Does everyone experience eye issues in the beginning?

Hi everyone. I have found this forum incredibly helpful in understanding how complex MS can be to identify and diagnose. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read through my stream of consciousness! My symptoms started in September; fleeting cramps in my hands and feet that felt like electrical currents. I also felt headachey, exhausted and was struggling to multitask and stay on top of work, when usually I’m very able. I also had a stand alone incident that stands out in my mind of an excruciating pain in my jaw that lasted maybe 5 seconds. I then had a period of feeling better for a couple of weeks & so I cancelled the GP appointment I had booked and got on with life. I was unlucky enough to then contract Covid and and although the respiratory & flu symptoms resolved within the normal time frame, the strange hand and foot cramps returned along with pin prick sensations and intermittent numbness which has spread to legs and parts of arms, even face. I have very tender points on my spine so I’m wondering if this is linked too, or perhaps even the root cause.

I have sought advice from my GP and I’m waiting on blood results and a follow up but as it’s been getting worse, it’s been hard not to wonder if MS is a possibility. I am mindful that evidence is emerging that long Covid can mimic neuro and auto immune conditions in some cases and I could be trying to connect symptoms that are incidental.

I sought a second opinion from a acquaintance who is a GP and he emphasised the issues with making any assumptions at tiis point but said an MRI would be next likely step if bloods inconclusive. He also said the lack of any vision issues was reassuring.

Sorry about the long lead up to my question but I wanted to give the context! It would be good to hear if people’s experience is that vision issues were one of the key markers. In fact any thoughts at all would be really appreciated - it feels like a very lonely place to be in right now, with so little clarity.

A lot of people have had Optic Neuritis (ON) but I haven’t.

we all follow individual paths

ON often speeds up diagnosis but as I said before I never had it.

sorry that you had covid and glad that you recovered.

Try not to get too hung up on the whys and wherefores.

It is a very complex condition, which just goes to show how special we are!

Hi I have spinal ppms and have never had any eyesight issues at all.

Boudsx

Thanks Carole, it’s really good to talk to people who understand the illness. I’m keeping positive - I know it’s too early to jump ahead and diagnose myself but all the same the more I know the better prepared I feel for follow up with GP.

I have PPMS and have never had eye issues.

Thanks Moirah

Thanks Boudsx - I see it’s not that simple after all!