Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Does anyone on this board have Multiple Sclerosis or know someone who does? My sister's doctor thinks she may have this and I'm very concerned. Any info you can provide to me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

My friend's hubby does, as does my ex's cousin.

I have had Bell's Palsy and the last time I had it, my Dr. said "Oh, you may have MS" which freaked me out AND ****** me off since I already knew what I had.

Do you have a ? ?

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Yeah, I guess I'm just trying to prepare myself for what she's in for incase that is her diagnosis or what other types of problems it could be. Her symptoms are numb arms and hands, black numb feet (she said it feels like there's post its stuck to them), no blood circulation. they originally thought it was lupus but ruled that out and now they think it's neurological and she's going in for cat scans, mris, etc. What is Bell's Palsy?

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

My friend has MS....does your sister have a lot of nerve pain?

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Yes, nerve pain, muscle joints, numb/tingling arms, hands & feet. I don't know. It just scares me.

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

The people you know -- are they in wheelchairs, in pain much of the time, how fast are their symptoms progressing?

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

My cousin was diagnosed about four years ago. She takes daily injections to try to combat the progression of the disease. So far, knock on wood, she's been doing great. But there are different types of MS—some get progressively worse, some are episodic and some never really suffer many symptoms at all.

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

I have no advice but I do have

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Posted by Beth1210

I have no advice but I do have

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

My aunt has had MS for about 15-18 years now. She is a bad case and yet she is still walking around, no wheelchair and not too much problems. She did stop working about 8-10 years ago...she was a lawyer and it was too much for her, but she teaches argriculture now on a P/T basis and does well with it. She is on a lot of meds and trutfully some days are better then others. She needs to avoid heat, it aggravates the symptoms, she has an adversity to light as well, and tends to get very bad headaches. She gets a lot of joint/nerve pain but there are a LOT of great new meds out there to ease her pain and overall she is doing well.

She is progressively getting worse, but its a slow process and she just takes it as it comes.

shes on a lot of supplments ( vitamins) that she swears by as well.

good luck to your friend....

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Ladies, thanks so much. I really think this is what she has. She has had blinding headaches with "auras" (rainbows) lately too, and these hot days have been bad for her. I'm happy to hear there are people you know that are leading active lifestyles after having had it for years. Thank You!

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

DH was diagnosed 3 years ago. So far he takes weekly injections and quarterly steroids. Twice he's had 'flare-ups" where he was admitted for a few days of intensive IV steroids..

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Kerri, for the most part, is he pain-free? I'm so sorry to hear all of this sad news!

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

I don't know a lot about MS, but my friend's mother has it for many years. Unfortunately, my friend's mother needs to use a wheelchair at this point. I belive that there are two types of MS. One is progressive and one isn't. My friend's mother has the progressive type.

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

I just found this:

People with MS can expect one of four clinical courses of disease, each of which might be mild, moderate, or severe.


MS is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system.

MS is not contagious and is not directly inherited.

Most people with MS have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.

The majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled.

There is no cure for MS yet, but drugs can help slow the course and/or symptoms in some patients.


The above is from the brochure Just the Facts: 2005-2006.




Relapsing-Remitting
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience clearly defined flare-ups (also called relapses, attacks, or exacerbations). These are episodes of acute worsening of neurologic function. They are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions) free of disease progression.
Frequency: Most common form of MS at time of initial diagnosis. Approximately 85%.

Primary-Progressive
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a slow but nearly continuous worsening of their disease from the onset, with no distinct relapses or remissions. However, there are variations in rates of progression over time, occasional plateaus, and temporary minor improvements.
Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 10%.

Secondary-Progressive
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience an initial period of relapsing-remitting disease, followed by a steadily worsening disease course with or without occasional flare-ups, minor recoveries (remissions), or plateaus.
Frequency: 50% of people with relapsing-remitting MS developed this form of the disease within 10 years of their initial diagnosis, before introduction of the “disease-modifying” drugs. Long-term data are not yet available to demonstrate if this is significantly delayed by treatment.

Progressive-Relapsing
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a steadily worsening disease from the onset but also have clear acute relapses (attacks or exacerbations), with or without recovery. In contrast to relapsing-remitting MS, the periods between relapses are characterized by continuing disease progression.
Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 5%.

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

My Grandmother had it

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Thank you...we are fine and thankfully it doesn't affect our lives too drastically

Yes mostly he is pain free...the hospital instances were when his eyes were blurry and his right leg felt week. His neurologist has asked him to call whenever he doesn't feel like himself..

You can never tell something is wrong by looking at him and unless he tells you, you would never know when he's having a bad day..

I make sure not to push him to do too much around the house so he feels no pressure to exert himself...

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

Thanks for all of the info everyone. I'll keep you posted.

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

My uncle has MS. He was first diagnosed 10 years ago but it went into a sort of remission. It came back 3 years ago. His first symptom was that he could only see half images through his eyes. He said it was as if a line was drawn through everything he looked at. Then he began seeing double/ triple.

He had to quit working (he was a city bus driver). He takes injections to stop further progression of the disease. He is 50 years old.

If you'd like more information, I could ask my aunt. They have ,unfortunately, become "pros" on the subject of MS.

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

You have FM.

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?

The people I know are not in wheelchairs but they are each at different places right now. Depends on how healthy the person was before being diagnosed, and how the disease progresses. Some people are barely affected, and it is usually a slow progression. There are a lot of experimental drugs out there, and I have heard that acupuncture can be a great complimentary treatment.

It doesn't sound like Bell's Palsy, which is just a nerve contraction in the face - half the face is paralyzied for a period like a month or so. One eye can't close, half the mouth can't smile, or move at all- it's weird but temporary. This doesn't sound like what your sister has.

Good luck, I hope she is OK!!

Re: Does Anyone Here Suffer from MS?