Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

Wow. Did you have any IV steroids during that ti\me. MS is really difficult to diagnose & symptoms can be a lot of other things. Which makes the diagnosis so difficult, but I thought all those other things it could possibly be are also treated with steroids? I'm just surprised to read of your account. But I have no medical training, so I don't understand the way they treated an unknown symptom. Not with steroids, huh?

FROM 2009 International Differential Diagnosing Guide for MS...
Link to it can be obtained here...

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Mul...

From Table 1:
Peripheral neuropathy Clinical Event

Red Flag to consider possibilities other than MS = Major
Other possibilities=B12 deficiency; adrenoleukodystrophy;
metachromatic leukodystrophy, Lyme
disease
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What you describe is Red Flagged for other possible causes besides MS. And MS is a diagnosis of exclusion, when everything else it could be is excluded and all that is left is MS, then it is MS.
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From:
https://www.google.com/health/ref/...
a description of Peripheral neuropathy & possible causes.

SENSATION CHANGES

Damage to sensory fibers results in changes in sensation, burning sensations, nerve pain, tingling or numbness, or an inability to determine joint position, which causes incoordination.

For many neuropathies, sensation changes often begin in the feet and progress toward the center of the body with involvement of other areas as the condition worsens. Diabetes is a common cause for sensory neuropathy.

Treatment

Treatmet involves:

* Identifying and treating any underlying medical problem (such as diabetes) or removing the cause (such as alcohol)
* Controlling symptoms
* Curing the disorder, if possible
* Helping the patient gain maximum independence and self-care ability

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and orthopedic interventions may be recommended. For example, exercises and retraining may be used to increase muscle strength and control. Wheelchairs, braces, and splints may improve mobility or the ability to use an affected arm or leg.

Safety is an important consideration for people with neuropathy. Lack of muscle control and reduced sensation increase the risk of falls and other injuries. The person may not notice a potential source of injury because he or she can't feel it. For example, one may not notice if water in a bathtub is too hot. For this reason, people with decreased sensation should check their feet or other affected areas frequently for bruises, open skin areas, or other injuries, which may go unnoticed and become severely infected. Often, a podiatrist can determine if special orthotic devices are needed.

Safety measures for people experiencing difficulty with movement may include:

* Installing railings
* Removing obstacles on floors such as loose rugs

Safety measures for people having difficulty with sensation include:

* Adequate lighting (including night lights)
* Testing water temperature before bathing
* Use of protective shoes (no open toes, no high heels)

Shoes should be checked often for grit or rough spots that may cause injury to the feet.

Persons with neuropathy (especially those with polyneuropathy or mononeuropathy multiplex) are prone to new nerve injury at pressure points such as knees and elbows. They should avoid prolonged pressure on these areas from leaning on the elbows, crossing the knees, or assuming similar positions.

Prescription pain medications may be needed to control nerve pain. Anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine, gabapentin, and pregabalin), tricyclic antidepressants (duloxetine), or other medications may be used to reduce the stabbing pains. Use the lowest dose possible to avoid side effects




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Plus more on that site. Are you certain it is MS?

Thank you for your responses Nnyl1! I didn't have any IV steroids at all while I was in the hospital but thankfully the neurologist I saw today was able to help me tremendously. It is a definite diagnosis of MS and they are sending a home health care team to my house tomorrow to administer IV solumedrol for the next 3 days and then we can move forward with long term treatment. I just can't believe the hospital didn't address it and now the numb is worse. I am in shock at how lax the hospital was!

Well I'm glad, it seems like you finally got some control of this issue...you will feel much better after the steroids & I'm glad it is only MS. Everyone would prefer to be healthy rather than have MS....but to be truthful MS is much,much better than many other things.

I was contemplating you would go to your appointment & the nuero would say its not MS, its something else more serious.

But the result is good...I have no idea why they didn't treat you with steroids during all that time in the hospital. It sure does illustrate some medical incompetence!

Be well! You'll feel better soon.

I've had ms for 17 yrs and the whole time I've had numbness in both feet and up to my theighs (sp wrong). After awhile you will get use to it and it won't bug you as much. what did the spinal tap show..

I have had tingling and numbness from my toes to my knees every day since June of 2002. Sometimes more, somtimes less. it has, upon occassion, gone up higher and then slowly settled back down. I was told sometime ago that this will never go away. the truth is that if that is the only thing wrong with me on any given day, I feel almost like I don't have MS. It sounds odd, but you will get used to it. It won't stop you.