On Sunday (19/07) I had a full spinal MRI done without contrast. This was following being inpatient (08/06) for
- left toe paralysis
- Reduced range in left ankle
- Oscillations on attempt to move
- Reduced range and strength in all left sided myotomes
- Upward plantars (positive babinski) alongside positive hoffmans and clonus
The new A&E consultant went with ‘MND’ which got me sent to the ward, and upon assessment which displayed drop foot, when walking I was sometimes able to lift the foot so after 3 days with a clean brain MRI I was discharged as ‘anxiety’
the neurologist saw me 26/07, claimed plantars were downward but didn’t do the test? (Wtf) Called the muscle tone/spasticity changes ‘co contraction’ and opened up the appointment with documents of me being on the ‘child protection register’ and previous assault in childhood (suspected, nothing happened!). Like he’d made a decision so did a partial assessment towards trauma based FND. Told me to do cardio (I can’t walk without an aid 4/7 days) and stretch, and try to make my life better in every aspect. He did note my reduced range, including cervical restriction to the left, fine action tremor which is worse at target (cup to mouth, worse near mouth) and needing to rule out cervical myelopathy or neuro inflammatory.
So I got my medical documents, I got my radiology reports. Brain MRI captured some upper spine. I don’t believe clean when comparing to radiology notes for brain either but. To me, it matches radiology literature and educational material of MS hyper intense white marks, around the C4/C5 based on just saggital images that cover the area. They also didn’t document my squint, deviated septum or thickening of sinus membranes in the report so I do feel spine in sagittal shots wouldn’t be commented on if they didn’t note non-related issues for the brain MRI shots.
Since then, I’ve basically had a continuous decline with ‘Flares’ triggered by heat or exertion:
- Constant reduced shoulder elevation, abduction on left side. Progressed to impact some of right. Neck position, heat and previous exertion impacts it. Left rotation or flexion makes everything much much worse.
- ‘Dystonia’ where I may have banded sharp pain around the upper pec with spasms, or 6-8th rib, followed by my hand tensing and unable to do extension, or my foot turning inward with toe flexion (the only time my toes have moved since May). I also get my torso like external obliques, pull me downward or my neck gets stuck in left lateral flexion
- Severe low energy, sometimes I feel I have to fight to move or get up
- Pins and needles continued, I first experienced in early 2025, but my legs left side hip down, right side knee down, left upper body largely
- Pain radiating shoulder and down left arm
- Slump test causes electric type pain in thoracic spine and numbness in left foot
- Inability to extend arm at times of ‘flare’ or turn hand over
- Left hip still buckling, began in 2024 and xray showed minor bilateral hip impingement
- I can’t reach past midline at worst times, speed and cross body change my range
- I’ve felt this throughout tons of tasks!! Where distraction should be present e.g trying to reach for something in the shop or carry items
- I’m also under pelvic physio, supporting bowel and bladder impact too with retention & frequency and changes in sensation that began in October 2025
The neurologist tried to say that neck position influencing the range and ‘co contraction’ or inability to initiate movement, was due to injury, but I’ve never had an injury to anything above hip. He tried to say my syncope (fainting) which was proven by HR/BP changes to suggest POTS was absent drop attacks
My life has vastly improved, through a generously supporting partner that made it all capable in times an over exertion landed me in a few day bed stay, unable to walk spiral. I moved house to a much better location, passed my driving test and got a new car (automatic due to paralysed foot!!!), got a new business lease for less cost than before (dreamy), had more family help with my son for downtime, got given a dog to train for assistance (I also have POTS but man I LOVE dogs, nevermind a baby dog).
I know lots of neuro inflammatory issues exist, but when I went through my medical record of symptom reporting over the past couple years and processed it through many symptom checkers, it always suggests MS. I’m mentally in the best place I’ve ever been. I’m also a student physio, and my theory suggests nothing but MS so far!
The worst part is, the suggestion of doing specifically the stairmaster from the neurologist…. when I can’t lift my leg!! It just supports to me, the neurologist believes I’m just ‘anxious’. I was a regional level powerlifter, worked in the gym, I have no reason to suddenly become dibiliatingly disabled in my mind. I was going to run workshops to help rehab those with life stopping impairments at low ticket! For when the NHS falls short. Trying to bring free of charge to benefit local health 
My 2024-2025 onset first showed heat sensitive pins and needles, left leg failure to bear weight sit to stand, March I have noted ‘clog wheel’ spasticity when we checked muscle tone at uni. My lecturers told me I need urgent assessment and intervention, all those expert physios think I’m in crisis!
I wish they did contrast, as I’m still declining. The weather switching from 30 to 25 made a huge difference. I have to sit on the floor post shower for 15-30m. In my spinal MRI, my body had sudden jerks 
anyway. It’s a rant about being dismissed for something on my medical file from when I was 2, and my drop foot with torso sway being marked normal, or tests marked as done when never checked. All to fit a hypothesis.
Do any of my symptoms relate? The motor impact makes me believe spinal WILL show something. I’d be shaken if not. I almost want an apology if it does. Yet the NHS marks me knowing the signs and how the UMN tests are positive as ‘yellow flags’ …. Maybe I’m clinging to the one bit of the MRI, but I really can’t believe this is disregulation. Maybe I’m also wrong
