Hi all Sorry I’ve been AWOL, just trying to live a normal life while my symptoms have been almost non-existent. I’ve been pretty lucky and have been mostly clear since my last relapse in Feb/March 2012. Anyway, that’s now changed and I was hoping for an opinion as to whether I’m in a relapse or just having odd symptoms. Over today and yesterday, I started getting numb patches of skin on my right leg, minor at first but now they’ve merged together to form one large patch down from my bum to the back of my knee, and then off to the outside of my calf. The patch changes from burning sensation to cold sensation to numb skin! It’s a horrible sensation and is making me feel quite queasy! (Although I know it’s mild compared to what others go through, so I’m trying to be grateful!). I can’t feel my razor when I shave my legs (bit dangerous!) and I caught myself on the edge of the bath as I couldn’t work out where my leg was. Does this sound like a relapse? And should I be telling anyone? I don’t want steroids or anything for it at this stage as it’s not severe enough in my opinion, but should I still phone my MS nurse? Thanks for your help! X
Hi Emma,
Unless you have an infection or anything, which can sometimes make symptoms flare out of the blue, I’d say yes, it sounds like a relapse.
Absolutely no obligation to have steroids if you don’t want to (it doesn’t affect the long-term outcome anyway), but probably a good idea to get on record that the relapse has happened, in cases it influences treatment decisions. As this appears to be the second relapse in about a year, you might be offered DMDs, if you’re not on them already, or, if you are, they might look at switching you. So for these reasons, get it on the books that it happened.
MS nurse sounds like the first port of call. Though if, like me, you didn’t have one, I’m sure telling the GP is an acceptable route as well.
Tina
x
I’d phone your MS nurse if I were you. Get it on the record and open a dialogue in case things get worse - which I hope they won’t!
Karen x
Thank you both! I’ll give my nurse a call this morning (I’m very lucky to have an easily accessible MS nurse and neuro physio and a reasonably helpful consultant!) I’m hoping this doesn’t get worse as I’m hosting my son’s 5th birthday party on Saturday for 35 children!!! X
Hi emma Just wanted to say that your sensations are exactly why I have now been dx with ms. I have also been thinking i am fairly lucky in comparison to some others who i feel for. However it still doesn’t take your symptoms away. I also couldn’t feel the razor which was a but wierd! Had gorilla legs for about a month and as you, i thought it may be slightly dangerous!!! I am no expert but just wanted to say that I have felt exactly the same symptoms and its ok to have a little moan about them. Lainey x x
Ladies…you have my empathy…me gorilla too !! You could very nearly plait them…hubby keeps laughing and says they’ll keep me warm !!
Thanks Lainey…I know in the grand scheme of things these symptoms are mild. They’re more annoying than anything, but I’d been lulled into a false sense of security having nearly a year of nothing! I was dx’d in April and this will be official relapse number 3 since August 2011, although by my calculations it may be number 5 since January 2011! Mrs H…hahahahaha!!! I have to say when I had these same symptoms last year, I continued shaving and took a large chunk out of one leg. Muchos blood, but the good news was numb leg = no pain!!! Now, I’ll just go gorilla. At least it’s winter and I can hide them! X