Hello everyone, I am new, I want to say out loud I am concerned I may have MS but cannot express concern to family/ colleagues. It seems odd just writing this down. I had unexplained other symptoms for years on and off with no firm diagnosis such as IBS, ’ over stimulated bladder’ ?shingles 7 times, pleursy, blurring left eye etc etc… I am a nurse, if I am busy, stressed symptoms get worse or triggered. 7 years ago my brother died in an accident, it was horrific and I feel my body " shut down" at that time and physically changed internally. I saw a nurse practitioner in dec after 6 months of stiffness some pain to left shoulder, tingling to left hand/fingers which though was carpel tunnel. Was advised probably trapped nerve in bicep. Went back saw a GP Christmas as had bad pain in neck, burning, radiating pains in top of arm, shoulder, shocks in hand. Sleep affected, really tired. Had to leave work early few times due to pain. Tingly funny feeling in chin, teeth worrying. Blood tests done- thyroid, rheumatoid - all clear. Returned to GP 16th jan as wanted to request MRI as concerned long term nerve pain increased. Referred MSK spinal clinic. Quite calm 4 -5weeks, stiff shoulder but pain etc better. Feb saw MSK physio? In clinic, basic reflex tests etc, referred for MRI advised nerve pain from cervical spinal ? Stenosis. Last week; burning pain in neck returns with avengeance, neck , shoulder, wrist, arm so stiff. Thumb and 2 fingers stiff, locking, fine motor dexterity impaired, hands ‘clumsy’ . Shocks, numbness down left leg , sole of foot toes and left arm when head bent forwards. Numbness, tingly chin, lips, tongue, pain in ear all left side only. Brain fog, left eye blurring. One episode of distortion on floor when walking, lost balance twice at weekend. Pain in ribs, tender to touch left side. Tightening at times, stiff. Have had previously in past 5 yrs about 7 times and thought was shingles with no rash as itchy and typical nerve band pain to ribs left side. 2 days off work last week, afternoon naps as zoned out. returned today, came home 14.30, absolutely exhausted, could not spell properly, no concentration, hard to form sentence, finding words. Legs feel heavy, feel nausea… Have made appointment with GP Friday as feel symptoms are neurological as opposed to muscular skeletal? I’m sorry for the long moan and post but need to put it all out for someone to hear as I think people around you think it’s " dramatic " to even think of certain diagnosis, and working in the NHS with health professionals is worse!! My husband suggested it yesterday even I did not mention the MS words to him. It’s scary having such symptoms, which are so real but often invisible to others. the thought of waiting ages for any resolve/diagnosis as some of you have posted is frustrating. I shall plod on, moaning, and see what happens…I’ll let you know Thanks for listening x
Hello, I’ve just read your post. I too put of a long post of all my symptoms since they started, so you are not the only one. I’m a nurse myself so I have an idea what you are going through. I feel nurses make the worst patients lol. I’m in limboland atm and waiting very patiently to see what is next. I see my neurologist in the next few weeks with regards to another neurological medical condition I have and the results of my brain and spine MRI,and a LOT of bloods I got done in sep-oct time due to new, strange onset of symptoms very similar to yours. They are, itchy burning feeling in limbs, numbness in random places like side of mouth etc, electric shock sensation down spine, dizzness, spasms in random places, these are just a few. My ‘bad days’ are almost every symptom and my ‘good days’ are numbness in hand &/or fingers, feet, toes etc. These have been progressing since June last year. I did get a basic report from GP with regards to MRI , it appears I have a herniated disc in my T11-T12 region. I work in ortho ward and not one Dr will answer the question ‘would the herniated disc be causing my symptoms?’, nor would GP.
Keep pushing the Dr’s! By now you surley should be referred for an MRI to rule out buldging or herniation of discs or some sort of degeneration. You derserve it, you are a nurse working for the NHS! Good luck with your GP on Friday, and remember keep pushing! Private mail me if you wish.
I’d appreciate if someone could feed back if they too are a/w results and have similar symptoms. Thank you & take care x
Hi and thank you for the reply fellow nurse. Bad week! I can’t take this neck pain, am struggling at work, had to lay on treatment coach between patients today, not good! Am absolutely shattered; woke so many times last night; tongue left side ( as always) sore, swollen, feels like lump on swallowing and dry cough had on off four months. Am left handed and having to push it to write etc, so clumsy and stiff with aching pain. Got MRI tomorrow; physio appointment came for 7th march. Legs more ‘buzz’ that’s a weird sensation from sacrum down. Am keeping daily diary of symptoms so don’t forget when return for ant appointments. Tried gabapentin couple weeks ago but was like a zombie, can’t work/drive with it, may ask GP for low dose amitryptiline as might help sleeping too? NSAIDs and para’s no effect. Not sure if the heat pads make it worse? Hope some relief/ answers soon 
Hi from another fellow nurse appears we are falling like flies! My symptoms started back in September with a hypersensitive patch going down my left arm. Have got gradually worse with constant pain now in that arm and numbness in my left foot, shooting pains and spasms in my back and leg. Now also have right sided symptoms too. MRI showed bilateral brain lesions and c-spine lesion. Have not worked since 27th Dec and tomorrow finally get my admission for IV steroids and LP. Just don’t feel safe to work, I also get visual disturbance and memory issues, not good in a busy ED! Currently on 1500mg of Gabapentin and functioning but not much relief!
