This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hello all,

I'm a 34 y/o male. In the last few weeks, I have had several rather alarming symptoms that I believe may indicate early MS.

It first began with slight numb/tingling in my left arm. I honestly didn't think much of it, but after a couple days of that, I started to get a bit worried I might have a pinched nerve or something as the numbness and tingling became more intense and spread to my hand and finger tips. Over the next few days, this numb/tingling sensation spread to the left hand side of my entire body to include my left foot, leg, groin, face, and scalp. A day later, this sensartion became so intense that I really worried that I might be having a stroke. It was really very scary. These symptoms have subsided for the most part, but I've noticed some degradation in my right eyesight and although my left arm isn't exactly numb any longer, it still feels slightly tingly and definitely weak now. I've also had trouble sleeping as I wake up with increased numbness, tingling and a sensation of severe burning in my left foot. I've also had uncharacteristic back pain, such that it has kept me awake at night.

I made an appointment with my primary care physician. He's a good and conscience doctor, but he didn't seem to know what it might be and suggested I might have a pituitary adenoma. Obviously, I am not a physician, but based on the fact that I haven not experienced any hormonal abnormalities, I tend to doubt this hypothesis. Fortunately, he referred me for an MRI (w/ contrast) this Thursday and will refer me to a neurologist after that has been completed.

I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that at least (for the time being) I'm not being irrational that this could be MS.han

Thanks much for your help.

Samsonite

hi and welcome, sam. symptoms like yours are really hard to file under one definitive label. the mainstream testing should help clarify, it's just scary and annoying playing the waiting game.

if you want to go further, you could consider some nutritional bloodwork, to rule out the usual nutrition problems seen in ms patients. it's in the research, just hasn't quite made it to standard practice. if you're interested in that approach, if it makes sense that nutrition could be a factor for you, feel free to ask any questions you may have about it.

_________________
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

I dont think you are being irrational at all Sam. You know your body best. I am in the same situation as you. I'm just waiting it out right now. I've had four CT scans and two MRI's(no spine). I wish the best and hope you do not have MS. Let us know the results on the MRI and good luck

Thanks all. I have my (first?) MRI tomorrow. Then I'll meet with my primary care doc and talk about seeing a neurologist. So I guess I'll just have to wait it out and see.

Some or all of your symptoms *could* be from MS (and I agree the pituitary guess sounds pretty unlikely), but MS isn't the only thing that messes with nerves and you shouldn't assume you only have one cause. I wouldn't skip the MRI & neuro visit, but it sounds to me like you should see at least two more doctors as well.

Try to see a spine specialist about the non-visual symptoms (preferably a physiatrist: they really understand nerves). I've had all kinds of pain & numbness from herniated discs and a cyst, including most of what you described.

You should also try to get to an ophthalmologist. Neuros aren't usually qualified to definitively diagnose (dx) Optic Neuritis, the most common MS visual problem. On the self-dx side, I believe ON usually causes eye pain as well as visual effects. So if you have no eye pain it's probably not an MS symptom...

Best of luck,
Mark

_________________

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

So, I had my MRI last Thursday and saw my GP today. The MRI came back completely normal. Negative for any lesions or tumors. I still have some tingling and numbness. My left arm/hand continues to tingly and feel weak. This morning, my right hand felt hot and tingly.

Doc acknowledged it could be MS, but seemed more inclined to think it could possibly be carpal tunnel. Though that would not explain the numbness I experienced in my groin, face, and scalp, nor in my upper arm, nor my blurry vision. He did refer me to a couple of neurologists and suggested I follow up with them in a few weeks if I still have symptoms.

I think I'll just go ahead and follow up now. I want to be proactive and at least start laying down a clinical history to get whatever this is, MS or otherwise, figured out. At times I feel as though I'm being a hypochondriac or unduly concerned about this, but it just seems to me that I'm healthy and fairly young and that I shouldn't have symptoms like these without a cause.

Mercury poisoning has similiar symptoms as MS. If you have a lot of amalgam(mercury) fillings that could be the problem. If you have been getting a lot of vaccinations that could be a problem. Any poison which effects your nervous system could give you these symptoms. Might look at Dr. Swanks diet which is a low fat diet allowing the body to heal itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trWTCEIP ... re=related

http://www.flu-treatments.com/flu-vacci ... fects.html

http://www.franksherwood.com/tnms.htm