Hi all,
First and foremost, I’m new to all of this kind of thing, so please bear with me!
Fairly recently (for a couple of months), I’ve been experiencing a variety of what I call unusual symptoms such as muscle/limb twitching, crawling/burning type of pain in my calfs, right arm feels heavy although not numb, headache behind the eyes including pain when I move my eye balls around. Linked to I suffer from what’s termed ‘visual snow’ and floaters across my field of vision as well as the colour being slightly faded in my right eye. Another symptom I have difficulty with is struggling to understand both written and verbal language as if my brain is telling me that I cannot understand what I am hearing or reading: almost like aphasia. Does anyone else have a similar experience?
Obviously these symptoms concern me, although I am unsure of whether they can be deemed to be part of the MS spectrum (such as Optic Neuritis) or purely caused by some other ailment.
I was hoping that someone could shed some light on these signs?
Many thanks,
Best Wishes
Ed
Hi Ed, and welcome 
MS can cause pretty much any symptom, but the range of symptoms you have listed suggests to me that a vitamin deficiency or migraine are much more likely causes of yours.
If I were you, I would ask my GP for a referral to an ophthalmologist as a first port of call - get the eye pain, “snow” and reduced colour perception checked out. While you are at the GP’s, ask for a bit of an MOT, including blood tests for things like vitamin D and B12 deficiency. And then take it from there.
Karen x
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the reposnse. I agree, MS can certainly produce many varied symptoms, which obviously makes diagnosis so difficult. I’ve looked at possible B12 deficiency, but eat quite a bit of meat which contains a fair amount of B12. Another thing I thought of was perhaps thyroid problems such as Hashimoto’s which I believe can cause twitching and even mental deficiencies. I think I’ll keep a bit of a symptom diary to show the GP if I need to go back at all. Unfortunately, I’ve been to the doctors a few times recently with a cancer scare and anxiety and depression, whilst I was there I mentioned the twitching and aphasia type symptoms as a problem related to MS and he thought I was ‘clutching at straws’. Therefore I don’t think he’ll take me too seriously if I go again!
On another note, I’ve got a contact lens after-care appointment due soon, so i’ll ask about optic neuritis and other eye symptoms.
Thanks and best regards.
Ed x