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MS vs Stroke

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Multiple Sclerosis
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Posted 3/13/2009 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there and good morning - this is on my mind from time to time.....and I am wondering if someone has a good answer to this crazy quesiton - how do I know for sure that when I develop numbness, dizziness, vison problems, etc etc - that it is MS, and not a stroke.....they sure do seem to be similar....and I was asked this of me the other night - how would I ever know, and I could not answer the question.

thanks

Gary

Posted 3/14/2009 12:28 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Gary,

I was first (mis)diagnosed with a stroke so this is a question I asked.  A stroke happens in an instant.  One moment you are feeilng like you.  For us that is our normal baseline.  And the next moment, you have having significant symptoms. 

I know a guy that was talking one moment, then the next couldn't talk.  It is not at all gradual.  When this gets tricky is when you wake up with new and significant symptoms.  You have slept through the gradual part.  I once woke up numb from the mid shins down......it was the beginning of a flare.

It can be hard to know......if you suspect a stroke at all, then it is a 911 medical emergency.  Better safe than sorry.  You can make sure you are not at risk for a stroke as well.  You need to monitor and maintain decent blood pressure.  You need to know what your cholesterol is and know your family history.  If you have any of those worries then assume stroke and get checked out.

Posted 3/16/2009 1:56 PM (GMT 0)

when I first got sicck theu thought I hasd a stroke, but later when I went to my eye doctor he said my periphel vision was great and that was a sign I hadn't had a stroke he sent me to a neurologist who diagnosed me with ms, thank god for my eye dr.

Posted 3/16/2009 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!  Its not that I am suspecting to have a stroke, I just needed some info so that I would know the difference - it seems the real difference is a "sudden" change....


From time to time I am suddenly left "speechless" with something that one of my kids have done - but I guess that does not count...

Thanks and have a nice day

Gary

Posted 3/17/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hehehe......that was funny, Gary.  Good one.

Posted 3/31/2009 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain
damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:


1. Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today.)
3. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side
or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately!! and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Hope this helps.

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