This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hello, so I've come to website seeking some guidance because something serious has been happening to me and I think it may be MS due to the symptoms and my family history of ms.

It all started I believe when I was 18 years old. I was heading into my bathroom when out of the blue I fell and couldn't really walk. Felt as though I had pins and needles in my feet that subsided, but my foot felt disconnected my body. I could barely move my toes on my left foot... But I could stand and walk... Hardly. The pins and needle feeling was still there but not as bad as when it first started. Then I went to the ER and was accused of being on drugs (synthetic marijuana). They did not take me seriously for that reason and I began freaking out. Left the ER and returned the next day with more of the same. They neglected the fact it wasn't drugs, it was far more serious. I never did drugs and I never will. The day after my ER visit the symptoms subsides.

Now at the age of 22 it's happening again, and now I have a general idea of what it is. For months I've noticed this strange tingling sensation in my left foot and chose to ignore it because I thought it was normal. Last Tuesday night I tried falling asleep then out of the blue my forearms started to go numb into my hands. I then tried to grip my cell phone and couldn't. I dismissed this and went to bed. I then woke up to a strong tingle in my left foot, and a slight tingle in my right. The tingles subsided and substantially but my left foot was dead. Could hardly move my toes and feet. Managed to get out of bed and call the doctor. I went into my doctors office and told them about these symptoms and they asked if I had family history with ms and I said yes. she got me into a specialist who deals with ms and other neurological stuff next week. I got my function back the next morning.

My second attack happened roughly three days after that at my girlfriends house. I tried to talk and the words wouldn't come up right. Like my syllables were jumbled. Last roughly 30 seconds. It Then my forearms and hands went numb and my feet went numb. It wasn't bad this time. Could walk but they felt disconnected in a way, they felt weak and heavy. My arms were week and it was hard to make a fist. Subsides the next morning.

The next attack occurred 2 days ago. I was rushed to the ER and taken seriously this time. I got a cat scan and blood work done. All they found there was elevated white blood cells. The number was 15,000. Nothing showed up on the cat and the doctor told me she was just checking for a brain tumor and stroke. The doctor told me that this is something definitely neurological and referred me to the same guy I will be seeing next Thursday. Unfortunately they do not have the right technology at the hospital to do an Mri or to make a diagnosis.

I'm just a little freaked out... I'm 22 years old going through something I would have never thought I'd go through... Does this sound like MS? I talked to a friend with it and he told me that these were his symptoms before his diagnosis:(.. I feel shocked, scared. I don't know what lies ahead.

Another thing that has been going on as well is god awful joint pain in my elbows, knees, hips, lower back and neck. The pain is pretty bad, 7/10 bad. Sometimes I wake up in the morning with my elbows locked into place and trying to move them gives off the worst pain I have ever felt.

I feel as though I'm falling apart and I'm unclear about my future. I was just starting to look for a good job then this tragedy struck. I haven't worked much in my lifetime and I wanted to start to get my life together by getting a job and moving in with my girlfriend... I feel stuck, I feel sad and angry... How am I supposed to make money or live my life if I cannot work... I'm just so scared.... I have a perfect diet and used to excercise often but now I can't... I'm just looking for some hope and advice. Please, share your thoughts

Have you seen a doctor/neurologist or any highly trained medical professional yet?

Hi,

The high white blood cell count is indicative of infection. I don't know why they suggested MS in the context they did. Definitely, you need medical attention. It could be anything so just find the best medical champion you can. Here is not the right place and you need qualified people to diagnose you. If they do every test and find nothing then ask us but you have enough history to be properly investigated. That's scans, blood tests, appointments with neurologists or other specialists. keep asking are these people helping me. If they are not then don't give up just look again.

Regards

Compose a written list of all your symptoms/timeline to take to your doctor as a starting point for discussion (and write down questions you don't want to forget to ask). Request your own copy of the results of any blood test – it is important to have the actual numbers. (Don't settle for hearing "they're fine" or "normal.")

Thank you all for the advice. I first visited my doctor about my joint pain. I thought it was due to Lyme disease but that turned out negative. My doctor also checked my RA factor and that came up to be a 9. Note, this was before the tingles and numbness. So then the numbness set in and I went to my doctor again so he referred me to the best nuerologist around. I go in there next Thursday for more testing to see what going on. He specializes in MS, RA, and other neurological conditions as well as rehab. Usually I was told it takes months to get to see him but I was a high priority. I have a family history with MS and RA sadly. Today I am fine, just pretty bad joint pain. I'll upload a picture of my one foot that hurts, it looks totally different from what the other one looks like, there appears to be two bumps. Also, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow

If the image doesn't appear.

Update- doctor gave me cymbalta to see if it helps at all with the pain and clonazipam for anxiety. Also I'll be getting an MRI of my brain and spine along with an emg.