Hi Everyone!
I am new to this forum desperately searching for some advice. I became familiar with MS when my uncle was diagnosed years ago. Throughout the years, his brothers and sisters have been seeing many doctors complaining of the same symptoms. Since his diagnoses, there have been three more diagnoses amongst the nine children, including my father, totaling four siblings. However, there are two more that we confidently believe are on their way to a diagnoses as well.
For years I have seen doctors with bizarre problems and complaints that have gone unanswered. The more my family learns about MS from one other, the more we see a startling similarity between what they have experienced and what I have been going through.
Lately, my 15 min walk to work in the morning has become very difficult on certain days. When I reach the flight of stairs going down into the train station, I find myself searching the crowd of people for the eldest looking person so I can walk down the flight behind them because sometimes my legs are so shaky its hard to make smooth steps.
I have grown so frustrated trying to ignore my symptoms I don’t know what to do. I saw a neurologist a few years ago, and my MRI returned normal. It scares me to think that I have driven myself to become a hypochondriac, as my symptoms can be explained with other problems. My aunt was tested three times for MS, all which were negative, before the positive fourth test. I think because of my family history, it has become all mind over matter. Doctors think i am nuts. Below I’ve described as many things as I can think of… if anyone has time to look at them (I apologize this is so long!) and share any thoughts or advice I would really appreciate anyone’s two cents! I am so sick of complaining and constantly thinking, “Could this be MS?” I'm ready to just suck it up and plan on revisiting the doc. when i really cant walk. Thank you again for taking the time to read this, it is much apprecated.
------------------------------------------------------------Symptoms------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGS (my most prominent complaint)-
On a daily basis it feels almost as if my brain has forgotten how to tell my legs to walk. I am still
able to walk, but my gait is "choppy". I have trouble maneuvering in crowds or on uneven ground. I often "limp" not due to pain; I am just unable to make my legs move smoothly. I also experience other symptoms which have been diagnosed as "restless leg syndrome". Occasionally, I have pain in my shins: Pain often varies from very subtle to (only on 1 or 2 occasions in the past 3 years) to severe- it feels like someone is drilling through the bones
in my legs".
FACIAL
Rare shooting pain lasts for just seconds. Cramping sensation through tongue
Numbness experienced in sections of face.
Tingling around nose experienced
Freezing Cold sensations experienced in Right hand, while left remains warm/normal temperature.
Dizzy Spells. Has become severe, went to Health Services at while I was at my college.
Muscle Weakness in my legs, especially walking down stairs. Legs become weak and shaky.
*Suggested see a Rheumatologist.
Rare periods of speech symptoms- periods of slurring, stuttering, trouble
articulating.
Buzzing in limbs, down my side- often thought cell phone was vibrating in purse.