I was 7 years old when the right side of my face went numb, and I started slurring my speech. I felt really sick with "the flu" and was so tired, I kept falling asleep in class. In gym class, I was running, and my legs suddenly jerked up, and I fell down. I couldn't move my legs or stand up. I got some feeling back and was able to walk in a robotic manner. I spent two weeks in the hospital complaining about the "fishes eating my legs," and the wax paper over my right eye (this was 1977). Children didn't get MS back then. I spent years with neurologists saying, "We don't know what this is,” and “Come back when you get worse.” I was diagnosed in 2003 when I finally saw an MS specialist. I've been living with MS my entire life.
My son's symptoms were over a three-month period. It started in his back. On and off for two months, my son had pains and aches across the middle of his back. We saw my aunt who is a chiropractor and then my son's doctor. Both said he was very tight across his back and suggested physical therapy. It didn't help. That subsided and then his pinky finger went numb for a few days...again, that subsided. A month later, I noticed he was walking funny...that also subsided. The back pain came again, but this time my son called it a “buzzy” feeling...but it subsided. Somewhere in the middle of all this, he experienced balance issues, only once though. We knew something wasn't right. Right before our doctor's appointment we noticed his left side was a little weak. His doctor confirmed that he was definitely having issues with balance and reflexes. He referred us to a neurologist. That same night, we had his first spinal MRI and then a day later the brain MRI. Both tests confirmed MS. Turns out he has many lesions in his spine that were causing the back issues. I hope this helps someone. We haven't met any MS patients that actually started with the back pain.
Comment from: just me, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: August 26
My arms kept falling asleep, and doctors ruled out carpel tunnel, then I went blind in one eye but not further testing done when I got my vision back. Then right leg stopped working and over night the feeling from my face to my toes was heavy, numb and dragging. I tried Copaxone for 5 years, but then was introduced to all natural products and I no longer am taking 7 prescriptions and do not wear the brace on my right leg anymore.
Comment from: 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: August 26
My symptoms started with blinding headaches that would last for days. Then I started developing numbness and tingling in my lips from time to time which I ignored. One morning I woke up and the my left foot and leg were numb and then when I got in the tub the water was warm on the right side of my body and ice cold on the left; at that point, I knew that something neurological was going on.
Published: July 29
At age 39 years I started to get a very itchy left arm for weeks, then woke up one morning and found my legs very heavy, and tired all the time. I had walking difficulties and tried to carry on with life, but it got the better of me. After many tests etc I was diagnosed with MS. I have tried many drugs, but I don't take betaferones. I continue to live my life on a day to day bases as MS is unpredictable but I do try.
Published: July 28
The onset of my MS came gradually over a 4 month period of time. It started with the feeling that I was walking on marbles. From there it progressed to numbness in my toes and progressed to my feet. I thought I had a lower back problem and went to see a chiropractor. I was treated by this doctor for 3 months. The treatments included heat and spinal manipulation. I finally figured out that I was feeling worse when I left her office. I contacted a friend of mine who is an MD. He suggested based on my symptoms that I see a neurologist. The numbness had continued to move up my legs and I also began having shocks through my body when I bent my head forward. The neurologist hospitalized me the same day of my office visit and began all of the tests required to diagnose MS. This included full spinal and brain MRI and a spinal tap. Needless to say, all of the tests indicated MS. This was strange. I have always been an active person and had completed 2 half marathons the two prior years before being diagnosed. I believe mine is progressive since I never go into remission. I am treated with Tysabri which is not approved for progressive; however, it has helped me since I have no additional active lesions after one year.
Comment from: ToniM56, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: September 02
I thought I had an ongoing inner ear infection, and I found out I had relapse/remitting multiple sclerosis.
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Suggested Reading on Multiple Sclerosis by Our Doctors
Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that come on suddenly and are usually quite painful. Dehydration, doing strenuous exercise in a hot environment, prolonged muscle use, and certain diseases of the nervous system may cause muscle spasms. Symptoms and signs of a muscle spasm include an acute onset of pain and a possible bulge seen or felt beneath the skin where the muscle is located. Gently stretching the muscle usually resolves a muscle spasm.
