This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi everyone. I'm not diagnosed with MS, but will be getting an MRI next week to rule it out. My mother has MS, so it's a natural course of action due to the weird symptoms I have. I'm curious how many of you--who are diagnosed--have a family member with MS?

For the most part, my symptoms are not debilitating. But because I know the course of the condition, I felt pushing it off any longer was a bad idea. I've have issues with grip/muscle strength in my arms and hands and strange tingling patches of skin as well as numb fingers. It's freaked me out a bit, and forced me to the doc. The only other symptom that really bothers me is a horrible, deep "bone" ache in my arms and legs. I used to get these aches when I was a little girl; I remember my mom coming in to rub my arm and help me back to sleep. She called them growing pains. Well, I"m 36 now and I know I'm not growing, but these pains have never gone away and lately have been persistent. It was time for me to dig a little deeper.

So, MRI and blood work next week. Would be interested in some of your experiences with all of this.
JM

Aunt (mum's sister) had MS. (mum has another autoimmune disease, Hashimotos)

As a child, I often had aches in my lower legs, especially in the evening before bedtime. I was also told these were "growing pains."

Although I am adopted, I know that my biological father (with whom I never lived – so I don't see how we could have shared exposure to the same virus or bacterium; I can't imagine how we shared the same diet, except it would have been the same Western or Standard American Diet) has MS.

Thanks for the responses so far. Any other autoimmune issues? I also have crohns disease and am allergic to everything. Makes me think MS is a likely problem. I'm allergic to myself. And many autoimmune issues in my family. Trying not to over think it but also want to be prepared.

i have an identical twin brother, he nor any member of my family has ms

jmc2011 wrote:Thanks for the responses so far. Any other autoimmune issues? I also have crohns disease and am allergic to everything. Makes me think MS is a likely problem. I'm allergic to myself. And many autoimmune issues in my family. Trying not to over think it but also want to be prepared.

Hi JM and welcome to the forum! Good for us, bad for you, I guess.

To answer your first question, I have a cousin with MS as well, but the most interesting thing about my situation is that I've also been diagnosed with a hereditary peripheral neuropathy, HNPP, which means that my peripheral nerves are demyelinating kinda like my central nervous system. It basically causes me mildish MS-type symptoms, but without the brain damage. But, of course, I have classic MS brain damage, too (my story & MRIs are here: http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 16335.html )

My dad had HNPP (proven by genetic testing), another cousin has only HNPP, and I hear that my cousin with MS (I rarely talk with her) has had 2 failed carpal tunnel surgeries, which means she likely has HNPP as well. Dad had a brain MRI in his late 80s which did NOT show signs of MS. As an FYI, CNS glial cells are different than PNS cells: oligodendrocytes for CNS, Schwann cells for the PNS.

And about allergies: I've often noted that "I must be allergic to the whole world," considering my violently wild reactions to foods, meds, and even vitamins & supplements, but testing hasn't found anything specific.

MS patients seem to be almost universally afflicted with more than one serious medical condition. The more I read the more I'm convinced that the reason each of us is so unique is due to our combinations of conditions rather than MS alone (whatever MS is).

Good luck and I hope you escape the MS diagnosis next week!

Euphoniaa--I like your way of self-medication! Humor goes a long way and I certainly appreciate it! That's pretty much how I handle my crohn's. Other than a brief stint in the hospital, I stay away from meds. I've managed it this way for 8 years and it works for me. Mostly, I lead a normal life and no one (except my close friends and family) know that I'm "sick". And often, I attribute weird symptoms to crohn's, but nervous system stuff is not a crohn's issue, hence the new testing. I think I'm going to email extended family and find out if there are more instances out there that I'm unaware of. Seems to be all in my mother's side, actually. Weaklings!

Are all your minerals ok levels?? My friend has Chrons (and not MS) but when her calcium and/or potassium levels are low she suffers from severe numbness and very MS like symptoms.
I don't know if you have had these tested already but i would seriously think about getting checked for Calcium/magnesium/potassium/B12/Vitamin D.
With Chrons there is an obvious digestive issue and you may not be absorbing all your nutrients properly xx

Yes there is definitely a chance many of my symptoms come from Crohns. After I get the results of this MRI and blood work...if it shows nothing...then I plan on heading back to the GI. I'll hopefully know tomorrow. Had a weird patch of super sensitive skin last night that made me glad that I got the MRI...just to be safe. I think it would always be in the back of my head that it could be MS. Better to just find out!