Hope you both get some answers \relief soon.
Hi fellow nurses Can i just say your symptoms are what im suffering from i have got fybromyalgia which cross over with ms symptoms but am now being tested fir ms.i too am a nurse in a busy department.whats going on with us. Would like to hear how u get on i have mri scan thus week but only on brain may have to speak to my to for spinal.
I started the gabapentin v v gradually starting with 100mg day one then 2 separate doses of 100mg day two etc etc until I was on my max dose of 600mg 3x a day it took a while to get there but avoided the zombie effect. I can’t take more due to chronic renal disease so need to add in something else as I am still in pain most of the time, neuro has recommended amatryptilene but I tried that years ago and just 10mg knocked me out so not very useful when trying to work but not sure what else will work
Thats interesting to see how many nurses are suffering from all these simIlar
symptoms…we must be working too hard lol! Allyf12, im glad to hear you have mri finally. Maybe try get a basic report off gp in 2/3 weeks time and take it from there. Unfortunatly I havent been taking gabapentin or amatriptaline, my consultant wasnt keen to perscribe me any due to be on meds already and possible interactions. Sometimes I find codeine based meds help some of the nerve pain and discomfort.
JARVS MUM. Have you recieved a diagnosis yet or possible diagnosis? Best of luck with your LP and iv steroids
Hi I cannot believe it I have the very same problems but because I had ocular shingles in October it has been diagnosed as postherpatic neuralgia. Now recently they think I may separately have a neck and shoulder problem. I was off work for 16 weeks but have had to go back as my Gcse group need me. Bending over the students to help them is killing me at the moment I am also dizzy and can’t drive! I plot all my serious illnesses over the years to have occurred on a two year cycle. Glandular fever. TMJ Migraines, Tinnitus. Gastric probs. dizziness and clumsiness. Unconfirmed heart probs three times, neck pain.Suspected Heart problems but never confirmed. GP suspected either ME or chronic fatigue but admitted he lacked knowledge in this field so recommended I see a neurologist privately to rule out anything else. This was not only the most expensive but damaging time of my life as this so called aging expert said he did not believe in such modern day terms and that what I and others were suffering from was in fact Somatisation disorder. Once home I looked up the term that would now be place on my medical file forever, to discover that he thinks it’s all in the mind! I have like you wonderful nurses always given my all to my job I love the teenage horrors I have taught over the years and to be honest think I am a workaholic. I do have a good GP who knows this and so is trying to help. Recent MRI scans showed nerve damage to C4-7 resulting in tremendous pain in my left arm. But now the pain is spreading down my back to my left rib hip thighs, leg and toes. The right side is mildly affected. I am living on Gabapentin, naproxen and Amitryptaline but find that I am awake half the night. Now the consultant I was supposed to see this month has resigned with no replacement so I am back to square one. Sorry to ramble on but like you I am frustrated that I cannot get to the root of what is occurring. All I know is it is certainly not “all in the mind”! As an artist and an art & textile teacher it is seriously affecting my job as I need to be ambidextrous. I am also not getting their names right and not spelling correctly not good for a teacher! I seem to have developed overnight a short term memory? Only my GP has recently asked if I have ever considered MS.
Hello anon
I’m a qualified nurse…stopped practicing in 2006 due to PSa. Diagnosed with ms last august.
You do have a lot of neuro type symptoms…I hope its not ms. I hope you don’t have to wait too long for answers.
Do let us know how you get on.
Take care xx
Hi Bon, We do have some similar symptoms, I am having the rib pain this week in waves, both sides but left defo more tender to touch also, feel sick when comes on, knocks me for six, happened in car today and had to stop, was sick of been confined to house so took visit to family, was wiped out when got there though. Pain in neck, arm revved up am soooo stiff! Blossom, thank you, hope it’s not MS too, am trying to keep open mind and will wait for MRI results, bloods etc first, got week 2 week off sick and physio starting so might get some rest, have been quite stressed this year at work past 12 month to be honest which doesn’t I’ll let you know what happens Take care all, have relaxing Sunday if you can 
Ally12
Hi Ally, hi RR25,
Have had the nausea too Ally its a bitch! Today was right sided neuralgiat to the head and hypersensitivity to both forearms! RR25 not definitively diagnosed MRI shows lesions in brain and c-spine had visual and limb evoked potentials on Valentines Day! Awaiting results on that. Being a nurse I wish that I could be more understanding that my admission was cancelled due to lack of beds on Thursday but I’m dissapointed. Rescheduled for 12th of March so that almost definitely means I won’t be back at work this month Gutted miss and love my job sooooo much.
