newbe to MS

I am sorry you are here questioning MS.  MS is not a connective tissue or muscle disease.  It is a disease of the central nervous system.  It is thought to be an autoimmune system disease but no one knows for sure.  It is a very poorly understood disease.  It is also very hard to get a diagnosis.  You will certainly need a lot of tests before you get a diagnosis.

The usual tests are: and MRI of at least the brain but a spinal MRI is helpful as well, lumbar puncture, evoked potentials (extremeties, hearing, vision), a complete neurological exam in which reflexes and nerve responses are evaluated, blood work to rule out all else, if vision is effected then a thorough eye exam by an opthalmologist (NOT an optometrist).

It can take years to get a diagnosis.  Treatment for MS is extremely expensive.  Copaxone (the most widely used treatment--a daily injection) runs $2,800 per month.

There is no cure.  MS is progressive.  The current meds only slow down the disease; there is no stopping it.  For some, it moves slowly and disability is minimal.  For others, the damage is fast and extensive leading to wide spread disability.

Symptoms can be (it all depends upon where and how much of the brain is damaged) numbness, tingling, nerve pain, vision impairment or blindness, spasticity, fatigue, heat sensitivity, bowel and bladder issues, balance problems, and/or paralysis.

Gretchen, Thank you for your reply.  I very much appreciate it.  I have been doing quite abit of reading on MS in the last few months & feel, as you do, that the muscle or connective tissue involvement is not MS.  My GP & Neurologist keep saying anything is possible with MS. 

You said:

Symptoms can be (it all depends upon where and how much of the brain is damaged) numbness, tingling, nerve pain, vision impairment or blindness, spasticity, fatigue, heat sensitivity, bowel and bladder issues, balance problems. 

 I do have all of these symptoms.  Some I attributed to Fibro or CFS, but others I have been asking about for years but they come & go.  I will have the symptoms for a few days or months & then they will be gone, so strange.  I had a barrium swollow done last month & found that my esophagus muscles are weakening, could be from neve damage?  who knows but swollowing is becoming difficult.   

When everything began, my original symptoms were loss of core muscles &/or numbness in my pelvis, dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance, double vision, fatigue & sleep issues.  Most of these lasted at least 6 months before going away.  They, of course, returned again & again.  Most or all of the symptoms you gave were attributed to Fibro by every doctor I saw.  Needless to say I have I have seen a lot of doctors.  Most thought I was just lazy & needed to exercise.  I saw my GP yesterday, he said I have neurologically gone down quite abit since last month.  I must see a Rheumy as soon I can get in.

I think Fibro & CFS & possibly a muscle problem has muddied the waters abit.  It's like unraveling a ball of yarn to find what goes where.  LOL 

Thank you again for your reply.  Healingwell is such a good place to come for answers & for support.  Hugs, Denise