Hi, I am 23 and have shown signs of MS. My mothe has been diagnosed for h 10 years now, i am aware the research for it being hereditary is a bit scetchy.I have been refered to a spinal specialist, as no other specialist would take me, who didnt pay any attention to what i told him anyway, and he sent me to MRI, im still waiting for the result but he has refered me to someone else for pain management, so im guessing it was clear (mri was on lower spine). I know you can get clear mri and have ms, but no one is taking me seriously. My GP confessed that she had susspected ms but the level if pain im complaining of in my back is unusual so has dismissed it. She is really helpful. She always come to home visit whenever i have an episode of paralysis and tried to help with the pain, but nothing has helped. What do i have to do to get them to really look at thos, clearly im using the nhs and cant afford private. Ive had enough, if i knew what was wrong i could cope with it, move on and do whatever i need to do, but cant stand not knowing. I have 2 small children who doesnt understand why i have to stop playing when it gets too much. Should i just get wheeled in to A&E the next episode i have? See if they can get someone to me? I dont know. Please excuse the state of my spelling and grammar as im using my mobile phonw. Thank you. Laura
Hi Laura.
I understand your frustration hun.
Seeing as you`ve had an mri and are still being investigated, putting pressure on medics wont help in the long run.
Try to be patient and not force a diagnosis, as you may get a wrong one, as i did.
Pollx
Hello Laura
You really need to find out the results of your spinal MRI scan…don’t assume because you haven’t heard anything, that its clear. Ask your gp to chase that up for you, or you ring the specialist’s department and speak to the secretary. You should really get a follow up appointment, to discuss the results. When did you have the scan?
It sounds like you have a lovely gp, which is good but its not for her to dismiss ms, its a neurologists who makes that decision.
Is it a pain clinic you’ve been referred to? this is a good idea. Whatever your diagnosis, your need the right medication for pain control.
If you feel you are having neurological type symptoms, then you ask your gp to refer you to a neurologist. I suggest you take someone with you if you don’t feel comfortable. She would need a good reason to say no.
Take care Laura xx
Hello Laura,
I totally agree with Laura (Blossom) you need your MRI results and neuro referral. As a fellow sufferer I understand your pain but as an A&E nurse I would ask you please not to go there. I really hope you get the answers you need soon and keep pressurising that GP of yours, sounds like you have a good one there. X
If it’s any help, my MS was discovered after I was referred to a spinal specialist (a neurosurgeon, actually), for a suspected slipped disc. I was always sceptical of the slipped disc theory, as I hadn’t been doing any unusual lifting or carrying, hadn’t felt anything “go”, and people I knew who’d had one all reported it as excruciating - which mine wasn’t, although I didn’t feel too well in myself - just nothing I’d describe as excruciating.
But anyway, it turned out the spine guy wasn’t a waste of time, because although he could see straight away that I didn’t have a slipped disc, he knew his stuff alright, and quickly referred me to a colleague who was an MS specialist. Looking back, I think he knew all along that’s what the problem was, but it wasn’t his field to diagnose, so he never voiced his suspicions to me. But of course, I went straight home and Googled who I was being transferred to - and found out his thing was MS.
So I wouldn’t dismiss the spine guy yet as being a false lead. Even if he can’t see an obvious mechanical problem with your spine, he will be aware of inflammatory processes like MS, that might cause similar symptoms, and can refer for a second opinion if appropriate.
Your GP seems pretty on-the-ball, and is aware of family history, so I’m sure she hasn’t dismissed MS completely, but investigations have to start somewhere.
I do agree that pitching up at A&E is not the right thing to do. It’s not an accident, and not an emergency. Besides, they will not be specialists in MS-like symptoms, so after a long wait, and a few basic examinations to rule out anything life-threatening. you will probably be sent home and told to take it up with your GP anyway. As your GP is sympathetic and helpful, you could spare yourself the aggro of an A&E visit. I’ve had one recently - not re MS - and with all due respect to A&E staff everywhere, it was NOT a happy experience, or one I’d recommend to anyone, unless there’s absolutely no choice. If you have a chronic problem, that’s already under investigation by a competent and sympathetic GP, I’d play things her way, and not assume you’ll get answers any quicker out of A&E - it’s really not what they are there for.
Tina
x
Hi Iclarke2012, I was also referred straight to spinal service, was seen by senior physio for consultation who thinks it’s a pinched nerve but symptoms have increased and new ones since then, typically I’d had 4 weeks been quite good with things settled down when I saw her ; but she did get me an MRI within 2 weeks which was great, going back to see her in APril and will discuss all other things then, MRI results with GP soon too. At least your in the system somewhere and the specialist services are good at looking at the whole picture, also as others say A&E isn’t always the right place to go, especially for chronic probs, think they’ll bounce you straight back out to see GP. Good luck, hope you get some resolve soon Take care Ally
Thanks for all the advice. I had the MRI in november, ive tried speaking with the secretaries but most of the time I cant get through to them, they must have me blacklisted :). ive no idea who or what I have been refered to, I was put under the impression it was some sort of physio and I cant stand the thought of that again 
, im not seeing them til april and that surprised my gp how slow they were moving, they must be busy. I’m finding it so hard as I look at my mom and she is in such a bad way, she is not the person she was by a long strech, but I know that doesnt happen to everyone. Thanks again everyone, its nice to talk to people other than my husband, who is great, but doesnt quite get it.
Laura x