MS Symptoms. Referred to Neuro by Rheumatologist
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hey everyone. I am just wondering how your symptoms started. A year ago, I started having pain in my left rib area. It progressed to my left shoulder blade. Throbbing, tingling, followed by numbness. I know have it in my left upper arm, left elbow, hands, and legs (mostly my left side). I've been getting a lot of headaches the last few months too. I also started getting really bad spasms in my calves/feet lately. It seems like I'm always in pain somewhere, but mostly my back/shoulder blade. Anyone else experience back and shoulder issues/tingling/numbness with MS? Is yours predominantly on one side of the body? My Rheumatologist is concerned I may have it. Before I started going to a Rheumatologist (by order of my GP), I went to the ER for the pain from my symptoms, and they too mentioned MS. They did just a CT scan of brain/neck. They didn't see anything, but said MRI is the best route, but would not do one. I'm just curious, because I've now been told by two different doctors that I need a neuro. I'm a little freaked out. I'm 34 years old.
0 likes, 6 replies
wendy80842 DeniseM8226
Posted
Under your circumstances, I think I'd go back, directly to one of the Dr's and ask them to refer you, themselves. I was originally under the care of an osteo consultant after a fall caused weird symptoms, when he thought that what was actually happening was neurological, he referred me directly.
Fairly quickly after this, I was diagnosed with MS. With 2 Dr'strange suspecting MS, it should surely be looked into by an expert. BTW, I believe that MS quite frequently affects 1 side of the body, more than the other, in the earlier years.
Good luck, and keep a journal of anything else you feel might be relevant, including dates, if possible, and any questions you may have. It's generally not a good idea to trawl around loads of online groups, on the subject, it tends to only freak people out, not to mention the potential for reading misinformation. Try a nationally serving specialist site, and only check it out a bit at a time.
Take care.
DeniseM8226 wendy80842
Posted
My Rheumatologist did refer me. I go Friday to the Neurologist. I just never would've thought MS. Since it's been mentioned a few times, I began to research it, because I didn't know it could effect other regions other than extremities (hands, legs, feet).
wendy80842 DeniseM8226
Posted
Yes, unfortunately, it can affect people with MS (PWMS) in a very wide range of ways.
I would always advise anyone going through diagnosis (and it very well might NOT be MS, still) to avoid researching anything that they MIGHT have, it's so easy to start imagining symptoms, which can make ANY diagnosis more difficult.
Reading about something like MS, when you MIGHT have it, will only raise your stress levels, which is bad for anyone's health.
Please don't listen to anyone who says things like "Oh, all you need to do is start taking vitamin X, Y or Z, it'll stop A, cure B, or slow down C. If that sounds a bit obvious, believe me, there's loads of 'helpful ' people, that are so sure that all you have to do...etc.
Remember, IF it's MS, it doesn't kill, thankfully, there's lots of research happening now, looking to slow it down, or maybe even stop it.
Before ever taking something, even as simple as a vitamin, check with good old medics, you might need a blood test, first.
DeniseM8226 wendy80842
Posted
Yeah I get it. I'm not one to imagine symptoms or be a hypochondriac. Simply just wondering if anyone's MS started from the torso and not extemeties. IF I have it, that's where it all started, and I've heard that's uncommon. Plus it's all mainly my left side. I was more just curious, I'm not looking for a diagnosis here. I have a neurologist for that. 🙂
DeniseM8226 wendy80842
Posted
Also, I've already had a full panel of blood tests from my Rheumatologist. Which is why she's referred me to neuro. The only thing that came back abnormal was my ANA titer, which is positive. Reactive panels for Lupus and RA were negative though. She feels my problem is more neuro.
wendy80842 DeniseM8226
Posted
My MS started in a very uncommon way, I fell, I had fairly horrific pain, in my back, mostly and almost entirely in my left side. There is no 'always happens', where MS is concerned.
I have never been a hypochondriac myself, either. I have, however, time and again, seen people who scare themselves half to death, reading god only knows what. Or else they jump on an idea someone else has, where they think that they know the secret of holding MS at bay.