Hi Mick,

Basically that was a Transverse Myelitis attack, which can be caused by MS, or any number of reasons (including idiopathic).

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/t...s.htm#41903234

That was how my first attack went too, only it went as high as my chest, and was very severe. (There are different severities, depending on the amount of inflammation that goes on at the time, and how much of the spinal cord gets in on the "party").

My second attack like that wasn't for 12 yrs, and it was at that point that I allowed them to do a MRI. This time the complete numbness went to almost my neck, and included my hands, top of my head, ears, etc.

The escalation (changes/increase in symptoms) will generally last about 4 - 6 weeks, then we go through a recovery phase for the next 4 - 6 weeks. You can continue to improve after that (for up to two years, actually), but that was when the BULK of my recovery happened.

Ultimately, you may be left with some amount of permanent damage. The only symptom I had 18 months after the first attack, was numbness when I walked any distance, and less endurance for leg exercises. The second time I wasn't quite as luck though ....

I don't think the buzzing indicates that you are healing, per se'. The buzzing can actually be something that comes early on in one of these attacks (it did for me) and we can be permanently left with, like any of the symptoms .... BUT you have not fully healed, so I wouldn't worry about that yet.

Cherie