[Erika]

Hello Everyone,

How wonderful that this site exists so that we can share our experiences and offer support to each other. Thank you all for your insight and posts; many of which have helped greatly to realize that we can carry on despite the challenges that we may face.

My MS journey began in 1978 with optic neuritis which was medicated with prednisone and analgesics. MS was suspected straight away but I was 18 years old, attending university over seas and further investigations were not done. Have had several bouts of ON and other neurological manifestations over the years which have mostly left some blurred vision at times, a blind spot in the left eye and manageable spasticity affecting the legs.

Repeat MRIs since 2000 show many brain lesions typical of MS and this along with exclusion of other possibilities has been the basis for a diagnosis. CSF evaluation has not been done as a lumbar puncture seemed to be too risky due to damage of the lower back discs and a trauma induced fusion following some falls in the 1980s. Currently it looks like the RRMS might be progressing to SPMS, or that there may be new lesions affecting the brain stem/spinal cord; so will be seeing an MS neuro specialist in June for further evaluation. We will probably be doing a lumbar puncture under fluoroscopy at that time. The last MRI was done in August of 2011 when I began some additional and new problems did not seem to be remitting. A new cerebellar lesion was detected along with a couple smaller ones near the ventricles.

Since July of 2011 there have been periods of both increased and decreased function but over all, remaining deficits have become a great concern since that time. What seems to be a flair up over the last month has added yet more symptoms to the residual sensory and motor deficits mostly affecting the legs. Primarily cognitive impairment, memory loss and a decrease in coordination of the hands/arms are most affected recently. These symptoms are new to me, and in combination with blurred vision, it makes using a computer or writing a slow process. For example, it has taken 45 minutes for me to compose and type this in a word document, use spell check and then copy and paste it to this forum (a management tactic that is proving to be useful for emails etc).

All of this has brought me to this site in the hope of gaining more information, sharing experiences and support.
Thank you once again for being here.

Erika

[Kitty]

Hi and welcome to NeuroTalk, Erika! So sorry to hear of your struggles with MS but happy you've joined this site. It truly is a safe haven for us and a place we can talk about our symptoms and challenges and know that others will understand exactly what we're talking about.

Hope to see you around the forum!

[SallyC]

Welcome Erica, so nice to have you with us..

[Dejibo]

Hello and Welcome!

[CammyJo]

I sure hope I can get some answers here, I know I will at least get some understanding and support! Thanks

CammyJo

[Koala77]

Hello CammyJo and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I see by your profile that you think you may have Peripheral Neuropathy. I'm not sure if you realised it or not, but this is the Multiple Sclerosis Forum. If you had intended posting here, then please forgive me, but if it's the Peripheral Neuropathy Forum that you're after, then you will find it here : http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

Welcome again; it's good to have you with us.

[Dejibo]

Hi CammyJo and Welcome!

[SallyC]

Welcome Cammy..

[slantz883]

Originally Posted by Dejibo

Welcome Slantz! pull up a chair and sit a spell.

I ave a couple questions to ask but can't seem to post them.

[Chemar]

Originally Posted by slantz883

I ave a couple questions to ask but can't seem to post them.

Hi
I am puzzled as to why you say you cannot post your questions?
I see three posts by you so far http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/se...g_searchinfo=1