I’m absolutely convinced that MS is genetically linked, I would even argue that perhaps hereditary.
My mother who passed away 3 years ago was always struggling with poor balance, dizziness, numbness and poor coordination, but it was usually put down to vertigo.
Being a bit of an “old school” woman she just usually waited for things to pass and just got on with life.
MS and MRI’s were not a known thing when I was growing up and she was ill, even today there are GP’s who haven’t a clue how to recognise symptoms of MS and would put it right at the end of their list of possible illnesses.
When I first started showing real signs that something was wrong, my GP at the time was insistent that I had a trapped nerve in my neck, it was until I convinced another GP at the same practice, by telling her about my sisters MS that I was sent for tests, even though I had mentioned this to the first GP !
My mothers brothers youngest daughter, (my first cousin), was the first in our family to be diagnosed with MS which was about 18 years ago, then about 15 years ago my sister was diagnosed, and myself about 5 years ago, although if I think back I can clearly remember odd symptoms like numbness and tingling many many years ago, just like my mother had done for years.
Now recently, my other first cousin, the sister of the first one diagnosed, is under tests for MS as she’s been showing worrying symptoms on and off a few months ago, as yet nothing is confirmed.
Theres a colleague at work with me who has a friend, who has MS along with her own mother.
I’ve recently been seeing a works councillor who was brought in to see how I cope with having MS and working.
It tuned out that this lady has MS, hence the reason why my company called her in to chat with me, it also turns out that both her sisters have MS.
Is there a genetic or hereditary link ?
You can bet your life there is !