Multiple Sclerosis………………how do you even wrap your mind around that?

I had been having some right-sided numbness and optic neuritis and I went to the ophthalmologist who told me he thought I had MS. I told him he must be CRAZY. I left it alone, but then a few months later developed tingling, tremors and numbness and at the insistence of the eye doctor and my primary, was sent for an MRI. I was very much in denial. I didn't think there was any way I possibly had this disease. I went for the MRI just to shut them all up. Last week I got the results…….I have MS. I have quite a few lesions on my brain, and the radiologist sent it out over the internet to be read by a neuro-radiologist at John's Hopkins. The doctor read it and sent him the results while I was still there, and he confirmed the diagnosis of MS. My head was spinning, and I turned pale as a ghost. I hid under the covers for a few days, and then got off my butt and decided that if I was going to be depressed, I might as well get on the computer and do some research and that’s how I found this site.

And to add insult to injury, I have an L5/S1 herniated disc from an auto accident back in the spring of 2007 and was able to get through it with a good chiropractor and an excellent Yoga for back pain program. Around a month ago the pain returned and was shooting down my legs. I had an MRI and it showed a large focal disc herniation at L5/S1 and mild disc degenerative disease with moderate stenosis and neuroforaminal narrowing.

I found a good neurologist who specializes in MS and I’m seeing her today to discuss treatments. I’m just feeling so overwhelmed right now but glad to have found this site and I hope to make some new friends.