This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Thanks for accepting my membership here.

At this point I am not diagnosed as having MS. I have a history of MS symptom(s) since my early 30's, I am a male now at 62. Over these years I have been insured sporadically with health insurance, as sometimes I could not afford it. I am now a medie medie with a HMO and living in southern California. Over the span of these years I have had two neurologists that have conducted tests. The third neurologist, my current one just prescribed a blood test and wants to do a MRI. Since being on a HMO, I have not had luck with my past HMO approving the MRI of a previous neurologists . I did switch to a different HMO. I am hoping my current HMO does the right thing and approve the MRI?

In 2007 I had 2 MRI's one on my brain, showing 3 lesions (the neurologist at the time, said those lesions were not associated with MS.) The other MRI was on my neck, the neurologist said it was "clean as a whistle." He expected to see a blockage, as the nerve conductivity test on my legs -- the electrical impulses did not make it to my brain. The protein in my spinal fluid was normal at the time.

I do not have the typical MS symptoms. In my early 30's the vision in my left eye was blurry. The ophthalmologist at the time said I had optic neuritis. I currently have no vision problems. My only other MS symptom is my inability to walk well, my legs are very spastic. My balance is terrible, but I have absolutely no pain and I have normal feeling in all my extremities. My arms and hands are only effected when I over do and I become fatigued. I walk with a cane and use a power scooter. Hot weather does not effect me adversely. I typically fall one to two times a month.

Part of me wants to be told I have MS, just because living all these years with out a diagnosis is difficult. Whatever I have, I am hoping to find out soon so I can be treated for what ever I have, if that is even possible?

I am hoping someone has had a similar experience as I do, so light can be shed on my illness. Also my finances are very difficult for me, I am receiving SS disability and as stated before I am a medie medie. Is there any other place I can go for financial support as I can hardly make if from pay check to pay check? I am living alone with no family offering any moral or financial help or support.

Thanks for any help, Denis

hi denis, if you are interested I could offer a thought related to the spasticity in your legs

magnesium status could be a factor. you need 400mg daily intake minimum. 600-700mg if you have symptoms possibly related to magnesium depletion, such as spasticity.

you can order a serum magnesium test online (for ~$18 via this particular provider http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements ... -Test.html).
deficiency is known to occur inside the magnesium normal range. your result needs to be at the very upper end of the normal range, eg. 2.7 mg/dL and higher.

you could also consider allocating some of your food dollars to magnesium-dense choices. a cup of cooked spinach delivers around 150mg of magnesium. organic spinach may not be feasible economically, but would likely contain more magnesium per serving than conventionally grown spinach.

finally, if an inexpensive supplement is a possibility, choose **magnesium glycinate**. other more common off-the-shelf products contain magnesium oxide which is NOT USEFUL in terms of absorption (works fine as a laxative though! :S ).
I have ordered this mag glycinate product for friends before: http://www.iherb.com/magnesium-glycinat ... 21315?at=0
I use kirkman labs mag glycinate myself, b/c it's what they have at the local shop. but have gotten good feedback on the solaray product too.