I have an appointment with a new Neuro next month. Not sure how it will go having only had a very negative experience with my old neuro (he thought I was using my nursing experience to clock up symptoms, none of which he attributed to MS, and told me all my sensory problems were trivial- yes he actually said that)

So anyway, I want to get off on the right foor with the new guy. I must admit I feel lucky to be as well as I am. No major problems, just a few tweaks, pulls and terrible fatigue which I work round.

I don't want to go there and talk about fatigue. it makes me feel like I'm lazy when I think of fatigue. He might not believe I really experience a lead-like feeling.

I also have leg pain, stiffness and aches. starts as soon as I wake up and gets worse all day. I still have my balance and am better when I'm active. Soon as I sit down, leg stiffness starts.

What is this stiffness? How do you tell if things are getting worse? Why am I waking up with aches? am I not resting?

Can anyone help me to think of ways to describe my aches.
Has anyone else felt things develop but unsure of when they should be brought to a doctor's attention?
Any ideas what I should do?

congrats on moving on from the dismissive guy. nothing like a new ear to give you hope.

with my spastic issues (I call them spastic issues, not tightness or tense I feel it describes it better) I speak of how I just cant get that muscle to relax and it becomes very tired and tiring to put up with.

with my anxiety I feel like I am "on point" like I am ready for a big disaster and have to be ultra alert. I know there isnt anything of danger on, by or around me, but somehow my brain is ready to react, just in case. then the fatigue sets in from being ultra alert. its like carrying a load of adrenelyn on full steam ahead. you can only do it for so long before the crash.

Describe which muscles are spazzing. what time of day is better or worse. is it better after a nights sleep or does laying flat make it worse. is it better after exercise, or worse? is yoga or gentle stretching helpful or not? what interventions have you tried? muscle rubs, asprin, baclofen, or massage? did it help and if so how long?

I think if this md isnt dismissive he will try to elicit these types of questions and answers from you. if he is dismissive it wont matter how many answers you have prepared, he wont hear them.

Good luck!

Thank heaven, I've never been dismissed by a Neuro, to my knowledge. They look at me funny about the LDN, but I just look funny right back at em..

Other than being honest, I don't know how to handle a Doc's skepticism. Like Dej said, if he's of that mind, it doesn't matter. I will pray that he/she is open minded, knowledgable and compassionate.

Good luck..

Thank you salc and dej. I know I can rely on you two...

I suppose what i'm saying also is How do you know when a leg pain or stiffness is spasticity? at what point do you start to use that word?
I don't want to be thinking along those lines i suppose...pain is easier to deal with than spasticity.

So many people here use baclofen etc. How severe is the discomfort before a doc thinks about baclofen? I'm just kidding myself that I don't have a problem perhaps?

I don't want to embarass myself like I did with the other neuro who dismissed all my 'little problems' as in my head stuff.

To me, all leg pain in MS is Spasticity and it's when your legs stiffen out and makes it hard to lift or bend. There are degrees of spasticty, of course. I call mine mild, because I can usually ease my spasticity by relaxing, stretching and breathing deeply.

Keep it moving..

to me stiffness can be worked out with some light stretches or muscle rub cream. even a warm shower can help loosen it up. Spastic doesnt respond and is made worse by the stretches. like my muscle cant figure out what to do. Rest not activity is what makes my spastic better. Does that help?

Pud, muscles cause stiffness. They can tighten up while your sleeping as well as when you walk around using them.

You can try some light stretching at night, that helps me. Otherwise when I first wake up, I walk like Frankenstein. I get stiff legged or I get Charlie horse like cramps in my calves and feet. My thighs too at times.

But many need a muscle relaxing drug. Some use Zanaflex. There are milder ones like Flexiril brand name for Cyclobenzaprine, both area muscle relaxants.

Then there is Baclofen, which is stronger and many people find they need small doses or they get jelly legs. A little stiffness is needed to walk and remain erect. All dosages can be adjusted to your needs. Start out on small dosages.

All are prescription drugs. Good luck with your new Neuro.

Thank you all. It's making sense.

I took some diazepam last night in desparation to relax my legs. It did the trick. But it also relaxed my eyelids FAR too much! Today has been better though. Just needed a bit of drugs to relax me perhaps?

Sorry you're experiencing this...my pain is caused by muscle spasms...I can't stand for longer than a few minutes before my legs start to ache...and occasionally they lock up in pain.
I do stretch in the morning and during the night. My neuro says it helps to lenghten them and relax them a bit. But meds help too...up to a point.

Hope you get a new perspective from your new neuro...keep us up to date.