Hi, I’m not sure I am in the right place but I’m trying everything I can right now! I’m interested in hearing if anyone with a diagnosis of MS went through similar things, prior to diagnosis - as I just feel I am going round and round in circles and getting nowhere
I’m a 47yr old female and up until around 4 years ago was pretty healthy and happy. I exercised 3-4 times a week, I was a healthy weight and I didn’t have any particular aches and pains. I suffer with asthma, have had intermittent periods of depression over the years and smoke. I have also suffered with pins and needles at night, for many years but just assumed it was the way I slept and it was quite a usual thing that everyone experienced.
Around 4 years ago I suddenly had problems with my ankle joints, particularly in the morning and could hardly walk. This usually lasted for an hour or so and I just felt like an old woman. I also noticed significant pain in my inner elbows, particularly at night and increased bouts of paraesthesia (numbness and pins and needles) - whilst driving, holding a mobile phone, typing etc. In addition I felt very tired, mood was low and I lost all motivation in work, my marriage, sex, social life etc.
I saw my GP and he did some blood tests and confirmed I had a severe Vit D deficiency and also a B12 deficiency. I was treated for both and now have my B12 injections every 8 weeks. The joint pains in my ankles improved but I had put on a significant amount of weight on, as I had been unable to exercise due to the pain and stiffness.
The pains in my other muscles and joints did not improve, however, and my hands became increasingly stiff and painful, along with my wrists and the continuing pain in my elbows. In addition the paraesthesia had become worse and I was losing the sensation (initially only in the right hand) for significant periods whilst driving and after using the hand to decorate/paint/hold a phone etc.
My GP sent me for a nerve conduction test as he thought it was likely carpal tunnel but the results came back clear. I was frustrated and even more so when the GP said it could be my mental health that was impacting on my body - stress leading to tightening of the body, possibly leading to the pain. He also suggested that feeling low was highlighting symptoms and making them seem worse. I disengaged with the medical process at this stage as I just felt like I had to put up with it.
Around the same time my husband left me and I fell into a long period of depression and my health issues took a back seat. Symptoms worsened and despite the B12 injections, the paraesthesia would come and go, now affecting both hands and my hands felt like they were seizing up and getting tighter and more painful.
I saw a different GP and he suggested new nerve tests and steroid injections to see if it improved the symptoms. The first injection was in my right wrist and appeared to improve things, so he also injected the left wrist. I had a total of 3 courses of injections but when my next set of nerve tests came back clear, the GP ceased the injections.
I was then diagnosed with tennis and golfers elbow and given various exercises to do that could help. The next step was to send me for an MRI on my neck to see if the issue could be a trapped nerve but this also came back to show no issues.
During the lockdown period I have been loathe to push my doctor for the next step but I am experiencing periods of sudden and extreme tiredness and am sleeping for hours during the day. I feel sluggish in mind and body and even a short walk can leave me breathless at times. The paraesthesia has now become very painful, searing pains at night through my hands, and more frequent episodes throughout the day, regardless of what I am doing. I refuse to accept this is part and parcel of getting older, I know my body and I know this is not right and is not general wear and tear on the body.
I spoke to my GP yesterday and he wants to see me tomorrow to discuss referral to a neurologist because he feels he can’t do much more. I know that there are a number of conditions that this could be and MS is just one of them, but I would like to know if anyone else has been through the same scenarios with the negative nerve tests etc.
Sorry for the really long post! Thanking anyone in anticipation.