Here’s to a better day tomorrow for all xxxx
Hi Jarv’s mum et al, The NHS won’t have any nurses left at this rate, we are going down like flies! Maybe someone should research into jobs/environment people work in and diagnosis, I think stress has a lot to do with these things, I find it hard to switch off, the pressure now is great. But like you I do love what I do. It is frustrating appointments are cancelled, referrals slow, GPs think your mad! I would always battle for a patient so ill battle for me too! I’m sick of nausea by the way, also IBS has triggered this week, 5am was so ill. Ribs feel like had em bashed with baseball bat at times. Also re: the heat, hot baths etc, I noticed I get more needles, tingling, buzzing in legs in bed - memory foam mattress make it really hot, could be that, dont think my hubby will give it up though lol. Day of rest, the ironing can wait. Speak soon Ally
Hi Allyf12 I hope you and the other ladies get some relief soon. I tried to drive for the first time yesterday and today I am suffering incredibly . It is I guess another week of lifts. Like all of you I love my job but find doing the everyday practices hard. Also teachers like nurses are leaving the profession daily through ill health and contrary to what people think, I don’t know a single colleague who works the hours they are paid for - those of us that care often do 12 -14 hours a day and then go in during breaks to just catch up with all the red tape, paperwork and planning as there is little time during the working week. I think ladies it is stress that is killing us off as we always want to give our best and care for those around us and in the end our bodies and minds say enough! Take care x
Have any of use run of out patience whilst waiting for your appointments and find yourselves getting frustrated? …Well thats me today :-/ I know I was due a review appointment around March time re: my scans etc so I contacted the appointment line to see if they had any idea when appointment would be sent out. It turns out I may get my review app May time now. I have always tried to go through life as normal but I be afraid to plan anything around appointment time incase my appointment comes through and I only have the choice of one day when I ring to confirm an appointment. Im due to see occupational health in April too and he wont be too impressed to hear I havent been seen yet. I know the neurologist said ‘we have to take this in stages’ & ‘these things take time’, but how he does me expect me or assume that I can go 8 months without any sort of nerve pain reliever and constantly buying OTC pain relief ( that doesnt always work but I keep hoping it will some day!) 6 months was a long enough wait. My monday thought= frustrated!!
Have any of use run of out patience whilst waiting for your appointments and find yourselves getting frustrated? …Well thats me today :-/ I know I was due a review appointment around March time re: my scans etc so I contacted the appointment line to see if they had any idea when appointment would be sent out. It turns out I may get my review app May time now. I have always tried to go through life as normal but I be afraid to plan anything around appointment time incase my appointment comes through and I only have the choice of one day when I ring to confirm an appointment. Im due to see occupational health in April too and he wont be too impressed to hear I havent been seen yet. I know the neurologist said ‘we have to take this in stages’ & ‘these things take time’, but how he does me expect me or assume that I can go 8 months without any sort of nerve pain reliever and constantly buying OTC pain relief ( that doesnt always work but I keep hoping it will some day!) 6 months was a long enough wait. My monday thought= frustrated!!
Hi Bon, RR25 and everyone, Yes I have worked for free overtime for years, and such stress at times, I changed jobs last year for promotion and is somewhat better but different stresses. I was thinking of going back next week but can’t yet with these symptoms, don’t feel safe to work! RR25, I think reading from others it can be such a long haul in the neurology dept. I’m getting cervical spine MRI results from GP next week then to be taken from there. It seems frustrating when the symptoms are so delibilitating at times and scary. Am having a bad day. Was going to going to not come on for a while and just relax try take mind away from stuff. Something new has happened, I’ve had increased tightening around back, squeezing from head, neck, ribs, abdo in intervals all left sided. My left leg felt funny when got up though and feels like someone is pushing me in small of back and kind of a slow ‘collapse’ at pelvis/hip , side, happens when standing. Also have had more blurring in left eye and floaters, hazy, jelly/watery sort of, pain and have to blink and watery, was on off yesterday and today, particularly worse after shower. Hot water sends me numb and such sharpness in feet. Went out for fresh air as nice day, wiped out now, I have first physio tomorrow so will prob be wiped out after? Or might help? Going on hols in 3 weeks, hope I don’t get worse, the warm sun may not be so good after all ?! Take care x Ally