Hi There,

How long has it been since you have noticed symptoms in your legs? It is possible that you are in an exacerbation of your MS and it would be good to see a neurologist. Are you taking anything for your MS? Right now I would continue to rest. If the symptoms continue you should go see a neologist and get evaluated.

Hugs, Cathy

Thanks Cathy. It is a complicated situation. I am without a neuro right now and was pulled off the medication. My neuro of 10 years who was treating me moved across country to work at an MS clinic in Portland, the neuro I saw after her said nothing was wrong with me. That I just needed to go home, get in shape and I would get better. He said I was to not see any other doctors for a 2nd opinion or to try and find out what's wrong with me... that I will never know, that I will just get better. It was a weird doctor visit and I left confused and without any medication.

Before that I was on Copaxone. I have been off of it for about 1 year now.

I guess it's time I search for a neuro.

tarabunny it is best that you find another physician and go from there. As to your legs feeling wobbly, rest is the best option but if you can't rest maybe you should get a cane to help you along. Best of Luck

tarabunny.......some doctors are just plain jerks!!! I too have been insulted by neuros.

You absolutely need to find not just a neuro, but a MS specialist. Call your local MS Society and see if there is a support group nearby. I learned a lot about local neuros from my group and the stories were same for the bad neuros. Prehaps that would help you choose one.

My advice about your legs is to do a chore and sit down and rest....that is what I do. I set my timer for 15 minutes, clean the kitchen and then rest when the buzzer goes off. Then I rest and set my buzzer for 15 minutes and then do something else. I think a balance between resting and moving helps me. I get the heavy leg thing too. Some days are worse than others. Don't know what a neuro would suggest, but that is what I do. Gotta keep those muscles working, but rest when you need too.

Hope this helps!

I face the same challenge of whether to rest or be active in spite of symptoms in my legs. For me, my left leg is far more paralyzed, so I have the advantage of having a "good leg." Still, sometimes I am pretty sure that I have pushed it and been too active when I should have rested. Over time, I have become able to tell when I need rest. I get an actual certain strange feeling in my legs that signals my need to rest. I can keep pushing it and going, but if I don't rest at the point that I need to, I will suffer worse over the next several days or even longer. Try to pay attention to how your legs feel and how resting (or not resting) affects them as well as your energy level. Also, I really liked the advice of MSKC... to work a little and rest a little. I do that too and it makes a difference. It will take time though to get to know how MS affects you exactly and how you should react to it. It can be a challenge because MS comes and goes sometimes so you can never fully adjust. And if it doesn't come and go, it is still hard to get a handle on whether you should rest or not rest.

I remember your other post about the visit with your doctor when they told you you were fine and didn't have an issue with MS. I had a similar visit a few months ago. My husband is military, so at the military hospital I'm assigned to, I have only one neurologist option, and he is completely incompetent. I cannot get a referral to see another doctor, because the incompetent one on base is available and willing to see me. He told me that even though I have documented secondary progressive MS, that he thinks that I have have no MS issues he can see and have suffered no degeneration in disease or ability. Now, my perfect health status is documented and it doesn't help that he refuses to give me any and all MS meds... because "those are too expensive and they'll kill you!" He won't even give me a referral to get physical therapy because he says I am perfectly fine and shouldn't bother them when I function so well. Meanwhile, I hobble around, am losing significant function in my feet and legs, have bad balance, and can barely walk any distance at all. I don't think most doctors are as bad as he is... he is the worst I've ever seen... but our combined experience shows that there are bad doctors everywhere. A new neurologist is supposed to come to work alongside the crappy one within the next few months... so I'll try again later.

I do try to stretch and do my own self invented physical therapy... to try to hold onto some skills and function. Yoga might be good... I'm going to attempt that soon. I can't do anything too "active" so the yoga I do won't be much.

Good luck, tarabunny. It would be easier if we didn't have to do and be so much to everyone else... you have kids to care for... so I understand your dilemma.

if a doctor tells you not to get a second opinion he is afraid that you will find someone else and realize what a shitty doctor he is. I figure it is just that a reason to get a second opinion. Good luck and I would definitely report his attitude to everyone hopefully giving someone else a chance not to have to deal with an idiot like him.

tarabunny,
Jello legs are common thing for me. In fact it was the first thing (symptom wise) I think that made me realize something was wrong with me way back when. I went to specialists (neuro muscular) drs etc. That was when they said I had a form or muscular dystrophy. but till this day they say that, but dont know what form. I think it was more MS even then, and disregarded their dx for 15 yrs as I was convinced it was MS myself. I especially had trouble with stairs, I could NOT climb a flight of stairs without getting to the top and almost falling on my face....literally was late to almost every class during nursing school because of this. Any incline on the road or sidewalk was also a hassle.

Please as soon as you can, check into it. It doesnt get better without some help. Rest does help but it doesnt go away, it is just temporary to help you gain your strength.

tarabunny..some docs are crazy and the one who flatly told you not to search for another neuro well let's just say he wouldn't have like my reply...but find another neuro..if you have gone through the gamut of dx and you know this is what you have find a neuro...leave the bad doc out of the pic and see if you can get your medical records from the first doc..always have those on hand...otherwise the leg problem rest if you can...i take care of kids too and it's difficult but some days i push myself until the body is smacking at me saying you need to rest and then I listen...have know choice..you have to take care of you in order to take care of them. good luck.