed up. when i accidentally drove my magnesium levels down, the symptoms were all about muscles not working right. twitching, spasticity, dysphagia, etc. and anxiety too. magnesium has a very calming effect.

_________________
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

do you take a magnesium supplement? I really have not had numbness to speak of.....just soreness which I can pretty much relate to the start of the baseball season (hopefully).

Dalucca,
Your symptoms do not sound like MS to me. We get numb and tingly mostly. Not saying for sure you don't have it, but you don't appear to have the common symptoms. Let's hope they can solve your issues, whatever it is you may have!

personally, my chronic numbness is from previous b12 deficiency damage to my spinal cord.
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professiona ... n_b12.html
"Neurologic symptoms develop independently from and often without hematologic abnormalities. In early stages, decreased position and vibratory sensation in the extremities is accompanied by mild to moderate weakness and hyporeflexia. In later stages, spasticity, extensor plantar responses, greater loss of position and vibratory sensation in the lower extremities, and ataxia emerge. These deficits may develop in a stocking-glove distribution. Tactile, pain, and temperature sensations are usually spared but may be difficult to assess in the elderly."
my b12 is up over 600 these days, from undetectable in 2006. weakness is gone, my position sense is back, my ataxia is gone, but the vibratory sensation and fine texture losses in the classic stocking and glove distribution, remain. i never lost my ability to feel temp and pain since those kinds of nerves are not myelinated.

so as for the muscles, yes i take 'kirkman' magnesium glycinate and 'now' magnesium citrate each day, one each with different meals. sometimes i need a little more than that. also i make sure to eat magnesium-rich foods every day. if you get sore when you get active, do look very hard at magnesium!

here's a link to great healthy magnesium food source info:
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=75

_________________
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