Hello, am new here, i hope someone my be able to help me,
5 weeks ago my left hand started going numb, it is now completely numb, along wiht most of the arm. i also have numbness in the fingers of right hand, and my toes, and across my stomach. GP did blood tests, nothing showing, he mntioned MS, and has referred me to neuro consultant (appt for 23 nov.)
was bit of a shock… have spent some time looking t symptoms, and found that i think i habe had he eye thing previously, few months back i was getting stinking headaches with eyeball pain, it hurt to move my eyees left to right.
the arm thing is causing me so much touble, dr has given me note for work so only doing 3 hrs a day as any longer and myt arm just stops working compleely.
is this arm thing a symptom? is 5 weeks a normal tme to have a smptom for?
thank you for any advice, and apologies for awful tyoiping
Yes symptoms can last for many months but at present you seem to have Clinically Isolated Symptom (CIS). This just means one attack and that’s all your get your entire life.
Limboland; the place your in at the moment when you know something is wrong with your body but it cannot be diagnosed is without question the worst time. This will give some insight into the diagnostic procedure written by a doctor about his diagnosis http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/diagnosingms.html
It’s not quick; no shortcuts but one thing to remember if it is MS it is not a stop sign; its traffic humps. You can still lead a great life and this is from someone who was diagnosed 40 years ago.
If you haven’t had your eyes checked properly, then please ask your GP for a referral to ophthalmology - it’s important from both a treatment and diagnostic perspective.
Neurological attacks like this can last several months, but the chances are very good that you will make an excellent recovery. And while there are a number of things that could have caused eye problems and numbness, some of them are one offs, so try and stay positive.
As George says, it can take a while to get some answers, so try and be patient and, in the meantime, rest as much as you can and be kind to yourself.
By some sort of anazing luck, my appt was first cancelled for the 23 nov,. rescheduled for 6 D~ec, when I phoned and pladed a couple of days ago - she managed to get me one for tomorrow! (1 Nov)
So am nervous and nervous and nervous and did i mention nervous…
Saw the consultant today, very nice chap. Lots of questionw first - my history, family history etc. Then lots of tests - poking numb bits with pin, pulling fingers/hands, reflexes, wiggling, etc etc.
he doesnt think itsa trapped nerve, as no pain in shoulder/back etc. he mentioned viyamin B12 deficinecny (?) more boods done to check for that. NExt setep - hw wwnted to arrage full MRI scan - but I cant have MRI because of my sacral nerve implant (fitted for bowel problem). So he as referred me for CT scsn, he said tis might not show as well as a MRI but its a starting point.
He siad it might be MS… or it might not. This is going to be a long road i feel…
Can anywone advise me re the CT scan? Wil it show what they need to see?
Hi Madcat I had a CT scan instead of an MRI as I am very claustrophobic. The results were inconclusive but as I had positive VEPs, a positive LP and lots of abnormal things in my physical exam, the MS specialist confidently diagnosed me with MS. Sorry, this does not really help you very much but that is my experience. Good luck, I hope it leads towards a diagnosis that can help improve things for you ( with meds etc ). Teresa xx
CT is not as good for spotting demyelination as MRI, but it’s certainly better than nothing. You might find that your consultant wants to do more tests too though, as in Teresa’s case.
CT is basically lots and lots of x-rays taken from different directions so you can build a 3D picture of whatever you want. I had my head done several years ago and it was incredibly quick (much quicker than MRI).
Glad to hear the neuro was nice. Sounds like he was thorough too. A good combination!
Had te CT scan yesterday, yes increditbly quick… was a case of “is that it” !! lol…
now just have to wait for resiults.
Am feeling incredigbly donwn today, struggling at work, only doing 3 hrs/day (insead of usual 6) but thqt is still really killing my arm, as it still numb and pretty useless. Saw company dr on tues, she was sympathetic, and has written repotr for manager reequesting me to continue the 3 hrs/day as unable to do more.
My manager unfortunately is not a articiularly “cuddly” person - hes not unsympathetic, but i think he juzt doesnt know what to say, so doesnt say anythin at all. My olleagues know i have prob with hand an am havin tests, but dont know am being invg for MS.
i just fgeel people aretalking behind my bak, its so hard, when there is no “physical” injury o see, one girl said to me the other day “oh i wish i could go ome early e ery day” … i replied “i wish i had a working hand so could stay here”!
sorry to moan on, i just wanted to have a bit of a rant, my hubby is away on a course this wk so on my own with kids at home and feeling a bit sory for myselg
still gort the numb useledfss left hand and arm… but have had some strange feelings in my legs of an evening. Usually late on, near bedrtime so am tired, hard to describe - like i cant keep them still, have to keep wiggling & stretching, they dont hurst or timgle.
Also someone mentioned on another thread about a vibrating feeling - i get that in my hip! ite feels like got mibile phone on vibrate on my pocket, but no phone there, just strange vibrating…
not quite as miserable as i was last tme posted, but still feeling down… trying so hard not to, but its so diffucult!
On a hopeful note though, had routine appt with nurse yestersday re check up of my implant, told her abvout all of this and she toled me itis now possible to have a head MRI with the implant, whereas before it was defo no MRI. So wheni get appt to go back fot CT results i can tell consultant that
i know i’ve asked this before… but the numb hand thing… been 6/7 weeks now… is it usual ofr a symptom to lawst this long?
