New member here- Do I have MS?

Welcome and introductions
1

Hi all,

Just joined the forum and looking for some advice. I had a minor car accident (rear shunt) at the end of 2022. About two days after the accident I started with a headache that I couldn’t shift, a minor shoulder ache, and numbness in right forearm and hand. Additionally I started with a right ear/facial pain. My symptoms in my arm subsided, but we used to hike a lot and as it was winter time the colder weather seemed to amplify the pain in my right ear/face.

I saw my GP and eventually got referred for physio as if I got my neck in a certain position it would trigger the right ear/face pain. Physio did not clear it completely and episodes would come and go. In September last year my physio stopped treatment as he said “let’s try and stop to see if the symptoms settle down in case we are irritating something”. By December 2024 the right ear/facial pain was ever present and is still there today. I am now on Pregabalin which has eased some burning/tingling I get in my face but the facial pain remains, in fact it is more like a pressure. In addition to the above these are the symptoms that come and go;

Shooting pain behind right eye

Numbness from jaw to scalp, but only on right side of the face

Numbness/tingling in both forearms when waking in a morning

Feeling like I’ve slept with clenched fists first thing in the morning

Burning/tingling in both legs, mainly hamstrings and shins

Sensation of something crawling on different extremities

New sensation - feeling like I’ve got warm ‘liquid’ running down the back of my left leg from the gluteus maximus area.

Also I have had numerous MRI’s following my accident but nothing picked up apart from slight change in the cerebellar tonsil position (slightly descended).

Unfortunately the more I read, the symptoms point to nerve damage and possible MS. It is worrying and I just wonder how this should be approached next?

Thanks in advance.

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No one on this forum is able to say if you have MS or any other conditions as we aren’t medically trained .

In your favour you have had a number of MRIS without any lesions or demylination which would suggest you don’t have MS at this stage.

You do need to keep advocating for yourself to get answers as you clearly have symptoms that need to be explained.

Ask your Neurologist what he thinks the next steps should be

It maybe a watch and wait but don’t give up seeking answers.

My first MRI found many brain lesions and a couple of spinal lesions but I wasn’t formally diagnosed with MS until 3 years later when a new lesion was found.

It is a worrying and very difficult time but please know we have also been there and understand how you maybe feeling.

Please take care and let us know how you get on..

1 Like
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There are quite a few other conditions that mimic MS and guessing really isn’t going to help. This is from the professor of neurology at Barts.

Am I sure that I have MS? - by Gavin Giovannoni - MS-Selfie

I hope you get the certainty you need.