Hello, I have been feeling scared and isolated for many years now with the fear I may have MS and the symptoms have been getting worse over the years. It started with just headaches and pains in my hand and them seezing up every so often and amoungst general pains that people said I was being a hypochondriac. This upset me a lot. This past year things have got worse. I woke up one morning last August screaming in pain and couldn’t move at all, my partner managed to get me into the car and take me to the hospital and they just gave me volterol PR and said it was just a normal back pain anyone could get so I thought ok fine. I went back a few weeks later same thing done and said but I was referred to a clinic. I had an MRI in February on my lower back. This showed 2 prolapsed discs at L4 - L5 S1 and an annular tear. I thought ok fine I was given general painkillers. I have been taken in by ambulance twice in the last two months to hospital. A further MRI was done on the two occasions showing now I had 4 Prolapsed discs. I have in the last few months had stronger painkillers (tramadol, gabapentin and fentanyl patches) these together give some relief. At this point I bet you wonder what this has to do with MS. I have been getting various symptoms in addition to the above. I get spasms frequently and I am in agony. I suffer with severe constipation and have to perform manual evacuations each time I go. My sex drive and libido have flown the nest and I have no interest in sex neither can I sustain an erection and when I can I very rarely ejaculate or orgasm. I feel loss of sensation and that my penis is retracting into my body. I am getting severe headaches to the right of my head and right eye it’s like my eye is going to shoot out. I cannot stand bright lights and night time driving is becoming unbearable. It’s been suggested this may be optic neuritis. I also seem to get double vision and have to squint o concentrate on something and its painful. I suffer with clinical depression and I get very emotional with mood swings and shouting and screaming and crying a lot which upset my and I upset my partner and others I get general pains that can’t be explained pain shooting down my back there is numbness in my legs and I get pins and needles in my feet. I get stabbing pains in my stomach. My right legs tremors and my right arm with no warning at all and it scares me to the point I cry. I get involuntary movements also. I get my right hand in spasms and seesing up and in a lot of pain. The fact is I am being made out to be a hypochondriac because I get all these different pains. Can anyone help me as I am at a loss and scared and my partner just seems to think its just something else wrong with Neil and not that it could be something. I have suggested MS and he tells me not o be silly. I have been referred to a neurologist. I don’t know if its worth mentioning my my speech seems to have slowed down and it take me sometime at least 10 seconds to remember words and I have problems learning new things as I don’t remember them such as educational things and I seem to forget things I have done or did but some things ate very vivid in my mind.m I would appriciate any help or support I have called the helpline and I was close to tears. My doctor wants me to see a psychiatrist because of the mood swings and temper as my mum as bipolar. Thank you so so much for reading I just want someone to listen and if I have got MS I can adjust to deal with it rather that getting upset because nobody listens and calls me a hypochondriac. Thank you Neil did
hi neil
spending many years thinking you may have ms is a long time.
i only had 8 months in that posistion but its horrible, coming on here and feeling like you have to stand outside looking in.
its good that you have been referred to neurology.
you need to list your symptoms with date started and date finished (if any)
who you have seen about it and what treatment you have had.
take a copy of your list so that you can give one to the neuro.
neuros dont want to hear you say that you have ms, because they are the one who diagnose.
describe your symptoms and try to stay calm.
you really need treatment for the back pain if its not ms.
good luck
carole x
Thanks you for that advise. I have been going for so many years with all different pains and a dr can never explain what they are more recently is the involuntary movements especially in my right leg and really bad pain to the groin. The pains in my wrists are getting worse and i just feel the drs are not pushing for my neurology appointment.
Hello Neil. I’m glad you have been referred to a neurologist. Its possible you could have MS or some other neuro problem. Your not a hypochondriac, just worried about your health which is understandable. I hope you don’t mind me saying Neil, but it might be a good idea to see a psychiatrist also. Even if it turns out you have MS, its still possible that you may have bipolar. My husband has bipolar and over the years we have had some nightmare moments…he’s also been sectioned a couple of times but that was along time ago. There are quite a few of his relatives that have bipolar. Now he’s looked after by a great GP and psychiatrist, so he’s in a good place these days. If you do have MS then you will need lots of support. I wish you good luck. All the best , Noreen x