Hello! Just diagnosed and have some questions. :)

[ericarussell417]

Hello all!

My name is Erica and I am a 29 year-old stand up comic from Cincinnati. I was just diagnosed with MS after a week-long hospital stay precipitated by optic neuritis and a subsequent inability to walk normally. After admission, I had horrible pain shooting down my legs as well as severe neck and back pain. After five days of IV steroids in the hospital, my symptoms were significantly better. Having been off the steroids for a week, the symptoms are returning again. Chief complaints are poor vision in my left eye, weakness of my legs and pain in lower legs and ankles whenever I walk, constant involuntary flexing of the muscles in my right leg, and lots of dizziness/light-headedness that seems to correspond with tingling in my hands.

Waiting to see my neurologist in-office on the 23rd, but what can I ask him for to alleviate symptoms in the meantime? Today he called in oral prednisone so I am hoping that will work quickly, but the weakness, pain, and spasticity in my right leg is really bothering me and keeping me from getting good sleep. Seems like every time I start to fall asleep, my leg starts jerking and it wakes me up again. Would muscle relaxers help with this? I've never taken them but it seems like some MS people use them for these symptoms.

Other questions I have:
- What are some good exercise options for MS patients? I used to do weights and eliptical and the whole shebang, but now I am finding that I just wear out so quickly and it exacerbates my pain. Should I just lay off and rest for now until my symptoms are under control, or are there exercise alternatives that would help?
- Any dietary tips that help with symptoms?
- Did anybody out there have a really sudden and severe presentation like me and then go on to have a relatively benign disease course? Or is a severe first attack generally a bad sign?

Thanks for reading and I am sending all of you love and good vibes! So happy to join the community. Hope everyone is staying well!

[jimmylegs]

hi and welcome erica

there are lots of dietary tips that can help with symptoms. one that you will likely be able to feel within hours is magnesium. you can work to boost dietary magnesium, and you can supplement using a high quality soluble form such as magnesium glycinate. you could give cincinnati natural foods a call to see if they have any on hand. terrible web site, but good reviews: http://www.cincinnatinaturalfoods.com/WebUI/About.aspx

i would NOT recommend going to the nearest drug store and grabbing any old thing that says magnesium on the bottle (magnesium oxide for example). it is the least bioavailable form out there. due to poor absorption it goes right through you, and therefore is more useful as a laxative than anything.

here is a list of healthy magnesium-rich foods, including mgs per serving. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... #foodchart
when you feel symptoms like spasticity, aim for 600mg per day (which is why you might need a supplement). when you feel good, aim for 400mg per day.

hope you feel better soon!

[victoriagrace1]

Hi, My Husband got me the book by Judy Graham ms naturally its gives lots of really postive advice, I look at it most days I don't know what I would have done without it when I was first diagnosed.
Sue

[ElliotB]

"what are some good exercise options for MS patients?"

Probably my best advise is to do exercises that don't get you overheated.

I gave up my intense exercise activities upon diagnosis. I starting exercises I could do but had to limit my exercise time to very brief periods of time. I was surprised how little I could do. But fortunately over time things have improved tremendously. I now typically exercise anywhere from 2-4 hours a day, but I spread the activities out over the course of the day, and I am very selective as to what I do. I walk quite a bit and when it is hot out, I wear a cooling vest. I stay out of the mid-day heat. Swimming is excellent because you get a great workout but don't get hot! I live near an indoor ice skating rink and try to skate once a week now that my balance has improved. Again, I don't overdo it and I never get overheated. I find skating a fun activity because the arena is nice and cool.

You will probably have to modify your exercise regimen, but exercise is very important and good for you - probably more important than every. You will feel better soon. Good luck!

[jimmylegs]

ah that reminds me.. relevant prior forum discussion re athletic nutrient depletion:
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/search.ph ... mit=Search

good call re the cooling aspect. i did a fair amount of swimming when i was first diagnosed. unfortunately out of the habit now, but i'm not anything like as sensitive now that i have spent the last 8 yrs implementing much better food habits.

[Youarethecure]

Nutrition, diet, exercise and medication can make all this much easier. Learn everything you can about those things and it will help.

I didn't go through severe symptoms but I went through a lot 6 months ago. I had everything from a pretty bad pain and drop foot in my left leg... Crazy itching in my left leg.... balance issues, cognition issues, short term memory issues, optic neuritis 3 times now, fuzzy feelings in my back and head, ringing in my left ear, I also went through a severe depression in my acceptance process.

I have somehow gotten back to 100 percent. People are dumbfounded when I tell them I have ms.

I may just have a mild case and am lucky... but I do everything possible to fight back. I eat a special anti inflammatory diet, weight lift and do cardio 4-5 times a week, take copaxone, and I quit smoking cigs 13 weeks ago.

Take the proper steps and you should get your health back.

[jimmylegs]

good for you, esp re quitting smoking!!

[Kronk]

Having been off the steroids for a week, the symptoms are returning again.

I have gone through about 5 courses of steroids on different occasions and always get a bit of rebound of symptoms after. As long as they arent new, as in my left leg was numb, and now my right arm is, then i would say its likely related to the primary event. I have had several relapses or episodes but recovered from all but one 100%, still have some vision issues in my right eye but its relatively minor.

Other questions I have:
- What are some good exercise options for MS patients? I used to do weights and eliptical and the whole shebang, but now I am finding that I just wear out so quickly and it exacerbates my pain. Should I just lay off and rest for now until my symptoms are under control, or are there exercise alternatives that would help?
- Any dietary tips that help with symptoms?
- Did anybody out there have a really sudden and severe presentation like me and then go on to have a relatively benign disease course? Or is a severe first attack generally a bad sign?

I follow a strength training program called Stronglifts 5x5 which is similar to the REPS program promoted by British neurologist Ritchie Russel. Pick a heavy weight and crank it up as much as you can. Overheating may make your symptoms feel worse, but it doesn't actually affect them. My eye gets BAD during workout but after a 15 - 20min cooldown it returns to normal.

Diet is a HUGE subject which I have researched a TON. The one theme I see coming up regularly is the Saturated vs. Polyunsaturated issue. So I follow a version of the SWANK Diet, and cut out as much saturated fat and inflammatory foods as possible.

My first 6 months with this illness were rough... i had about a half dozen distinct relapses. I have been relapse free for the past year since implementing Copaxone, LDN, Diet, and supplements. You can see my regimen here. http://www.thisisms.com/forum/regimens- ... 23868.html I don't know if my regimen helps or not. But the mental boost you get from actively contributing to your overall health and management of this disease is undeniable.

Best of Luck!

[want2bike]

Dr. Bergman does a good job of explaining autoimmune disease and what you can do to heal yourself.