I’m a retired medic with SPMS. Last week I went to MS Yoga, and found myself next to a retired GP with MS. Next to her was a retired operating theatre nurse, and a guy who was a retired policeman. Also in the class was a midwife, and 5 out of 11 (I think) were folk who had worked in the 'caring professions".
I just wondered whether some occupations increase the chances of MS: there are other possible explanations, it might just be a coincidence, or maybe this was an unusual group. I tried to research this topic, without success. I wonder whether anybody in the MS Society has more information, or relevant thoughts. Thanks.
I suppose that, even if there was a correlation between people in the caring professions and MS, we would be no clearer on whether there was causation and, of there was, what caused what! Or whether, for instance, the kind of people with MS who are/were in the caring professions are more likely than the average MS-er to be attending a yoga class! So many questions with this damned disease.
I think that if stress aggravates MS then it stands to reason that it may be a factor in who develops it, maybe it’s more to do with how you process stress and cortisol and adrenaline levels. Carole (midwife)
I had a completely unstressful job when MS first raised its ugly mug in me. I worked for local government (admittedly I did take the job of someone who had just been medically retired with MS - I sat in the ‘MS chair’ if you like!)
Subsequently I did a really challenging and stressful job. I became a trainer, writing and delivering a course that had not been done in quite that way before. Then was a consultant to local government. Again, quite stressful.
So if MS arrived when there was no stress but then was a lot more manageable with more work stress, I can’t see there’s any connection - for me.
I just sat in the MS chair. Plus I have lousy genetics. And bad luck.
Hi im new to forum and in the early stages of investigation, bloods which showed high esr, b12 was fine whereas in the past i have had b12 injections. To my dismay this has all come as a bit of a shock as i only went to see a musculoskeletal physio regarding left shoulder blade, arm pain with numbness to fingers and constant buzzing throughout arm. On my first appointment with physio i had a neurological exam which highlighted that i had positive Hoffmans reflex and slight tremor to right hand, right hand which is my dominant hand has for quite sometime now been more weaker with less grip, dexterity is not as good either. I am post menopause now and am just coming up to 50 so just put fatigue and aches and pains down to low eostrogen. I have a mri this week. I do suffer with golfer and tennis elbow aswell hence why i was seeing physio. Physio mentioned ms to me due to reflexes and strength. Not sure whether this all sounds familiar to ms sufferers.
Welcome to the forum, a place you never wanted to be welcome to!!
You’ve placed your post / questions at the end of a slightly different thread. Not a problem, but you’d get more relevant responses by starting a New Thread (there’s a button just above the list of current threads). You give your new thread a relevant title and then post your thoughts/questions etc.
Meanwhile, you should bear in mind that a physiotherapist is not qualified to diagnose MS (not that it can be done from a physical exam anyway), in fact, I doubt that a physio is really the right person to do a thorough neurological examination.
There are many diagnoses that share symptoms with MS. So dodgy reflexes, tremors and strength/weakness issues are not a specific marker for MS. The only way of diagnosing MS is by having an MRI - which you have lined up - of the brain and maybe cervical spine (possibly entire spine). Then by seeing a neurologist who will have the MRI and the radiologists report, be able to conduct a thorough examination, and order more tests as required.
Only when all the tests have been completed could a neurologist diagnose MS. Their starting point would of course not be to rule MS in or out, but to establish first whether their is in fact a neurological problem, then what that problem might be.
In some ways, I feel that this physiotherapist has done you a bit of a disservice by suggesting that you could have MS.
Just to add my input. I’m also a midwife but my theory is that there are certain people who are more likely to reach out for support via forums or at exercise classes.
Many thanks Sue for your reply. I was thinking that myself when he told me, the physio brought in ? consultant or his senior who undertook another ? neuro exam-eye movement, reflexes etc and she suggested the same ?ms, mnd was also mentioned. At present i feel that both hands are weak and forearms feel fatigued. Blood results showed inflammation of 34000.
