Hi I just wondered if anyone had been here, - and then in later years the lesions had shown up on their MRIs? Thanks
Hi JohnCCCC; I went 9 years with 3 lesions in brain that were nothing to do with any of my symptoms before 4 showed up in my spinal cord which were definitely to do with my symptoms. So yes, lesions can show up years after the symptoms do.
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many thanks Theresa.
Please could I ask what your MS symptoms were during those 9 years?
Please could I also ask your age when the MS lesions showed on MRI?
Many thanks again
I was 54 when the spinal lesions showed up on the MRI.
The first symptom that took me to the GP was a weird numbness/tingling in my left hand, that rapidly spread (over the course of 2 - 3 weeks) up my arm and throughout the left side of myself from head to toe which became very painful and has remained almost constant; L’Hermittes - an electric shock like sensation from my neck down my spine; fatigue and balance issues followed, those are intermittent; Visually Evoked Potential testing showed that I have had Optic Neuritis in the left eye at some point in the past - could not remember having symptoms of ON; about 6 years in it was noted that my left leg was becoming stiff, particularly the quad and around the hip; then bladder issues, notably retention, became an issue which prompted another spinal MRI which is when the 4 lesions were noted and the dx made. The stiffness in my left leg has increased and altered the way I move when I walk. I use a walking stick (mostly for balance issues).
I now have an MS Specialist and have not long started injecting Plegridy (immuno-modulator) once a fortnight in addition to the Gabapentin/Amitriptyline tablet combo for the pins & needles tingling and L’Hermittes. The G/A combo works really well for me, I take just enough to keep the tingling etc. at a bearable level. The L’Hermittes is still there, but now feels like a weird pulse sensation rather than feeling like I’ve just stuck a fork in a live socket.
As for the Optic Neuritis - the Neurologist believes this happened when I was around 15; I was studying for exams and had very bad eye strain (according to the optician at the time) and have worn glasses ever since. My left eye is worse than the right.
I’ve had bouts of raging clumsiness on and off most of my life which may, or may not, be related to the MS; my ability to fall over fresh air on a clear day is well known to my friends, who often horrify strangers by awarding me scores out of 10 for difficulty and performance instead of rushing to my aid - they know I will ask for help if I need it. Even the little kids at Taekwon’do are used to me walking like a gunslinger (aka like a sailor whose been at sea for 6 months etc.) and falling over fresh air from time to time:)