Itching can be a common problem. Itches can be localized or generalized. There are many causes of itching to include: infection (jock itch, vaginal itch), disease (hyperthyroidism, liver or kidney), reactions to drugs, and skin infestations (pubic or body lice). Treatment for itching varies depending on the cause of the itch.
Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is a common
problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustain an
erection sufficient for sexual intercourse or the inability to achieve
ejaculation, or both. Impotence can have emotional causes but most often it is
due to a physical problem.
Overactive bladder is a sudden involuntary contraction of the muscle wall of the bladder causing urinary urgency (an immediate unstoppable need to urinate). Overactive bladder is is a form of urinary incontinence. Treatment options may include Kegel exercises, biofeedback, vaginal weight training, pelvic floor electrical stimulation, behavioral therapy, and medications.
Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a stroke. Dysphagia compromises nutrition and hydration and may lead to aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.
Hydronephrosis is a condition in which the kidney swells, due to a backup of urine. Hydronephrosis generally occurs with another disease.Symptoms of hydronephrosis include nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infection, fever, painful urination, increased urinary frequency and urgency, flank pain, and swelling of the abdomen. Treatment of hydronephrosis depends on the cause.
Neuropathic pain is chronic pain resulting from injury to the nervous system. The injury can be to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord).
Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, the structure that connects the eye to the brain. The precise cause of optic neuritis is unknown, but it is thought to be a type of autoimmune disorder. Optic neuritis most commonly develops due to an autoimmune disorder that may be triggered by a viral infection.
There are many types of urinary incontinence (UI), which is the accidental leakage of urine. These types include stress incontinence, urge incontinence, and overflow incontinence. Urinary incontinence in men may be caused by prostate or nerve problems. Treatment depends upon the type and severity of the UI and the patient's lifestyle.
Urinary retention (inability to urinate) may be caused by nerve disease, spinal cord injury, prostate enlargement, infection, surgery, medication, bladder stone, constipation, cystocele, rectocele, or urethral stricture. Symptoms include discomfort and pain. Treatment depends upon the cause of urinary retention.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with rickets, cancer, cardiovascular disease, severe asthma in children and cognitive impairment in older adults. Causes include not ingesting enough of the vitamin over time, having limited exposure to sunlight, having dark skin, and obesity. Symptoms include bone pain and muscle weakness. Treatment for vitamin D deficiency involves obtaining more vitamin D through supplements, diet, or exposure to sunlight.
People who have bladder spasms, the sensation occurs suddenly and often severely. A spasm itself is the sudden, involuntary squeezing of a muscle. A bladder spasm, or "detrusor contraction," occurs when the bladder muscle squeezes suddenly without warning, causing an urgent need to release urine. The spasm can force urine from the bladder, causing leakage. When this happens, the condition is called urge incontinence or overactive bladder.
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Hydronephrosis describes the situation where the urine collecting system of
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While obstruction or blockage is the most frequent cause of hydronephrosis,
it may be due to problems that occur congenitally in a fetus (prenatal) or may
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Technically, hydronephrosis specifically describes dilation and swelling of
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ure...
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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I was 7 years old when the right side of my face went numb, and I started slurring my speech. I felt really sick with "the flu" and was so tired, I kept falling asleep in class. In gym class, I was running, and my legs suddenly jerked up, and I fell down. I couldn't move my legs or stand up. I got some feeling back and was able to walk in a robotic manner. I spent two weeks in the hospital complaining about the "fishes eating my legs," and the wax paper over my right eye (this was 1977). Children didn't get MS back then. I spent years with neurologists saying, "We don't know what this is,” and “Come back when you get worse.” I was diagnosed in 2003 when I finally saw an MS specialist. I've been living with MS my entire life.
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