Greetings/Leg Issues

Hello, all. My husband was diagnosed with MS about 5 years ago at the age of 27. He has R and R MS. He is on Betaseron. I would have to say he is doing very well. Additionally, his symptoms are similar to many I find on here. Besides the fatigue and sensitivity to heat, he has leg cramping in the evening, once he gets comfortable in bed. And, after he falls asleep, his leg twitches. Of course, it doesn't bother him, but it does disturb my sleep sometimes !

This morning, he woke up to his left leg feeling markedly weak, so now we're monitoring that. For his legs, he is taking tinzanadine (sp?) and let me tell you, it ain't workin'. It was nice to read about the baclofen, and he's going to mention that to his neuro. at his next appt.

I recently read there *may* be a link between MS and mononucleosis. Interestingly enough, Herb had mono when he was a teenager. So, we're curious...did anyone else on the board have mono as a kid/young adult?

Anyway, nice to find this board and look forward to sharing information!

Gretchen and Herb

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Diagnosed in 2002

Betaseron (every other day, subq)

Remeron and Effexor (to conteract the depressive effects of Betaseron)

Tinzanadine (hoping to switch to something more effective)

Uroxatrol (bladder issues)

 

Hey Gretchen!!!!

I love your name I think it the most beautiful name I have ever seen!!!  Welcome to the board.  I am sorry your husband is keeping you up and night.  That is no fun for sure.  Sleep is so so important.  Do mention it to Herb's doctor.  And monitor that leg weakness. 

I did not have mono ever.  I have been really really healthy up until I started with the MS symptoms and diagnosis. 

Again, welcome to the board. 

Hey Gretchen!

I too love u'r name...but i'm a bit biased. My best friend's name is Gretchen as well. The leg weakness can be very frustrating to live with. I do hope something can be done to help him with it. I'm not dx'd nor am i sure my symptoms are due to ms, but i do have lots of leg probs. Mine are either both legs or one at a time..and that weakness and 'jello' feeling is just torture. I feel for Herb and pray for his wellbeing in this. Please do mention the PT and other meds at u'r next appt and let us know how that goes. For mine, i use a few meds. My legs jerk and twitch as well. Mostly when i come to rest and have gotten really relaxed...as in sleeping. My doc gives me Requip for RLS and it helps a lot! I still have some twitching and pain, but it's much improved! I also use Neurontin for nerve pain and that helps a lot as well. Please take good care of u'rselves and ask as many questions here as u'd like. We're all here to support each other and we're so glad u'r here with us!

Gretchen-

My name is Ashley and I am 26 and was diagnosed with MS at the age of 18. I was doing great until this past year when I had the same leg weakness and was starting to get pretty scared. It got to the point that I was tripping over my left foot when I would walk. I spoke to another lady with MS and she told me that she was seeing a chiropractor and that the results for her were great...no more weakness and no more pain in her legs. I have begun seeing a chiropractor as well and must say it has helped immensley. I still have leg weakness sometimes, mostly when I haven't been to see him in awhile or I have been sick etc. But I am so happy with the results and would reccomend the chiropractor to anyone. He massages out some of the scar tissue on my weak leg, does some accupuncture, as well as getting my bones aligned. I see him twice a week and love it!

I have three spinal lesions.  One is quite big and the other two are pretty small.  I would be so so so afraid that any sort of "manipulation" of that area would cause I flare.  As it is, if I sit in this one chair that has a hard lumpy back ( it is one of those really cool looking chairs that is made from rough wood branches ) my leg tingles from the pressure.  I asked my doc about that and she said your spine is a bit fragile where you have lesions.  Her recommendation is to be careful with any sort of pressure or twisting.  That being said, for me chiropractics is a definite no. 

That is just my two cents.

Love and prayers,

Hey Gary,

That sounds about right.  My lehrmittes comes and goes.  But when I am having it, I can definitely make it more pronounced when I slouch or sit all slumped down in the couch cushions  (I love doing that).  So it seems we can apply more pressure to the lesions when we don't sit or stand straight.  It makes sense really.  If we have that good posture that you speak of, then it just seems that we are not leaning on those lesions with vertebrae.  Well, I really don't know that that is what is happening but that would be my guess.

This would be a fascinating disease if it were not for that fact that those lesions are mine lol.

Love and prayers,

Hey Gary,

I only have minor fatigue so I am not a good one to answer your question.  I will just tell you my experience.  When I am tired, any or all of my residual symptoms can get worse until I rest.

As for the low blood sugar, I don't think that is a usual MS problem.  It can be a problem if you are on solumedrol ( high dose IV steroids ) .  I had some blood sugar problems related to the steriods but they all went a way after just a few days once I was finished with the steriods. 

I am sure others will be along to speak of their experiences.

Love and prayers,