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Is it normal for paralysis to be only temporary in MS?

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Posted 10/26/2006 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Particularly in the first few years of having the disease? I'm wondering what kind of neuropathy this could be commonplace in. I'll have a loss of sensation and paralysis in a limb that gradually gets better in a couple of minutes. I usually have a slight weakness afterward, and then I get the episodes on and off for weeks.
Posted 10/27/2006 12:34 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Cyborg Ninja

Well i haven't had any paralysis, but have heard from many here that they have. Maybe partial or full paralysis to a limb. In ms anything can happen. It could come and last a long time and then go away...or last a short time and go away...or not go away. I don't know about the few mins, but i suppose that's as possible as the other way as well. The weakness afterwards is something i can somewhat relate to. I had lots of numbness in the beginning and would end up really weak after it all came back. I'm sure others will be here to give u their insight on this and i'm looking forward to seeing what they all have to say. I do hope u'r feeling better and things will begin to be better for u.

rhonda

Posted 10/27/2006 1:55 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Cyborg Ninja,

 

   MS can come with all kinds of strange sensations.  Numbness, tingling, pins and needles are the more common ones that occur.  Sometimes the signals through the nerves don't reach their destination as they should, or as quickly and it results in weakness and sometimes paralysis.  It is possible to have it happen temporarily as you are describing as my husband had issues with his legs like that early on.  He would go to take a step or try to move his leg and it just didn't want to work and this would last a few minutes then he could move it again like usual. 

 

   I'm sorry for all the problems you are having and hope you get answers soon.  Have you had any blood tests done to rule out other possiblities like Lyme, Lupus, b-12 deficiency? 

Posted 10/27/2006 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. I have Crohn's so I had a B-12 test and it came back fine according to the doc (I didn't look at it myself). I haven't had any real problems with anemia so I imagine it was ok. Pretty sure I was never tested for Lyme. I looked up the symptoms for that and I didn't seem to fit. I'm from South Florida and at pretty low risk anyway. No lupus tests unless that falls under the basic blood tests. No rashes. I've just had the neurological and memory problems. My hand cramps up and it curls in and I can't move it, and then it's weak afterward. A few days ago I talked to someone online for half an hour until he told me I had the wrong guy. It could've been worse...
Posted 10/27/2006 9:58 AM (GMT 0)

It sounds to me like you need to get a complete workup, and get tested for vascular problems (maybe you're having small strokes?), systemic problems (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, can cause some of the problems you describe), infection somewhere in the central nervous system (again, a rheumatologist might discover that), even allergies (having lived in south Georgia, there are a TON of things, environmental things both manufactured and "natural" that one can be allergic to, in that part of the country!).  As for Lyme Disease, I don't know the incidence rate in Florida, but you can't simply dismiss it by saying "no rashes" as there isn't always a rash, and sometimes a rash is easily dismissed.  Given that you're still experiencing various strange symptoms or sensations, and it doesn't appear that you've had anything really ruled out...or in...a return to the doctor and a committment to a thorough check-up seems to be in order.

Posted 10/27/2006 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
I think you're searching. If I were having small strokes my entire side and face would go numb, and I'd probably be dead by now considering how often this happens. I have a non-destructive type of arthritis that comes and goes that is not enough to decrease my range of motion, much less paralyze me. If I had an infection my lymph nodes would be haywire and my WBC would have reflected that -- it's only been high once and that's because I already have ongoing autoimmune problems. And I'd be getting feverish too and just feel worse. Allergies? That paralyze you? Come on. And there are more reasons than just not having a rash that make me dismiss Lyme Disease and lupus in my case. I might not have MS but I have some kind of spinal cord damage.
Posted 10/27/2006 3:47 PM (GMT 0)

CyborgNinja:  Have you had an MRI?  An MRI will show anything unusual.  I have 5 lesions (9 confirms MS ... according to neuro MD), but I also have several patches of periventricular leukomalacia (usually only in premature infants ... I was a preemie, but had no health problems).  I have MS symptoms caused by the PVL, but they will not go into remission and I'm now considered progressive.  I am again on steroids.  There are numerous things that can cause your symptoms, so the best thing to do is get a calendar, write down the day and exactly how the symptoms presented themselves, and use it has a record for your MD.  This is a slow road with many bumps, so patience is mandatory.  The merck manual is a good reference and the info is available online.  Look up MS, get a list of all possible conditions that mimic MS, and start checking off the list.  Keep a record of your findings to take to your MD.  Good luck!

Not MD, only in med field, and the above info is from only my experience. yeah

Posted 10/27/2006 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, Gracie'sMom, read his response to me! He doesn't need to see all the differentials because he's convinced he has something neurological going on, and our reasonable suggestions aren't what he wants to hear!
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